From the calendar 2026

Friday, August 7

Afterfeast of the Transfiguration

Appointed readings

2 passages

Epistle

2 Corinthians 1:12–20

12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

13For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end

14(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit—

16to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea.

17Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?

18But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.

19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.

20For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Gospel

Matthew 22:23–33

Open Reader ↗

23The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,

24saying: 'Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.

26Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.

27Last of all the woman died also.

28Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.'

29Jesus answered and said to them, 'You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.

31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,

32'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.'

33And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

The rhythm of the day

Fasting: Strict fast
Weekly tone: Tone 8

In remembrance

The saints commemorated this day

Martyr Dometius of PersiaRead the life

“Born a pagan in Persia in the time of the Emperor Constantine, he came to know the Christian faith as a young man, forsook his paganism and received baptism. He was so enchanted with the true Faith that he left all worldly things and became a monk in a monastery near the town of Nisibis. He lived among the brethren for some time, then withdrew into silence, going to Archimandrite Urbel, of whom it is said that, for sixty years, he never ate anything cooked. Urbel made him a deacon, but, when he wanted to make him a priest, Dometius fled to a distant mountain and settled in a cave there. He attained such perfection through fasting, prayer, vigils and meditation that he was able to heal the sick. When Julian the Apostate came to that place, he heard of Dometius and sent men to wall him up alive in the came, with two of his disciples.

Read the full life

Holy Martyrs Marinus the Soldier and Asterius the Senator (260)Read the life

Marinus was a soldier in the Roman army, serving in Caesarea in Palestine. During a persecution under the Emperor Gallienus, he was arrested and beheaded for his Christian faith. The senator Asterius, also a Christian, was present at his execution. Asterius took off his senatorial toga, wrapped the martyr’s body in it, and carried the holy body away to bury it. For this he too was beheaded.

Our Holy Father Or (Horus) of the Thebaid (390)Read the life

He was a native of Egypt; his name is that of one of the Egyptian gods. He fled to the desert to live as a hermit, but after many years he became a well-known spiritual guide and founded several monastic communities. A first-hand account of him, by Rufinus, says ‘In appearance he is like an angel of God; an old man of ninety with a long snow-white beard. The impression left by his presence is delightful. His gaze is imbued with more-than-human radiance.’ He received communion every day. So detached was he from the world that his disciples once had to remind him that Pascha had come. Hearing this, he went outside, raised his hands to heaven and prayed without ceasing for three days. When he had done he said to his disciples ‘This is the monk’s celebration of Pascha: the lifting up of the mind to unity with God.’ He reposed in peace at a great age.

Our Holy Father Pimen the Much-Ailing (1110)Read the life

“He was sickly from his youth, and from his youth desired monasticism. Brought to the Monastery of the Caves for healing, he remained there till his death. He prayed more for sickness than for health. One night, angels appeared to him and tonsured him as a monk, telling him at the same time that he would be sick until his death, and would be healed at that moment. And so it was; he lay sick for twenty years, working wonders even during his lifetime and being possessed of a rare gift of discernment. At the time of his death, he got up from his bed completely healed, immediately prepared his grave and entered into rest in the Lord, in the year 1110.” (Prologue)