2024

On Sunday | August 18

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Eighth Sunday

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

1 Cor. 1:10 – 17

Brethren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. [RSV]

The Gospel

Eighth Sunday of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 14:14 – 22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Martyrs.

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians.

Col. 1:24 – 29, 2:1

Brethren, now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ Jesus. For this I toil, striving with all the energy which he mightily inspires within me. For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On August 18, we commemorate the holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus.

On this day the holy multitude of paupers that crushed the idols died by fire.

On this day, we commemorate the holy Martyrs Hermus, Serapion, and Polyaenus.

On this day, we commemorate the holy Martyr Juliana near Strobilus. We also commemorate the holy Martyr Leo, who contested by the sea, near Myra of Lycia.

On this day the four Ascetics in the desert died in peace.

On this day we commemorate our fathers among the saints, John and George, Patriarchs of Constantinople.

On this day we commemorate our devout and God-bearing father Arsenius the New, who was from Ioannina and lived as an ascetic on the Island of Paros.

By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.