From the calendar, 2026.

Wednesday, August 5

Forefeast of Transfiguration

Strict fastNo meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil.

Appointed to be read.

At the
1. Epistle1 Corinthians 16:4–12
2. GospelMatthew 21:28–32

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Epistle.

1 Corinthians 16:4–12

1 min read

4But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

5Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia).

6And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go.

7For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay awhile with you, if the Lord permits.

8But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.

9For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

10And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.

11Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

12Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

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Gospel.

Matthew 21:28–32

1 min read

28And He said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 'But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.'

29He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went.

30Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.

31Which of the two did the will of his father?'

32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him. They said to Him, 'The first.'

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six stichera · forefeast.

Forefeast of Transfiguration

In remembrance.

Martyr Eusignius of AntiochRead the life

He was a soldier in the Imperial army beginning under the pagan Emperor Maximian. He was a general under Constantine, and saw the Cross that appeared to the Emperor. After sixty years of military service, he retired to his home town and devoted himself to prayer, fasting and good works. A townsman, angry with a judgment that Eusignius had made to settle a dispute, denounced him to Julian the Apostate as a Christian. Summoned before Julian, he vigorously rebuked the Emperor for his apostasy from the Faith; for this he was beheaded, in advanced old age, in 362.

Holy Hieromartyr Fabian, Pope of Rome (250)Read the life

He was born in Rome and became a humble village priest; but when he was attending the election of a new Pope, a white dove was seen to descend on him and he was chosen to be Pope. Though humble and gentle, he was fearless for the faith, gathering the bodies of the martyrs, giving them burial, and building churches and shrines over their relics. According to the Prologue, he baptized the Emperor Philip and his son, also named Philip, as well as the senator Pontius; thus there were Christian emperors before St Constantine the Great. When Decius became Emperor, the persecution of Christians returned with terrible force, and Fabian was beheaded.

Righteous Nonna (374), Mother of St Gregory the TheologianRead the life

In her own lifetime she was a wonderworker through her holy prayers. She brought her husband back from idolatry to Christian faith; he later became bishop of Nazianzus. Her son Gregory’s profound and devout writings bespeak the Christian upbringing she gave him. By her prayers she once saved St Gregory from perishing in a storm. She was a deaconess, and reposed in peace in 374.

Further.

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The Fathers, the services and the lives of the saints.

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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.