Friday June 5, 2026 / May 23, 2026
Afterfeast of Pentecost. Tone seven.
Fast-free Week. Fast-free
Venerable Michael the Confessor, bishop of Synnada (818).
Uncovering of the relics (1164) of St. Leontius, bishop and wonderworker of Rostov (1077).
Synaxis of All Saints of Rostov and Yaroslavl: Bishop Leontius (1073), Bishop Isaiah, wonderworker (1090), Bishop Ignatius (1288), Bishop James (1391), Archbishop Theodore (1394), Metropolitan Demetrius (1709), Archimandrite Abraham the wonderworker (1073-1077), Monk Irinarchus the Hermit (1616). Prince Basil ( 1238), Peter, Tsarevich of Ordynsk (1290) Blessed Isidore, Fool-for-Christ (1474) Blessed John of the Hair-Shirt (the Merciful), Fool-for-Christ (1580); Yaroslav Wonderworkers: Princes Basil (1249), Constantine (1257), Theodore (1299) and his sons David (1321) and Constantine (XIV); Pereslavl Wonderworkers: Monk Nikita the Stylite (1186), Monk Daniel the Archimandrite (1540), Prince Alexander Nevsky (1263), Prince Andrew of Smolensk (15th c.); Uglich Wonderworkers: Monk Paisius (1504), Monk Cassian (1504), Monk Ignatius of Lomsk (1591), Prince Roman (1285), Tsarevich Demetrius (1591); Poshekhonsk Wonderworkers: Monk Sylvester of Obnora (1379), Monk Sebastian (1542), Hieromartyr Adrian (1550), Monk Gennadius of Liubimograd and Kostroma (1565).
Venerable Euphrosyne, princess of Polotsk (1173).
Venerable Paisius, abbot, of Galich (1463).
Martyr Michael “the black-robed” of St. Sabbas’ Monastery (9th c.).
Uncovering of the relics of Virgin-martyrs Eudocia, Daria, Daria, and Mary (2001).
Holy Myrrh-bearer Mary, wife of Cleopas.
Martyr Salonas the Roman (Greek).
Martyr Seleucus (Greek).
Venerable Damiane (King Demetrius) (1157) (Georgia).
St. Ioannicius I, archbishop of Serbia (1270).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 7:17-30 Matins Gospel
17
And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
18
Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
19
And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
20
When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ “
21
And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
22
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
23
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
24
When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
25
But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.
26
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
27
This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
28
For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29
And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
30
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
Romans 2:14-29
14
for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15
who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
16
in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
17
Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,
18
and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
19
and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.
21
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
22
You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23
You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?
24
For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
25
For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26
Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27
And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
28
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
29
but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Matthew 5:33-41
33
Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
34
But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35
nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36
Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
37
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
38
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
2 Corinthians 4:6-15 Forerunner
6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-
10
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12
So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
14
knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Matthew 11:2-15 Forerunner
2
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
3
and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5
The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
7
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8
But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
10
For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11
Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
13
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14
And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
15
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!