From the calendar, 2026.

Saturday, June 20

Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of Patar

Fish allowedFish, wine and oil are allowed. No meat, dairy or eggs.

Appointed to be read.

At the
1. EpistleRomans 3:28–4:3
2. GospelMatthew 7:24–8:4

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Epistle.

Romans 3:28–4:3

1 min read

28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

29Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,

30since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

31Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

4:1What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?

2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

3For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.'

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Gospel.

Matthew 7:24–8:4

1 min read

24'Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26'But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.'

28And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

29for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

8:1When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.

2And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.'

3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.' Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4And Jesus said to him, 'See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'

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In remembrance.

Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of PatarRead the life

Noted in his own time for his wisdom and virtue, he was called Eubolos, meaning “of good counsel.” He was among the first to oppose the heretical writings of Origen. He was bishop in Patara (according to some sources) or Olympia (according to others), then of Tyre in Phoenecia. Under the Emperor Maximinus, he was attacked by the pagans and received the crown of martyrdom in Chalkis in Greece.

St Kallistos I, Patriarch of Constantinople (1363)Read the life

For twenty-eight years he lived the ascetical life on Mt Athos as a disciple of St Gregory of Mt Sinai. Later, he founded the monastery of St Mamas, also on Mt Athos. In 1350 he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople. After four years, he resigned the patriarchal throne to return to the Holy Mountain, but was called back to the throne, where he remained until his death in 1363. He wrote the definitive lives of St Gregory the Sinaite and St Theodosius of Trnovo. He was known to St Maximos Kapsokalyvia (the Hut-burner), who foretold his death: On his final journey to Serbia, on which he died, the Patriarch stopped on Mt Athos, where St Maximos saw him and said, “This elder will not see his flock again, because I hear behind him the hymn over the grave, ‘Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way…’”

Blessed Studios (5th c.)Read the life

He was a prominent nobleman and consul in Constantinople. In the City he founded both the Church of St John the Forerunner in 463, and the monastery thereafter called the Studion in honor of him. The Studion monastery nurtured a long line of ascetics, teachers, and martyrs; perhaps the best known is St Theodore the Studite (November 11), the great defender of the holy icons. The monastery was destroyed by the Crusaders in 1204, restored in 1293 by Emperor Andronicus II.

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What this is.

The Scripture the Orthodox Church reads each day, the saints it remembers, and a study aid that answers from Scripture and the Fathers and shows its sources.

Divine Liturgy. The Church's main service, at which Holy Communion is given. Its Epistle and Gospel are what most people mean by the day's readings.

Matins. The morning service of praise. On Sundays and feasts it has a Gospel of its own.

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Hours. Short services of psalms and prayer at set times of the day: the First, Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours.

Tone. The hymns of the week are sung in one of eight tones, or melodies, which follow each other week by week.

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