Friday 11th July 2025
Fast day: wine and oil allowed
Miracle of Great-martyr Euphemia the All-praised of Chalcedon
Today we commemorate:
Blessed Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, Princess of Russia, in Holy Baptism called Helen (969). Hieromartyr Cindeus of Pamphylia (4th C). New Martyr Nicodemus of Mt. Athos (1722). New Martyr Nicodemus of Hilandar (1809). New Martyr Nectarius of St. Anne’s Skete (1820). St. Benedict of Nursia (550)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Sophrony of Essex (+1993). St. Drostan, abbot of Old Deer (610). St. Thurketyl, abbot of Crowland (975). St. Amabilis (c.634).
Romans 16:1-16; Matthew 13:3-9
For the Commemoration: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10; Luke 7:36-50
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Romans 16:1-16
I commend to you our sister Phoebe who is a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and help her with whatever she needs from you, for she has been of great assistance to many, including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow labourers in Christ Jesus, who for the sake of my life risked their own necks. It is not only I who am grateful to them, but all the churches of the Gentiles as well. Greet the church at their house, and my beloved Epaenetus who was the first in Christ of Achaia. Greet Mary who did so much work for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles and were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow labourer in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, tested in Christ. Greet the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman. Greet those in the Lord at the house of Narcissus. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa who are labouring in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis who has done so much work in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen of the Lord, and his mother, and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
Matthew 13:3-9
The Lord told this parable. ‘A sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside and the birds came and ate them. Others fell on stony ground where they had little soil; they sprouted immediately because they had no depth of earth, but when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root they withered. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell into good soil and produced grain: some, a hundred times over, and some sixty and some thirty. Let those who have ears for listening, listen.’
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
As fellow labourers, we implore you not to accept the grace of God in vain, for he says, ‘At a favourable time I heard you, and on a day of salvation I came to your aid.’ Understand that now is an acceptable time, that now is a day of salvation. We give no cause for offence in any way so that the ministry may not be discredited, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way with great perseverance, in afflictions, in hardships, in dire straits, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in sufferings; by vigils, by fasts, by purity, by knowledge, by fortitude, by kindness, by a spirit of holiness, by sincere love; with the word of truth, with the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness to the right and the left; through glory and dishonour, through defamation and praise; as imposters yet genuine, as unknown yet well-known, as dying but you see we are alive, as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as beggars yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing everything.
Luke 7:36-50
At that time one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took a place at the table. Then a woman of the town appeared; she was a sinner. When she learnt that he was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. Taking up a position behind, near his feet, she wept aloud and began to bathe his feet with the tears and to wipe them with the hair of her head. She was kissing his feet and anointing them with the perfumed oil. When the Pharisee who invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet he would know who, and what sort of woman, is touching him: that she is a sinner.’ Jesus responded. He said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’ He said, ‘Speak, teacher.’ ‘There were two debtors of a certain money-lender. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty, and as they had nothing with which to repay it, he discharged them both. Which of them then, would you say, will love him more?’ And Simon answered, ‘The one for whom he discharged the greater amount, I suppose.’ He told him, ‘You judged rightly.’ He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but this woman bathed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me no kiss, but since she arrived this woman has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman anointed my feet with perfumed oil. On account of this, I tell you that her sins, which are many, have been forgiven because she showed great love. But those who are forgiven little, love little.’ And he said to her, ‘Your sins have been forgiven.’ Those dining with him then began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’