Thursday October 22, 2026 / October 9, 2026
21st Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Holy Apostle James, son of Alphaeus (1st c.).
Venerable Andronicus and his wife Venerable Athanasia of Egypt (500).
New Hieromartyrs Constantine and Peter priests (1918).
New Hieromartyr Constantine priest (1937).
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Sebastian Fomin (1997).
Righteous Forefather Abraham (2000 B.C.) and his nephew Righteous Lot.
Martyrs Juventius and Maximus at Antioch (4th c.).
St. Publia the Confessor of Antioch (360).
Venerable Peter of Galatia (9th c.).
Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos “Korsun” (Cherson) and “Assuage My Sorrow”.
St. Stephen the New of Serbia (1427) (Serbia).
St. Demetrius, patriarch of Alexandria (231).
Hieromartyr Dionysius (Denis, Denys) of Paris, bishop (258) (Celtic & British).
Venerable Stephen the Blind, king of Serbia (1468).
The Scripture Readings
John 21:15-25 Matins Gospel
15
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
18
Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.
19
This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
20
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
21
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22
Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
23
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
24
This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Colossian 1:24-29
24
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
25
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26
the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29
To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Luke 7:17-30
9
For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
10
We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
11
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12
And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
13
being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
14
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
15
For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16
Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
1 Corinthians 4:9-16 Apostle
16
He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.
17
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
Luke 10:16-21 Apostle
16
He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.
17
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.