Wednesday August 13, 2025 / July 31, 2025
10th Week after Pentecost. Tone eight.
Fast. Food with Oil
Forefeast of the Procession of the Precious and Life-giving Cross of the Lord.
Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia (9th c.).
New Martyrs Benjamin, metropolitan of Petrograd, and those with him: Archimandrite Sergius and George and John of Petrograd (1922).
Martyr Maximus (1928).
New New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest (1937).
New Hieromartyr John priest, Martyr Constantine priest, Virgin-martyr Anna, and St. Elizabeth (after 1937).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1941).
New Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Kineshma (1945)
Martyr Julitta at Caesarea (304).
St. Germanus, bishop of Auxerre (448) (Celtic & British).
Martyr Dionysius of Vatopedi, Mt. Athos (1822).
Righteous Joseph of Arimathea (1st c.).
Venerable Neot, hermit in Cornwall (877) (Celtic & British).
Twelve Martyrs of Rome (Greek).
Translation of the relics of Apostle Philip to Cyprus. (Greek).
Consecration of the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos of Blachernae (Greek).
St. John the Exarch of Bulgaria (900).
St. Arsenius the Bishop of Ninotsminda (1082) (Georgia).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 10:16-22 Matins Gospel
16
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17
But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18
You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20
for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21
Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
4
But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
5
Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia).
6
And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go.
7
For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
8
But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.
9
For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10
And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.
11
Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.
12
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.
1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6
Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7
And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
28
But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’
29
He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.
30
Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.
31
Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
32
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
Thursday Reading
2 Corinthians 1:1-7
1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
6
Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7
And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
43
Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.
44
And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.
45
Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.
46
But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
Romans 8:28-39 Martyr Benjamin and those with him
28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36
As it is written:”For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39
nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Luke 21:12-19 Martyr Benjamin and those with him
12
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
13
But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
14
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
16
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
17
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
18
But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
19
By your patience possess your souls.