☦ Orthodox Calendar — Julian calendar
Gregorian calendarJulian calendar☦ Saints of the day
- Prophet Zachariah
📜 Life of the saint
The Holy Prophet Zachariah and the Righteous Elizabeth were the parents of the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. They were descended from the lineage of Aaron: Saint Zachariah, son of Barach, was a priest in the Jerusalem Temple, and Saint Elizabeth was the sister of Saint… - Holy Hieromartyr Athanasius of Brest-Litovsk (1649)
📜 Life of the saint
Saint Athanasius of Brest-Litovsk served as Bishop of Brest-Litovsk in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the 17th century. He was a steadfast defender of the Orthodox Faith during the period following the Union of Brest (1596), which sought to bring Eastern Christians under Catholic jurisdiction. Refusing to accept the Union and its implications for Orthodox practice, he remained loyal to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the traditions of the Eastern Church. His unwavering commitment to Orthodoxy led to his persecution by authorities favoring the Union. In 1649, he was arrested and imprisoned. While imprisoned, he was subjected to harsh treatment and ultimately died as a martyr for his faith, refusing to renounce Orthodoxy. His death is commemorated on October 1st (September 18th, Old Style) in the Orthodox Church. He is venerated as a Hieromartyr, a bishop-martyr who suffered for the true Faith. - Holy Martyrs Abda the bishop, Hormizd and Sunin of Persia (4th c)
📜 Life of the saint
Saint Abda, Bishop of Merv, and his companions Saints Hormizd and Sunin were martyred in Persia during the persecution under Emperor Shapur II (reigned 309-379 AD), likely around 340 AD. They were prominent Christian leaders in the Persian Empire, where the Church faced severe oppression. Abda, as a bishop, and his fellow Christians Hormizd and Sunin steadfastly refused to renounce their faith. For their unwavering witness to Christ, they were condemned to death. According to the ancient accounts preserved in the Orthodox martyrologies, they were beheaded at Merv. Their martyrdom stands as a testament to the courage of the early Persian Church under imperial persecution. The Holy Church commemorates them on March 25th.
📖 Readings of the day
Epistle — Ephesians 1.7-17
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not 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 unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Gospel — Mark 8.1-10
1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
✠ Continuous Gospel reading
John 15 KJV
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every {branch} that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye {are} the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {without me: or, severed from me}
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast {them} into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and {that} your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and {that} your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before {it hated} you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. {cloke: or, excuse}
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But {this cometh to pass}, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, {even} the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
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