Friday May 8, 2026 / April 25, 2026
Fourth Week of Pascha. Tone three.
Fast. Fish Allowed
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (63).
Martyr Sergius (1938).
Venerable Basil Polianomerulsk (1767) (Romania).
Venerable Sylvester, abbot of Obnora (1379).
“Constantinople” Icon (1071) of the Mother of God.
St. Macedonius, patriarch of Constantinople (516).
St. Aninanus, second bishop of Alexandria (86).
Hieromartyr Stephen, bishop of Antioch (479).
Martyr Nice (Greek).
Eight anchorites who were martyred. (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 10:1-15 Matins, Gospel
1
After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
2
Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
3
Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
4
Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
5
But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’
6
And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
7
And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
8
Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
9
And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
10
But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,
11
‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’
12
But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
13
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
15
And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
Acts 10:44-11:10
44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47
Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?
48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
1
Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2
And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,
3
saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4
But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:
5
I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.
6
When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
7
And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
8
But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’
9
But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’
10
Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
John 8:21-30
21
Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”
22
So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”
23
And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.
25
Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
26
I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.
27
They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.
28
Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
29
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.
30
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
1 Peter 5:6-14 St. Mark
6
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11
To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12
By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
13
She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.
14
Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Mark 6:7-13 St. Mark
7
And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
8
He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts-
9
but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
10
Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
11
And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
12
So they went out and preached that people should repent.
13
And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.