2024

On Sunday | July 21

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Fourth Sunday

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

Rom. 6:18 – 23

Brethren, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [RSV]

The Gospel

Fourth Sunday of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 8:5 – 13

At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Devout Saints.

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

1 Cor. 3:18 – 23

Brethren, let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So let no one boast of men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future, all are yours; and you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On July 21, we commemorate our devout Fathers John and Symeon the Fool for Chirst.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Acakius of Cappadocia, in Heptascalon; and the contest of the holy Martyrs Theophilus, Trophimus, and the thirteen with them; and the holy Martyrs Justus and Matthew; and we also celebrate the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos in the district of Armatius.

On this day the three holy Martyrs of Melitene died as they were dragged over rocks.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyrs George, Theodore, and Eugene.

Our devout Father Parthenius, Bishop of Radobysdion, Arta, reposed in peace in the year 1777.

By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.