☦ Orthodox Calendar — Julian calendar
⇄ Gregorian calendar☦ Saints of the day
- Ven. Sisoes the Great
📜 Life of the saint
Saint Sisoes the Great, a revered Desert Father of the Egyptian monastic tradition, lived during the 4th and 5th centuries. Once a soldier in the Roman army, he experienced a profound conversion and entered monastic life. He chose the solitary life in the Nitrian Desert, dwelling in a small cell near the monastery of Saint Anthony. Known for his extreme humility and deep repentance, he was often seen weeping, not from sorrow, but from a constant awareness of his own sinfulness and God's infinite mercy. His tears were a sign of his profound spiritual struggle and unwavering humility. He lived a life of rigorous asceticism, prayer, and obedience, yet remained gentle and compassionate, especially towards those who sought his counsel. His reputation for holiness spread widely, drawing monks and seekers to his cell. The Church honors Saint Sisoes the Great for his exemplary life of repentance, humility, and unwavering communion with God in the desert. - Holy Martyrs Marinus and Martha, and those with them (269)
📜 Life of the saint
Holy Martyrs Marinus and Martha, together with many companions, suffered for Christ during the fierce persecution under Emperor Diocletian in the year 269. They were a married couple, steadfast in their Christian faith, who refused to offer sacrifice to the idols as commanded by the imperial decree. For their unwavering witness to the truth of Christ, they were subjected to severe torture and imprisonment. Despite the threats and suffering inflicted upon them, they remained resolute, declaring their loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ. With them, many others who held fast to the faith also endured imprisonment and death, sharing in the same courageous witness. Their martyrdom was a powerful testimony to the strength of the Christian faith in the face of imperial oppression. The Church honors their memory because they gave their lives freely, choosing eternal life with Christ over the fleeting promises of this world, thus fulfilling the Lord's call to bear witness even unto death. Their example remains a beacon of faithfulness for all who follow Christ.
📖 Readings of the day
Epistle — Romans 12.4-5, 15-21
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Gospel — Matthew 12.9-13
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
✠ Continuous Gospel reading
Mark 3 KJV
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. {Stand forth: Gr. Arise, stand forth in the midst}
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched {it} out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. {hardness: or, blindness}
6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and {from} beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. {pressed: or, rushed}
11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth {unto him} whom he would: and they came unto him.
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;
17 And James the {son} of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the {son} of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. {into...: or, home}
20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
21 And when his friends heard {of it}, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. {friends: or, kinsmen}
22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
23 And he called them {unto him}, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
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