Thursday 18th September 2025
Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross
Today we commemorate:
St. Eumenios, bishop of Gortyna (6th C). Holy Martyr Ariadne of Phrygia (2nd C). Holy Martyrs Sophia and Irene of Egypt (3rd C). Holy Martyr Castor of Alexandria.
Galatians 3:23-4:5; Mark 6:30-45
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Galatians 3:23-4:5
Before the coming of faith we were guarded under the law, locked up for the faith yet to be revealed. And so the law became our tutor on behalf of Christ so that by faith we might be made righteous. But faith has come, and we are no longer under a tutor because you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all who are baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, because you are all one in Christ Jesus. And since you are Christ’s, you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise. I am saying that as long as the heir, the master of everything, is a child, the heir is no different from a slave and is under guardians and trustees until the day set by the father. We too, when we were children, were enslaved under the elemental principles of the world, but in the fullness of time God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters.
Mark 6:30-45
At that time the Apostles came together to Jesus and told him everything, all that they had done and all that they had taught, and he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a solitary place and rest for a while.’ For great numbers were coming and going, and they had no opportunity even to eat. And so they went off in a boat by themselves to a deserted place. But they were seen leaving, and many recognised them; and from all the towns they ran together on foot and got there before them and gathered around him. When Jesus disembarked, he saw a great crowd and had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. When the hour was well advanced, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This place is a wilderness and it is late. Send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy bread for themselves, for they have nothing to eat.’ But in reply he told them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ And they responded, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of loaves to give them to eat?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ He then ordered them to get everyone to sit down in companies on the green grass; and they sat down, rank upon rank, by hundreds and by fifties. He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before them; and the two fish he distributed to all. And everyone ate and was satisfied. The disciples then gathered up the fragments, twelve baskets full, and also the fish. Those eating the loaves were five thousand men. He made his disciples get into the boat immediately, to go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.