From the calendar 2026

Wednesday, October 14

Ven. Parasceva of Serbia

Appointed readings

2 passages

Epistle

Philippians 2:24–30

24But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

25Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;

26since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

27For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;

30because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

Gospel

Luke 8:22–25

Open Reader ↗

22Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.' And they launched out.

23But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.

24And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!'

25Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, 'Where is your faith?'

The rhythm of the day

Fasting: Strict fast
Weekly tone: Tone 2

In remembrance

The saints commemorated this day

Ven. Parasceva of Serbia

Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius, and Celsus of Milan (1st c.)Read the life

These martyrs contested for the faith in Milan, and were beheaded under the Emperor Nero. Many years later, their relics were discovered by St Ambrose through a vision, and were given honorable burial.

Saint Cosmas the Hymnographer (8th c.)Read the life

He was from Jerusalem. An orphan, he was adopted into the family of St John of Damascus (commemorated December 4). He became Bishop of Maiuma, a city on the coast of Palestine, which was later named Constantia. Like his adoptive brother he became a noted hymnographer: The Canon of the Cross (Sept. 14) and the Canon for Christ’s Nativity, “Christ is born, give ye glory…” are his compositions.

Saint Nicholas the Pious (Sviatosha), Prince of Chernigov (1143)Read the life

He was the first Russian prince to forsake the world and enter monastic life, at the Lavra of the Kiev Caves. Though his brothers according to the flesh tried to turn him back from his chosen path, he embraced monastic life zealously, amazing his fellow-monks by his humility and piety. Despite his rank, he insisted upon being treated like the simplest novice, performing the meanest tasks joyfully. In time his abbot allowed him to withdraw from the common life, living entirely in his cell in constant prayer. He reposed in peace in 1143. A few months later his brother Prince Iziaslav was healed of a grave illness when he put on St Nicholas’ hair shirt and drank some water from the monastery. The Prince asked to be clothed in the hairshirt on the day of his death.