Wednesday, September 2, 1953
Martyr Mamas of Caesarea in Cappadocia (275), and his parents, Martyrs Theodotus and Rufina; St John IV, Patriarch of Constantinople, known as John the Faster (595); Righteous Eleazar, son of Aaron and second High Priest of Israel
Wednesday of the 15th week after Pentecost
Tone 5. Fast day: strict. What this means
The Epistle for Anthony & Theodosius of Kiev Caves
Romans 8:28–39
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
31What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? 33Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Gospel
Mark 6:7–13
He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, 9but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. 10He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick and healed them.
Commemorated today
- Ven. Anthony and Theodosius of Kiev Caves
- Cosmas the Hermit
- Ammon & Aeithalas the Martyrs of Thrace
- Martyr Mamas of Caesarea in Cappadocia (275), and his parents, Martyrs Theodotus and Rufina
- St John IV, Patriarch of Constantinople, known as John the Faster (595)
- Ven. Anthony of the Kiev Caves
- Righteous Eleazar, son of Aaron and second High Priest of Israel
- Repose of Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) of Platina (1982). (August 20 OC)
Hymns and lives of the saints are on the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.