2023

On Thursday | August 31

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Thursday of the 13th Week

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

2 Cor. 10:7-18

Brethren, if any one is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that as he is Christ's, so are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame. I would not seem to be frightening you with letters. For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limit, but will keep to the limits God has apportioned us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit, in other men's labors; but our hope is that you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's field. "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord." For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the man whom the Lord commends. [RSV]

The Gospel

Thursday of the 13th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 3:28-35

The Lord said, "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin," for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother." [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Theotokos.

The reading is from Paul's Letter to the Hebrews.

Heb. 9:1-7

Brethren, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lamp stand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Theotokos.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 10:38-42; 11:27-28

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On August 31 we remember the installation of the Precious Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos in the church dedicated to her in Chalkoprateia in Constantinople, to where it was transferred from the Diocese of Zela in Cappadocia by the Emperor Justinian. We also remember the miracle that occurred when the Precious Belt was placed on the Empress Zoe, the wife of Emperor Leo.

On this day we commemorate the restoration of the church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Neorion.

Through the intercessions of Your undefiled Mother, Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.