From the calendar, 2026.

Friday, August 14

Forefeast of Dormition

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

Appointed to be read.

At the
1. Epistle2 Corinthians 4:13–18
2. GospelMatthew 24:27–33, 42–51

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Epistle.

2 Corinthians 4:13–18

1 min read

13And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak,

14knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

15For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Open in the Reader

Gospel.

Matthew 24:27–33, 42–51

2 min read

27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

28For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

29'Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32'Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

33So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!

42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45'Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

46Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

47Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

48But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'

49and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,

50the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,

51and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Open in the Reader

six stichera · forefeast.

Forefeast of Dormition

In remembrance.

Prophet MicahRead the life

Read his prophecies (which include the prophecy that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2) in the Old Testament book that bears his name. He was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Hosea, and is ranked sixth among the “minor” prophets. It was he who prophesied that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. (This is a different Micah from the one mentioned in 1 Chronicles 22:8, who lived earlier). Micah was buried in his home village of Morasth in the land of Judah; his holy relics were found along with those of the prophet Habbakuk during the reign of St Theodosius the Great — their location was given by a revelation to Zebennus, Bishop of Eleutheropolis.

Translation of the Relics of St Theodosius of the Kiev Caves

Hieromartyr Marcellus, Bishop of Apamea (389)Read the life

He was born to an eminent family in Cyprus, and was well-educated. He was married and had children, but when his wife died he left his family to live as a monk in Syria. There he became known and loved for his learning, humility and kindness to all, and the people of Apamea chose him as their bishop. As bishop, he worked with evangelical fervor to bring the mostly-pagan people to Christ. When a pagan temple was burned down, some pagans blamed Marcellus, seized him, and threw him into the fire, where he perished.

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.