Sunday, 16 August 2026

11th Sunday after Pentecost

126 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Red cross half-circle (vigil typikon symbol) · No Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Translation of the Image not made by hands of our Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople

944

This feast, the third "Feast of the Saviour in August", commemorates the translation of the holy Image of Christ "Not Made by Hands", also known as the Holy Mandylion, from Edessa to Constantinople in the year 944. According to the ancient tradition, when King Abgar of Edessa lay sick with leprosy and heard of the wonders worked by Christ in Palestine, he sent his messenger Ananias with a letter requesting healing. The Lord, knowing the king's faith, pressed a clean cloth to His most pure face, leaving upon it the imprint of His features, and sent it to Abgar with a blessing.

Receiving the Image, King Abgar venerated it and was healed of his disease. He had the icon affixed above the gates of the city, where it was honoured by all who entered. After Abgar's death his great-grandson returned to paganism and intended to destroy the icon, but the Bishop of Edessa walled it up in a niche along with a burning lamp. With the passage of generations the location of the Image was forgotten.

In the year 545, when the Persian emperor Chosroes I besieged Edessa and the city's position seemed hopeless, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to Bishop Eulabios and ordered him to remove the Icon from the sealed niche. When he opened it the holy Mandylion was found intact, the lamp still burning before it, and an exact copy was discovered impressed upon the tile that had protected it. Through the protection of the holy Image the city was delivered from the Persians.

In 944, during the reign of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and Patriarch Theophylact, the holy Mandylion was solemnly translated from Edessa to Constantinople. On 16 August it was placed in the Pharos Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in the imperial palace. The feast of this translation entered into the liturgical calendar of the Church and the Image is the model of all icons of Christ "Not Made by Hands".

Holy New Martyr Stamatios of Volos

The New Martyr Stamatios was born in the village of Aghios Georgios Nileias in Magnesia, on the north-west slopes of Mount Pelion, and lived in the seventeenth century. He was a pious Greek Christian, well respected by his fellow countrymen for his integrity and faith, who lived under the harsh conditions of Ottoman rule. In a time of crushing taxation imposed upon the Christian populations of Thessaly, Stamatios was chosen as a member of a delegation sent to Constantinople to petition the Sublime Porte for tax relief on behalf of his people. With courage and the eloquence of an honest man he stated the grievances of the Christians before the Ottoman authorities. The Turks, however, took offence at his bold and uncompromising stand and demanded that he renounce Christ and embrace Islam, promising honour and reward. Saint Stamatios refused to deny his Saviour. Despite threats, flattery and the pressure of those who urged him to save his life by apostatising, he confessed his faith with steadfast firmness. Dragged to the great Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, before one of its massive doors he was beheaded for his confession of Christ. The exact year of his martyrdom is given variously as 1680 or 1688. Because the day of his martyric end coincided with the great Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church transferred his commemoration to the following day. He is honoured as a New Martyr who shed his blood rather than betray Christ, and his memory is kept on 16 August.

Holy Unmercenary Physician Diomedes of Tarsus

The Holy Martyr Diomedes was born in Tarsus in Cilicia and studied the medical arts. His scientific knowledge did not make him proud, for he retained the piety in which his parents had raised him. He used his skill to treat the bodies of the sick, and at the same time, by the word of his preaching, to heal their souls. He brought many pagans to faith in Christ and is numbered among the holy Unmercenary Physicians, who took no payment for their healing. Saint Diomedes laboured in the city of Nicaea during the reign of the emperor Diocletian. When the persecution of Christians began, his missionary activity was reported to the emperor, who ordered his arrest. Before the soldiers could carry out their commission, however, the Lord called His servant to Himself: as Saint Diomedes was praying, he gave up his soul to God and the soldiers found him already dead. Even though he was deceased, the soldiers struck off his head in order to prove to Diocletian that the orders had been carried out. As they bore the head away, the soldiers were struck blind, and only when their commander returned the head to the body did they regain their sight. Witnessing this miracle, the soldiers themselves came to faith in Christ. The Church venerates Saint Diomedes as one of the Holy Unmercenaries, and his name is invoked in the Mystery of Holy Unction along with the other Unmercenary Physicians, that the Lord might heal the bodies and souls of the faithful through their prayers.

Venerable Gerasimus the New of Cephalonia

Saint Gerasimus the New, called "the New Ascetic" to distinguish him from earlier saints of the same name, was born about 1506 in the village of Trikala in the Peloponnese into the noble Notaras family. From his youth he was inflamed with love for God and, leaving worldly honours behind, he set out as a pilgrim through the lands sanctified by the footsteps of Christ. He travelled first to Constantinople and then to Mount Athos, where he embraced the monastic life. Thereafter he journeyed to Jerusalem, where he remained for some twelve years, venerating the holy places and serving the Patriarch of Jerusalem who ordained him priest. He visited the monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, the deserts of Egypt, the island of Crete (where he lived as a hermit in a cave for two years), and the island of Zakynthos (where he spent a further five years in solitary asceticism). About 1555 he came to the island of Cephalonia and settled in a cave at Lassi near Argostoli. After some time he withdrew to the inland plain of Omala, where he discovered the ruined chapel of the Dormition of the Theotokos. He restored the chapel, dug a well with his own hands, and gathered around himself a community of nuns, founding the monastery of New Jerusalem which still stands today. Saint Gerasimus was granted by God the gift of healing the sick and casting out unclean spirits, especially those troubled by demonic possession. Forewarned of the day of his repose, he gave up his soul to God on 15 August 1579. Because that day is the great Feast of the Dormition, his commemoration is kept on 16 August. His relics remain incorrupt to this day in the monastery he founded, and he is venerated as the patron and protector of Cephalonia. His translation is also commemorated on 20 October.

Martyr Diomedes the Physician of Tarsus in Cilicia

298

He is one of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians, a physician who practiced in Tarsus during the reign of Diocletian. Around 288 he came to Nicaea, where he healed many bodies by his medical arts and many souls through his preaching of the Gospel of Christ. The Emperor Diocletian sent men to arrest him, but when they arrived they found that he had already reposed. They cut off his head to take it back to the Emperor, and for this abomination were all struck blind. When Diocletian saw St Diomedes’ head, he ordered the men to return it to the body from which they had taken it. As soon as they had done so, their sight was restored.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 9.2-12

²If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. ³Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, ⁴Have we not power to eat and to drink? ⁵Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? ⁶Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? ⁷Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ⁸Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? ⁹For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? ¹⁰Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. ¹¹If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? ¹²If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 18.23-35

²³Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. ²⁴And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ²⁷Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. ²⁹And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. ³⁰And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. ³¹So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. ³²Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: ³³Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? ³⁴And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. ³⁵So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

11th Matins Gospel

John — John 21.15-25

¹⁵So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. ¹⁶He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. ¹⁹This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. ²⁰Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? ²¹Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? ²²Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. ²³Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? ²⁴This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. ²⁵And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Epistle

— Image

Colossians — Colossians 1.12-18

¹²Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: ¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ¹⁷And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Gospel

— Image

Luke — Luke 9.51-56, 10.22-24

⁵¹And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, ⁵²And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. ⁵³And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? ⁵⁵But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. ⁵⁶For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. ²²All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

²³And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: ²⁴For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.