Wednesday, July 30, 2087
Apostles Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, Epenetus, and Andronicus of the Seventy; Hieromartyr Polychronius, Bishop of Babylon, and those with him (251); Venerable Angelina, Princess of Albania.
Wednesday of the 7th week after Pentecost
Tone 5. Fast day: strict. What this means
The Epistle for Apostles Silas & Silvanus
Acts 15:35–41
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 37Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. 38But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. 39Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
The Gospel
Matthew 14:35–15:11
When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick; 36and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 2“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,” 6he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. 7You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’”
10He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. 11That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
Commemorated today
- Apostles Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, Epenetus, and Andronicus of the Seventy
- Julitta of Caesaria
- Hieromartyr Polychronius, Bishop of Babylon, and those with him (251)
- Venerable Angelina, Princess of Albania.
Hymns and lives of the saints are on the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.