2023

On Sunday | August 6

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

9th Sunday

The reading is from Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians.

1 Cor. 3:9-17

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are. [RSV]

The Gospel

9th Sunday of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

2023

August 6

Commemoration of the Transfiguration of our Savior

The Readings from Vespers the Previous Evening

From Menaion - - -

Ex 24:12-18

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone and the law and commandments I wrote, that you may teach them." So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and they went up to the mountain of God. But he said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them." Then Moses and Joshua went up the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. Now the glory of God descended on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. Then on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the Lord's glory was like a burning fire on the top of the mountain before the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up the mountain; and he was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. [SAAS]

Ex 33:11-23, 34:4-6, 8

Thus the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. Then Moses said to the Lord, "Behold, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you above all, and you have also found grace in My sight.' Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, reveal Yourself to me, that I may see You clearly and find grace in Your sight, and know this great nation is Your people." So He said, "I Myself will go before you and give you rest." Then he said to Him, "If You Yourself do not go up with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So both I and Your people shall be glorified beyond all the nations on the earth." The Lord then said to Moses, "I will also do this thing you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you above all." Moses replied, "Reveal Yourself to me." Then God said, "I will pass before you in My glory, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, before you. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man can see My face and live." Moreover, the Lord said, "Here is a place by Me: you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen." Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai as the Lord commanded him. Now the Lord descended in the cloud; and He stood with him there, and he called upon the name of the Lord. Then the Lord passed before his face and proclaimed, "The Lord God, compassionate, merciful, longsuffering, abounding in mercy and true." So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the ground and worshiped. [SAAS]

3Kg 19:3-9, 11-13, 15-16

In those days, Elijah came to Beersheba of Judah, where he left his servant. But Elijah himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat under a juniper tree. Then he lay down and slept under a tree. Unexpectedly, someone touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." Then Elijah looked, and there by his head was a cake made of wheat and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. Again the angel of the Lord came back a second time, touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, because the journey is a great many days for you." So he arose, ate and drank; and he went with the strength of that food forty days and forty nights, as far as Mount Horeb. There he went into a cave and rested. Behold, the word of the Lord came to him and said to him, "Go out tomorrow and stand on the mountain before the Lord; and behold, the Lord will pass by, and before the Lord, a great and powerful wind will be rending the mountains and shattering the rocks; but the Lord will not be in the wind. After the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord will not be in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there will be a fire, but the Lord will not be in the fire. After the fire, there will be a sound of a gentle breeze, and the Lord will be there." So when Elijah heard this, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Then the Lord said to him, "Go and return on your way to the desert of Damascus. And you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah as prophet in your place." [SAAS]

The Epistle

For the Feast.

The reading is from Peter's Second Universal Letter.

2 Pet. 1:10-19

Brethren, be more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. And I will see to it that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Feast.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 17:1-9

At that time, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead." [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On August 6 is the commemoration of the divine Transfiguration of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory and dominion forever. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fish: fish, oil and wine are allowed. Refrain from meat, dairy and eggs.

It is a major feast.