Friday September 26, 2025 / September 13, 2025
16th Week after Pentecost. Tone six.
Fast. Food with Oil
Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Cross.
Commemoration of the Founding of the Church of the Resurrection (The Holy Sepulchre) at Jerusalem (335).
Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion (1st c.).
New Hieromartyrs Stephan, Alexander priests and Nicholas deacon (1937).
Martyrs Cronides, Leontius, and Serapion of Alexandria (237).
Martyr Seleucus in Scythia (320).
Martyr Straton of Nicomedia (3rd c.).
Martyrs Macrobius and Gordian at Tomi in Romania (320).
Hieromartyr Julian of Galatia (4th c.).
Martyrs Elias, Zoticus, Lucian, Valerian, Macrobius, and Gordian at Tomi in Romania (320).
Venerable Peter at Atroe (9th C).
Great-martyr Ketevan, queen of Kakhetia (1624) (Georgia).
Venerable Cornelius of Padan-Olonets (16th c.), disciple of Venerable Alexander of Svir, and with him Venerables Dionysius and Misail
Venerable Litorius, bishop of Tours (370).
Venerable John of Prislop (15th-16th c.) (Romania).
Venerable Basil monk of Iveron Monastery (Greek).
St. Hierotheus of Kalamata, monk of Iveron Monastery, Mt. Athos (1745) (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
8
which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10
that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him.
11
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
12
that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
15
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
1
In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them,
2
I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
3
And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.
4
Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”
5
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”
6
So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.
7
They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.
8
So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.
9
Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away,
10
immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
11
Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.
Saturday Reading
1 Corinthians 10:23-28
23
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
24
Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
25
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;
26
for “the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.”
27
If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.
28
But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.”
34
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
36
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
37
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39
and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
41
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
42
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Hebrews 3:1-4 Epistle, Church
1
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
2
who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.
3
For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.
4
For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.
Matthew 16:13-18 Gospel, Church
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.