Tuesday October 6, 2026 / September 23, 2026
19th Week after Pentecost. Tone one.
3The Conception of the Honorable, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.
Canonization (1977) of St. Innocent Metropolitan of Moscow.
New Hieromartyr John priest (1937).
New Hieromartyr Arsenius archbishop (1937).
Venerables Xanthippa and Polyxena (109), disciples of the Apostles, who died in Spain.
Virgin-martyr Irais (Rhais) of Alexandria (308).
Martyrs Andrew, John, Peter, and Antoninus of Syracuse, martyred in Africa (886).
“Slovensk” Icon of the Mother of God (1635).
“Hawaiian” Myrrh-streaming Iveron Ikon of the Theotokos (2007).
New Martyr Nicholas Pantopolis at Constantinople (1672) (Greek).
New Martyr John of Epirus (1814).
Venerable Adamnan, abbot of Iona, biographer of St. Columba (704) (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
8
For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10
that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11
being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13
so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14
and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Luke 3:23-4:1
23
Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,
25
the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26
the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,
27
the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28
the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29
the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31
the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32
the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33
the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35
the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
38
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
1
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Galatians 4:22-31 Forerunner
22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23
But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
24
which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar-
25
or this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children-
26
but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27
For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.”
28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29
But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30
Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”
31
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Luke 1:5-25 Forerunner
5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
8
So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
9
according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10
And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17
He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18
And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19
And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
20
But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.
21
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.
22
But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
23
So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
24
Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,
25
Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.