Sunday 13th July 2025
Tone 4 - Eothinon 5
Sunday of the Fathers of the 4th Œcumenical Council
Synaxis of the Appearances of the Holy Archangel Gabriel
Today we commemorate:
Venerable Stephen of Mar Sabbas Monastery and St. Heliophotos (794). Holy Martyr Golinduc, in Holy Baptism Mary, of Persia (591). Holy Martyr Serapion, under Severus (193). Holy Martyr Marcian of Iconium (258).
British Isles and Ireland:
Hieromartyr Dogfan of Dyfed (6th C). St. Mildred, abbess of Minster in Thanet (c.700). St. Just of Penwith (5th C).
Titus 3:8-15; Matthew 5:14-19
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 2:2-10; Luke 10:16-21
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Titus 3:8-15
The message is to be trusted, and I want you to affirm these things constantly so that those who believe in God may be anxious to lead the way in good works. These things are good and profitable for people. But avoid stupid speculations and genealogies and controversies and quarrels about the law, because they are unprofitable and pointless. Have nothing to do with a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that someone like that has become perverted, is self-condemned, and sins. As soon as I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, hurry to come to me at Nicopolis for I have decided to winter there. Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way promptly, and see that they lack nothing. And let them learn, you too, to lead the way in good works in the face of urgent necessity so that they may not be unfruitful. Those with me greet you. Greet those who truly love us. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Matthew 5:14-19
The Lord said to his disciples, ‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand so that it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before all in the same way so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to overthrow the law or the prophets. I have not come to overthrow but to fulfil, for truly I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one tiny pen-stroke, shall pass from the law until everything is accomplished. Whoever then sets aside one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever keeps them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.’
Hebrews 2:2-10
If the message spoken by angels had force, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation that was first announced by the Lord and confirmed to us by those who heard, with God also bearing witness through signs and wonders and miracles and various gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will? But it was not to angels that he subjected the world to come of which we speak, because somewhere someone bore witness, saying, ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them? Or the Son of Man that you watch over him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honour; you put everything in subjection under his feet.’ Since he subjected everything to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him, though as yet we do not see everything in subjection to him. We do however see Jesus, the one who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honour through the suffering of death so that by the grace of God he might taste death on behalf of everyone. It was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things came into existence, in bringing many children to glory to make perfect through sufferings the author of their salvation.
Luke 10:16-21
The Lord said to his disciples, ‘Whoever listens to you, listens to me; and whoever rejects you, rejects me; and whoever rejects me, rejects him who sent me.’ The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are obedient to us in your name.’ And he told them, ‘I was watching Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Understand that I give you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy, so that nothing may harm you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits obey you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ At that moment Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the clever and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this was your delight.’