Sunday June 22, 2025 / June 9, 2025
2nd Sunday after Pentecost. All Russian Saints. Tone one.
Apostles’ (Peter & Paul) Fast. Fish Allowed
All venerable and holy Fathers of the Holy Mount Athos (movable holiday on the 2nd Sunday of Pentecost).
All venerable and holy Fathers of Bulgaria (movable holiday on the 2nd Sunday of Pentecost).
“Kaluga” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1771) (movable holiday on the first Sunday of the Apostles’ Fast).
The Bringing of the Icon of the Holy and Life-Giving Trinity, Painted by St. Andrei Rublev, to the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra (2024).
St. Cyril, archbishop of Alexandria (444).
Venerable Cyril, abbot of White Lake (Byelozersk) (1427).
St. Alexius Mechev, priest of Moscow (1923).
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Raphael, the Confessor (2005).
Venerable Alexander, abbot of Kushta (Vologda) (1439).
Five nuns beheaded in Persia: Martyrs Thecla, Mariamne, Martha, Mary, and Enmatha (346).
Righteous Cyril of Velsk or Vazhe (Vologda) (15th c.).
St. Columba of Iona (597) (Celtic & British).
St. Baithene of Tiree (600) (Celtic & British).
Hieromartyr Alexander, bishop of Prusa (Greek).
Venerable Cyril, monk (Greek).
Three Virgin-martyrs of Chios (Greek).
St. John of Shavtel-Gaenati, Georgia (13th c.) (Georgia).
The Scripture Readings
Mark 16:1-8 (2nd Matins Gospel)
1
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
2
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3
And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
4
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away-for it was very large.
5
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
7
But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.
8
So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Romans 2:10-16 (Epistle)
10
but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11
For there is no partiality with God.
12
For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
13
(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
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.
Matthew 4:18-23 (Gospel)
18
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19
Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20
They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21
Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,
22
and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
Hebrews 11:33-12:2 Epistle, Saints
33
who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35
Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36
Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-
38
of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
40
God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Matthew 4:25-5:12 Gospel, Saints
25
Great multitudes followed Him-from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
1
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
2
Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.