From the calendar, 2026.

Tuesday, July 7

Ven. Thomas of Mt Maleon

Fast-free

Appointed to be read.

At the
1. Epistle1 Corinthians 1:1–9
2. GospelMatthew 13:24–30

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Epistle.

1 Corinthians 1:1–9

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1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,

5that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,

6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,

7so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Gospel.

Matthew 13:24–30

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24Another parable He put forth to them, saying: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

26But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

27So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

28He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'

29But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.' ' '

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In remembrance.

Ven. Thomas of Mt MaleonRead the life

He was a renowned general, known for his great size and courage, his many victories against barbarian enemies, and his considerable wealth. But, forsaking wealth and reputation to follow Christ, he retired to the desert to live in asceticism. The Prophet Elias appeared to him and, accompanied by a pillar of fire, led him to Mount Maleon, near the Holy Mountain. There he lived in solitude, giving his days and nights to prayer. Like so many who seek to hide their holiness from the world, he was discovered, and people began to come to him for healing of their ailments and those of their loved ones. The saint healed countless ailments, drove out demons, cured the blind, and made water to pour forth from barren earth. In prayer he appeared as a pillar of fire. He reposed in peace, and his relics continued to be a powerful source of healing.

Holy Martyr Kyriake of Nicomedia (289)Read the life

Dorotheos and Eusebia, a devout, aging Christian couple who lived in Anatolia, had no children. After many years, their fervent prayers for a child were answered, and they were blessed with a daughter, whom they named Kyriake (‘Sunday’ in Greek) because she was born on the Lord’s day. The child grew up beautiful in body and soul and, though she had many suitors, chose to consecrate herself entirely to God and remain single. One of her suitors, angered at her refusal, denounced her and her parents to the Emperor Diocletian. Dorotheos and Eusebia were subjected to cruel tortures, then sent into exile, where they died under further torture. Kyriake was sent to Maximian, Diocletian’s son-in-law, for trial. By his orders, she was subjected to a horrifying series of torments; but Christ Himself appeared to her in prison, healing and comforting her.

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Further.

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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.

Vespers. The evening service. The Church's day begins at sunset, so a feast's Vespers is served the evening before.

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.

New Calendar. Fixed feasts are kept on the civil date, as in the OCA and the Antiochian Archdiocese. Churches on the Old Calendar keep them 13 days later. Pascha is the same for both.