Friday September 20, 2019 / September 7, 2019

14th Week after Pentecost. Tone four.
Fast. Food with Oil

Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
Martyr Sozon of Cilicia (304).
St. John, archbishop and wonderworker of Novgorod (1186).
Martyrdom of St. Macarius, archimandrite of Kanev (1678).
Venerable Macarius of Optina (1860).
New Hieromartyrs Peter and Michael priests, Alexander diacon (1918).
New Hieromartyr Priest John Maslovsky of Verkhne-Poltavka, Amur (1921).
New Hieromartyrs Eugene metropolitan of Gorky, Stephan priest and Hieromartyrs Eugene, Nicholas and Pakhomius, New Hieromartyrs Gregory, Basil priests, Hieromartyr Leo (1937).
Venerables Alexander Peresvet and Andrew Osliaby (1380).
Venerable Serapion of Spaso-Eleazar Monastery in Pskov (1480).
Apostles Evodus (Euodias) (66) and Onesiphorus (67) of the Seventy.
Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea in Cappadocia (2nd c.).
Venerable Luke and St. Peter the Cappadocian, abbots of the monastery of the Deep Stream (10th c.).
St. Cassia (Cassiane) the Hymnographer (9th c.).
Venerable Cloud (Clodoald), abbot-founder of Nogent-sur-Seine near Paris (560) (Gaul).

The Scripture Readings

Galatians 2:6-10
Mark 5:22-24, 35-6:1
Saturday Reading
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 23:1-12
Ephesians 6:10-17 Martyr
John 15:17-16:2 Martyr

Troparion

Troparion of Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Tone IV —
Mary the divine Maiden, is born unto us today/ from the root of Jesse and the loins of David;/ and all things rejoice and are made new through joy./ Rejoice, together, O heaven and earth!/ Praise her, ye lands of the gentiles!/ Joachim maketh glad, and Anna holdeth festival, crying aloud:// A barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos, the Nourisher of our Life!

Troparion of Holy Martyr Sozon in Tone IV —
In his suffering, O Lord,/ Thy martyr Sozon received an imperishable crown from Thee our God;/ for, possessed of Thy might,/ he set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons.// By his supplications save Thou our souls.

Kontakion of the Holy Martyr Sozon in Tone II —
Assembling today, with a loud voice let us praise Sozon,/ the true and divinely wise martyr,/ the skilled athlete of piety,/ the initiate of the mysteries of grace,/ the most generous bestower of healings:// for he entreateth Christ God in behalf of us all.

Kontakion of the Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Tone III “Today the Virgin" —
Today Mary, the Virgin and Theotokos,/ the boundless chamber of the Heavenly Bridegroom is born!/ From a barren woman, by the counsel of God,/ the chariot of the Word is rightly adorned;// for she was foretold as the divine portal and Mother of life.