Sunday July 12, 2026 / June 29, 2026
6th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone five.
Hieromartirs Neophytus, Jonah, Neophytus, Jonah, and Parthenius of Lampsacus (movable holiday on the 1st Sunday after June 27th).
The Holy, Glorious and All-praised Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul (67).
The end of the Apostles Peter and Paul Fast
St. Gregory, metropolitan of Iraklia and Redestos (Const.)..
Venerable Paisios of Mount Athos (1994).
“Kasperovsk” (1853-1855) Icon of the Mother of God.
Venerable Peter, prince of the Tatar Horde, wonderworker of Rostov (1290).
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Nicander, monk, of Pskov (1581).
St. Mary, mother of John-Mark, nephew of Apostle Barnabas, at Jersusalem (1st c.).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 24:36-53 (6th Matins Gospel)
36
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”
37
But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
38
And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39
Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.
40
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41
But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”
42
So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43
And He took it and ate in their presence.
44
Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
45
And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46
Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
47
and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48
And you are witnesses of these things.
49
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
50
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51
Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
52
And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53
and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
Romans 12:6-14
6
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7
or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8
he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
10
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Matthew 9:1-8
1
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
2
Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
3
And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
4
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
6
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins-then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
7
And he arose and departed to his house.
8
Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
2 Corinthians 11:21-12:9 Epistle, Apostles
21
To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold-I speak foolishly-I am bold also.
22
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23
Are they ministers of Christ?-I speak as a fool-I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24
From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26
in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-
28
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
29
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30
If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
31
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32
In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33
but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
1
It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:
2
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
3
And I know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-
4
how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5
Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
6
For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
7
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
8
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Matthew 16:13-19 Gospel, Apostles
13
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.