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☦ Today Wednesday, October 7 / September 24 (old style) 🐟 Fish allowed Julian calendar ⇄
Coprios the Righteous · Holy Protomartyr Thecla, Equal to the Apostles (1st c.)

☦ Orthodox Calendar — Julian calendar

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Today · Wednesday of the 15th week after Pentecost ✦ Fast

☦ Saints of the day

  • Greatmartyr Euphemia the All-Praised
    📜 Life of the saint
    Saint Euphemia the All-Praised was a virgin martyr of Chalcedon in Bithynia (modern-day Turkey). During the Diocletian persecution (c. 303-304 AD), she steadfastly refused to sacrifice to idols, declaring her faith in Christ. For this, she was condemned to be devoured by wild beasts. She was thrown into the arena at Chalcedon, where lions were released upon her. Miraculously, the lions did not harm her, but she was ultimately martyred by the sword. Her relics were enshrined in the Church of St. Euphemia in Chalcedon, which became a major pilgrimage site. She is commemorated on September 16 (Old Calendar) or September 29 (New Calendar) in the Orthodox Church. Venerated as a Great Martyr, she is especially invoked for the defense of the Orthodox faith and for those suffering unjustly. Her feast day is celebrated universally within the Orthodox tradition.
  • Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian of Carthage (258)
    📜 Life of the saint
    Saint Cyprian of Carthage, born Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus, was a prominent bishop of Carthage in North Africa. He converted to Christianity around 246 AD, having previously been a pagan orator. He was elected bishop of Carthage in 248 AD and became a leading figure in the African Church, known for his strong advocacy of church unity, discipline, and the necessity of baptism for salvation. His extensive writings, including letters and treatises, addressed critical issues such as the validity of baptisms performed by heretics and the proper conduct of the faithful during persecution. During the severe persecution under Emperor Valerian in 258 AD, Cyprian was arrested, condemned as a Christian, and executed by beheading on September 14, 258, at Carthage. He is venerated as a martyr and a saint in the Orthodox Church.
  • St Ninian, Enlightener of Scotland (432)
    📜 Life of the saint
    Saint Ninian, a 5th-century bishop of Roman Britain, is venerated as the Enlightener of Scotland. After studying in Rome, he returned to Britain and established a monastery at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland. His most notable achievement was building a church of stone at Whithorn, an unusual practice at the time, which became a major centre of Christianity in southern Scotland. He is traditionally credited with evangelizing the southern Picts and other tribes in the region. Saint Ninian died around 432, and his feast day is observed on January 16th. His work laid foundational ecclesiastical structures in Scotland, with Whithorn developing into a significant early Christian site. The primary historical source for his life is Bede’s *Ecclesiastical History of the English People*, which confirms his mission and the stone church at Whithorn.
  • Our Holy Father Dorotheos the Solitary of Egypt (4th c.)
    📜 Life of the saint
    Saint Dorotheos the Solitary of Egypt was a 4th-century monk who lived as a hermit in the Egyptian desert, following the tradition of the Desert Fathers. He was a disciple of Saint Anthony the Great and resided in the Thebaid region, dedicating his life to asceticism, prayer, and solitude. Dorotheos is venerated for his unwavering commitment to the monastic life, withdrawing from society to pursue spiritual perfection through humility and obedience. His death occurred in the desert, though the exact date is not recorded. His memory is commemorated on February 1st in the Orthodox Church. He is recognized as one of the early Egyptian ascetics whose life exemplified the core principles of Christian monasticism: detachment from worldly concerns, constant prayer, and the pursuit of inner purity. His legacy endures as a model of solitary devotion within the tradition of the Desert Fathers.

📖 Readings of the day

Epistle — Galatians 3.15-22

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gospel — Mark 6.7-13

7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

✠ Continuous Gospel reading

Matthew 14 KJV

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, {tetrarch: or, governor over four provinces}

2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. {do...: or, are wrought by him}

3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put {him} in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. {before...: Gr. in the midst}

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded {it} to be given {her}.

10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought {it} to her mother.

12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard {of it}, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard {thereof}, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18 He said, Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to {his} disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. {boisterous: or, strong}

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth {his} hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

API: /api/calendar/julian/2027-09-29
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