Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Midfeast of Pentecost
Wednesday of the 4th Sunday of Pascha
Tone 3. Fast day: fish, wine and oil allowed. What this means
The Epistle for Blessing of Waters
Hebrews 2:11–18
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The Gospel for Blessing of Waters
John 5:1–4
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
Commemorated today
- Martyr Isidore of Chios
- Ven. Isidore, Fool-for-Christ of Rostov
- Holy Hieromartyr Therapontus
- Holy New Martyrs Mark and John
- Leontius, Patriarch of Jerusalem
- Our Holy Father Serapion the Sindonite (5th c.)
Hymns and lives of the saints are on the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.