Tuesday, 8 September 2026

Nativity of the Most-Holy Theotokos

Tuesday of the 15th week after Pentecost

149 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Major feast Theotokos · No Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Nativity of our most holy Lady the Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary

The Nativity of the Theotokos is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church and opens the liturgical year, which begins on 1 September. It celebrates the birth of the Virgin Mary to the righteous Joachim and Anna, an aged and childless couple of the tribe of Judah and the priestly line of Aaron. According to the tradition preserved in the Protoevangelium of James and in the hymnography of the feast, Joachim was rebuked in the Temple for his childlessness, and he and Anna devoted themselves to fervent prayer and fasting, vowing to dedicate any child born to them to God. An angel appeared to each of them, announcing the conception of a daughter who would be the joy of all the earth. Mary was born in Jerusalem (or, in another tradition, in Nazareth) and was prepared from her infancy to become the dwelling place of the Word of God. The Church sees in her birth the lifting of the curse of barrenness from the human race and the dawn of salvation: she is the "ladder of Jacob" by which God descended to mankind, and the gate through which Christ entered the world. The feast is kept with a forefeast on 7 September and an apodosis on 12 September, and the dismissal hymn proclaims, "Thy Nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to all the world."

★ The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Theotokos was born to aged and barren parents, Joachim and Anna. (For their story, see tomorrow’s listing). She was born about the year 16 or 17 before the birth of her Son, the Christ.

Holy Apostles of the Seventy Rufus and his companions

Among those commemorated on this day are the Holy Apostles of the Seventy who, with Saint Paul, laboured for the spread of the Gospel in the first generation of the Church. Tradition lists Rufus, mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:13), who is identified as the son of Simon of Cyrene who carried the Cross of the Lord. He is said to have served as bishop of Thebes in Greece. With him are remembered Apostles whose names appear in the local synaxaria for this day, who completed their course in martyrdom or in confession of the faith. The Orthodox Church honours the wider company of the Seventy not because they walked with the Lord during His earthly ministry as the Twelve did, but because they were chosen and sent out by Him (Luke 10:1) and because they carried His preaching to every quarter of the Roman world. Their feast on this day is observed alongside the Nativity of the Theotokos in the synaxaria of several Greek churches.

Holy Martyr Sozon of Cilicia

Saint Sozon was a young shepherd from the region of Lycaonia in Asia Minor who lived during the reign of the emperor Maximian, around the year 304. From his youth he was a Christian and tended his flock in the open country, often gathering travellers and fellow shepherds to teach them the faith. According to his life, he had a vision in which he was called to confess Christ openly, and entering the city of Pompeiopolis in Cilicia, he found a great golden idol set up for public veneration. Taking off one of its arms, he broke it into pieces and distributed the gold to the poor. When the people raised an outcry and innocent men were arrested for the deed, Sozon came forward and presented himself to the governor Maximian, declaring that he alone had destroyed the idol because it was a lifeless work of human hands. He was beaten with rods, his feet shod with iron sandals studded with nails, and finally he was cast into a fire, in which he gave up his soul to God. Christians later recovered his relics, and a church was built in his honour where many healings were reported. He is venerated as a patron of shepherds.

Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia who suffered by the sword

The synaxaria for 8 September commemorate a group of holy martyrs of Nicomedia who, during the persecutions of the late third and early fourth centuries, were brought before the imperial tribunal and there confessed Christ. After enduring scourging and imprisonment they were beheaded by the sword for their refusal to offer sacrifice to the idols. Nicomedia, the eastern capital of the empire under Diocletian, was one of the principal centres of the Great Persecution, and many thousands of Christians, both clergy and laity, gave up their lives there for the faith. Their names are not all preserved, but the Church honours them collectively in this commemoration. Their witness sealed the testimony of the Christians of Bithynia and helped prepare the soil from which, within a generation, the faith would emerge openly under Saint Constantine.

New Martyr Athanasius of Thessalonika

1774

He was born to a distinguished and pious Christian family in Thessalonika. After acquiring an unusually good education he spent a few years in Constantinople, then returned to his native city. He spoke both Turkish and Arabic well, and often conversed with Muslims. Once, while speaking with an emir, Athanasius pronounced the Muslim confession of faith to illustrate a point. The emir, seeing an opportunity, immediately reported Athanasius to the Islamic judge, claiming that he had converted to Islam. The judge found no merit in the case and would have dismissed Athanasius; but the emir and other officials were insistent, and the judge pressured Athanasius to convert. When Athanasius answered that he knew no truth but that of Christ, he was thrown in prison. When he appeared before the judge several days later, he was still firm in his confession, and was sentenced to death. He was hanged outside the city in 1774, at the age of twenty-five.

Our Venerable Father Serapion of Pskov

1481

He wss born in (what is now) Lithuania, but entered monastic life in the Pskov district. His spiritual father was St Euphrosynus (May 15), under whose care he lived for more than fifty-five years. He became known for his exceptional humility and asceticism. He tried never to be idle, giving any free moment to prayer and reading of Scripture. He emphasized the importance of the common prayer of the Church, saying that reciting the entire Twelve Psalm rule in one’s cell was not worth one Kyrie Eleison chanted by the brethren assembled together in church. His knowledge of Lithuanian and Finnish allowed him to strengthen the faith among the peoples of those lands. When he died, at the age of ninety, his clothing was so threadbare that no one wanted it. Soon after his repose, a blind man recovered his sight at St Serapion’s tomb, which has been the site of many miracles ever since.

Daily readings

Epistle

— Theotokos weekly cycle

Philippians — Philippians 2.5-11

⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel

— Theotokos weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 10.38-42, 11.27-28

³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

²⁷And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. ²⁸But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Vespers

Genesis — Genesis 28.10-17

¹⁰And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. ¹¹And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. ¹²And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. ¹³And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; ¹⁴And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ¹⁵And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

¹⁶And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. ¹⁷And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Vespers

Ezekiel — Ezekiel 43.27-44.4

²⁷And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.

¹Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. ²Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. ³It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.

⁴Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.

Vespers

Proverbs — Proverbs 9.1-11

¹Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: ²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. ³She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, ⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. ⁶Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. ⁷He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. ⁸Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. ⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. ¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 1.39-49, 56

³⁹And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; ⁴⁰And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. ⁴¹And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: ⁴²And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. ⁴³And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. ⁴⁶And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, ⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. ⁴⁸For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. ⁴⁹For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. ⁵⁶And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Epistle

Galatians — Galatians 2.21-3.7

²¹I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

¹O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? ²This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? ⁴Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. ⁵He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ⁶Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

⁷Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Gospel

Mark — Mark 6.1-7

¹And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. ²And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? ³Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. ⁴But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. ⁵And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. ⁶And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

⁷And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;