Thursday August 27, 2026 / August 14, 2026
13th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Dormition (Theotokos) Fast. By Monastic Charter: Food without Oil
Forefeast of the Dormition.
Prophet Micah (8th c. B.C.).
Translation of the relics of Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves (1091).
New Hieromartyr Basil bishop of Chernigov and with him Hieromartyr Mathew and Martyr Alexis (1918).
New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest (1920).
New Hieromartyrs Vladimir and Nicholas priests, Hieromartyr Eleutherius, Virgin-Martyr Eudokia and Martyr Theodore (1937).
New Hieromartyr Schema-archimandrite Eleutherius of Chimkent (Kazakhstan) (1937).
Venerable Alexander confessor (1961).
Venerable Arcadius, monk, of Vyazma and New Torzhok (1077).
Hieromartyr Marcellus, bishop of Apamea (389).
“Converser” (1383) and “Narva” (1558) Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Martyr Ursicius at Nicomedia.
St. Fachanan, abbot of Ross Carbery, Cork, Ireland (ca. 600) (Celtic & British).
Hieromartyr Nazarius, metropolitan of Kutaisi, Georgia, with Priest-martyrs Herman, Hierotheus, and Simon, and Archdeacon Bessarion (1924) (Georgia).
Synaxis of the New Martyrs of Georgia who suffered under the Atheist Yoke (20th c.).
New Martyr Simeon of Trebizond (1653) (Greek).
Martyr Luke the Soldier (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
7
Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.
8
For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed-
9
lest I seem to terrify you by letters.
10
For his letters, they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
11
Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
12
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13
We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us-a sphere which especially includes you.
14
For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
15
not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
16
to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
17
But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”
18
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Mark 3:28-35
28
Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter;
29
but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation-
30
because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
31
Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.
32
And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.”
33
But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”
34
And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
35
For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.
Friday Reading
2 Corinthians 11:5-21
5
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
6
Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
7
Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8
I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.
9
And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
10
As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
11
Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
12
But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
16
I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little.
17
What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18
Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
19
For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!
20
For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
21
To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold-I speak foolishly-I am bold also.
Mark 4:1-9
1
And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.
2
Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:
3
Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.
4
And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.
5
Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.
6
But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.
7
And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
8
But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.
9
And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Galatians 5:22-6:2 St. Theodosius
22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24
And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Luke 6:17-23 St. Theodosius
17
And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
18
as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
19
And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
20
Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
21
Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
22
Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.
23
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.