Orthocalendar

Friday, August 9, 1968

Afterfeast of the Transfiguration

Friday of the 9th week after Pentecost

Tone 7. Dormition Fast: strict. What this means

The Epistle for St Matthias

Acts 1:12–17, 21–26

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, 16“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. 17For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry.

21“Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23They put forward two: Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen 25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.” 26They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was counted with the eleven apostles.

The Gospel

Matthew 21:12–14, 17–20

Jesus entered into the temple of God and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. 13He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”

14The lame and the blind came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

17He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there.

18Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.

19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit from you forever!” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

20When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree immediately wither away?”

Commemorated today

  • Constantine, Patriarch of Constantinople
  • Euthymios the Hieromartyr, Metropolitan of Rhodes
  • Apostle Matthias (1st c.)
  • Commemoration of the canonization (1970) of St Herman of Alaska (1837)
  • Holy Martyr Anthony (2nd c.)

Hymns and lives of the saints are on the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

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