Sunday September 20, 2026 / September 7, 2026
16th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone seven.
Sunday before the Universal Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord
Synaxis of All Saints of Altai (movable holiday on the Sunday after September 7th).
Synaxis of New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan (movable holiday on the Sunday after September 3rd).
Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
Martyr Sozon of Cilicia (304).
St. John, archbishop and wonderworker of Novgorod (1186).
Martyrdom of St. Macarius, archimandrite of Kanev (1678).
Venerable Macarius of Optina (1860).
New Hieromartyrs Peter and Michael priests, Alexander deacon (1918).
New Hieromartyr Priest John Maslovsky of Verkhne-Poltavka, Amur (1921).
New Hieromartyrs Eugene metropolitan of Gorky, Stephan priest and Hieromartyrs Eugene, Nicholas and Pakhomius, New Hieromartyrs Gregory, Basil priests, Hieromartyr Leo (1937).
Venerables Alexander Peresvet and Andrew Osliaby (1380).
Venerable Serapion of Spaso-Eleazar Monastery in Pskov (1480).
Apostles Evodus (Euodias) (66) and Onesiphorus (67) of the Seventy.
Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea in Cappadocia (2nd c.).
Venerable Luke and St. Peter the Cappadocian, abbots of the monastery of the Deep Stream (10th c.).
St. Cassia (Cassiane) the Hymnographer (9th c.).
Venerable Cloud (Clodoald), abbot-founder of Nogent-sur-Seine near Paris (560) (Gaul).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 24:12-35 (5th Matins Gospel)
12
But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
13
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
14
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
16
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17
And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
18
Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
19
And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
21
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
22
Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
23
When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
24
And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.
25
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?
27
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28
Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
29
But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
30
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
31
Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
33
So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34
saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35
And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
1
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2
For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
4
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6
by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
10
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Matthew 25:14-30
14
For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
15
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
16
Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17
And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
18
But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
19
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20
So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
21
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22
He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24
Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25
And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.
26
But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27
So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28
Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29
For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30
And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Ephesians 6:10-17 Martyr
10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
John 15:17-16:2 Martyr
17
These things I command you, that you love one another.
18
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21
But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
22
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23
He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24
If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
25
But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
26
But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
27
And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
1
These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.
2
They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.
Galatians 6:11-18 Sunday before the Universal Elevation
11
See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
12
As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13
For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
16
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17
From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18
Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
John 3:13-17 Sunday before the Universal Elevation
13
No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.