Tuesday September 15, 2026 / September 2, 2026
16th Week after Pentecost. Tone six.
Martyr Mamas of Caesarea in Cappadocia (275), and his parents, Martyrs Theodotus and Rufina (3rd c.).
Venerable John the Faster, patriarch of Constantinople (595).
Venerables Anthony (1073) and Theodosius (1074) of the Kiev Caves.
New Martyrs Barsunuphius, bishop of Kyrilov, priest John, Abbess Seraphima of Therapontov Convent, and Anatole, Nicholas, Michael and Philip (1918).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1920).
New Hieromartyrs Damascene, bishop of Starodub, priests Ephimius, John, John, Vladimir, Victor, Basil, Theodore, Peter, Stephen and Virgin-martyr Ksenia(1937).
Herman, bishop of Vyaznikov, priest Stephen and martyr Paul (1937).
Translation of the relics (1796) of Venerable Theodosius, abbot, of Totma.
3,618 Martyrs who suffered at Nicomedia (3rd-4th c.).
“Kaluga” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1771).
Righteous Eleazar, son of Aaron, and Righteous Phineas.
Martyrs Aeithalas and Ammon of Thrace (Greek).
Hieu, abbess of Tadcaster (7th c.) (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 11:27-30 Matins Gospel
27
All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Galatians 5:11-21
11
And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
12
I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15
But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
16
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Mark 7:5-16
5
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
6
He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:’This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
7
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8
For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men -the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.
9
He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
10
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’
11
But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”-‘ (that is, a gift to God),
12
then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,
13
making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.
14
When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand:
15
There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.
16
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!
Monday Reading
Galatians 4:28-5:10
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.
1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
2
Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
3
And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
4
You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
7
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8
This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.
9
A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
10
I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
Mark 6:55-7:8
55
ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.
56
Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.
1
Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.
2
Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.
3
For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.
4
When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
5
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
6
He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:’This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
7
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8
For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men -the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.
Galatians 5:22-6:2 Saints
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 Saints
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.