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Sunday, 13 September 2026

15th Sunday after Pentecost

154 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Commemoration of the founding of the Church of the Holy Resurrection at Jerusalem

On 13 September the Orthodox Church commemorates the consecration of the great Church of the Holy Resurrection, the Anastasis, built by Saint Constantine the Great and his mother Saint Helen over the holy sites of Golgotha and the Tomb of the Lord in Jerusalem. After the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helen around the year 326, Constantine ordered the construction of a magnificent basilica enclosing the place of the Crucifixion and the rock-cut tomb in which the body of the Saviour had been laid and from which He rose on the third day. The work was completed under the supervision of the bishop Macarius of Jerusalem, and the dedication of the church took place on 13 September of the year 335 in the presence of bishops gathered from many provinces of the empire who had been attending a council at Tyre. From the day of the consecration the faithful kept a yearly festival of "the Encaenia," and on the day following, that is, on 14 September, the precious Cross was lifted up before the people and exalted in the four directions, the origin of the great feast of the Exaltation. The commemoration today is the memory of that consecration, and it is fittingly placed on the eve of the Exaltation, since the Cross and the empty Tomb form together the heart of the Christian mystery.

Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross

On 13 September the Orthodox Church keeps the forefeast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, preparing the faithful for the great feast on the following day. The hymnography of the forefeast already begins to call all the ends of the earth to come and venerate the holy wood by which the curse of Adam was broken and the gates of paradise reopened. The Cross, foreshadowed in the rod of Moses that struck water from the rock and divided the sea, in the brazen serpent that healed those who looked upon it, and in the staff of Aaron that budded, is sung as the weapon of peace and the unconquerable trophy of Christ. The forefeast also bridges the apodosis of the Nativity of the Theotokos, kept on the previous day, and the Exaltation, so that the Church passes from the joy of the birth of the one who would bear the Saviour to the contemplation of the saving sufferings He would endure. The faithful are summoned to fasting and watchfulness in preparation for the strict fast and prostrations of the feast itself.

Holy Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion of the Seventy

Saint Cornelius was a Roman centurion of the Italian Cohort stationed at Caesarea in Palestine, the first Gentile to be received into the Christian Church without first becoming a Jewish proselyte. He is described in the Acts of the Apostles as a devout man, fearing God with all his household, giving much alms to the people and praying to God always. While praying at the ninth hour, he saw an angel of God who told him that his prayers and his alms had come up as a memorial before God, and bade him send for the Apostle Peter at Joppa. While the messengers were on the road, Saint Peter received the vision of the great sheet let down from heaven and the voice that said, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Coming to Caesarea, Peter preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his household, and the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word, and they were baptised in the name of the Lord (Acts 10). After his baptism Cornelius left his military service and accompanied Peter on his missionary journeys; he is numbered among the Seventy and is said to have been ordained bishop of Skepsis in Mysia, where he converted many pagans by his preaching and by miracles. He cast down a temple of Apollo by his prayer and brought to the faith the chief man of the city. After many labours he was beaten and stoned but not killed; he reposed in peace, though he is honoured by the Church with the title of hieromartyr because of the sufferings he endured for the Gospel.

Holy Martyrs Cronides, Leontius, and Serapion of Alexandria

The holy martyrs Cronides, Leontius, and Serapion suffered for Christ at Alexandria in Egypt during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian, around the year 237 according to some sources, or in the early fourth century according to others. They were Christians of the city well known for the steadfastness of their faith, and when they were denounced and arrested they readily confessed Christ before the governor. After being scourged and tortured in various ways to make them deny the Lord, they were sentenced to be cast into the sea with stones tied to their feet so that no relics might remain to be honoured by the faithful. Yet according to their passion, the bodies were carried by the waves to the shore, and Christians recovered them and gave them honourable burial. Their feast on this day, the eve of the Exaltation of the Cross, sets before the Church the example of those who have already followed the Lord by way of His Cross to the resurrection and the unfading crown.

Holy Great Martyr Ketevan, Queen of Georgia

1624

In the seventeenth century, the Kingdom of Georgia was cruelly pressed by the Ottoman Empire on one side and Persia, under Shah Abbas the Great, on the other. King Theimuraz was taken captive by the Persians during an invasion and held captive in the fortress of Shiraz until, after many tortures, he was strangled. The King’s mother, Queen Ketevan, travelled to the Persian court at Shiraz along with her grandsons Levan and Alexander, to plead with the Shah to spare the Kingdom. The Shah agreed, but the three were kept as hostages, where all were cruelly tortured. Queen Ketevan endured ten years of captivity, throughout which the Shah attempted to convert her to Islam, first by persuasion and threats, then by torture. The Queen refused every effort to drive her into apostasy, and before each new torture would make the sign of the Cross and say ‘In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ At the end a brazier of burning coals was fixed to her head and, in the midst of her extreme torment, she was strangled with a bow-string on September 13 1624. After her glorious martyrdom a divine light surrounded her tomb.

Daily readings

Epistle

— Sunday before Elevation weekly cycle

Galatians — Galatians 6.11-18

11Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. 12As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 18Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Gospel

— Sunday before Elevation weekly cycle

John — John 3.13-17

13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Vespers

1 Kings — 3[1] Kings 8.22-23, 27-30

22And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 27But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 28Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: 29That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. 30And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.

Vespers

Proverbs — Proverbs 3.19-34

19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. 29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

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.

4th Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 24.1-12

1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8And they remembered his words, 9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Epistle

2 Corinthians — 2 Corinthians 4.6-15

6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Epistle

— Church

Hebrews — Hebrews 3.1-4

1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Gospel

Matthew — Matthew 22.35-46

35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

41While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Gospel

— Church

Matthew — Matthew 16.13-18

13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.