Orthodox Study
From the calendar 2026

Tuesday, August 25

Relics of Apostle Bartholomew

Appointed readings

2 passages

Epistle

2 Corinthians 8:16–9:5

Open Reader ↗

16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,

19and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind,

20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—

21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.

23If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

1Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

2for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.

3Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready;

4lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

Gospel

Mark 3:13–19

Open Reader ↗

13And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.

14Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,

15and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

16Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;

17James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, 'Sons of Thunder';

18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;

19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

Ask about this

Opens in Study with this context for you to review. Answers require sign-in and access.

In the margin · source text