From the calendar, 2027.

Friday, May 14

Martyr Isidore of Chios

Wine & oilWine and oil are allowed. No meat, dairy, eggs or fish.

Appointed to be read.

At the
1. EpistleActs 5:1–11
2. GospelJohn 5:30–6:2

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Epistle.

Acts 5:1–11

1 min read

1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.

2And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

4While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.'

5Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.

6And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

7Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8And Peter answered her, 'Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?'

9She said, 'Yes, for so much.' Then Peter said to her, 'How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.'

10Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.

11So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

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Gospel.

John 5:30–6:2

2 min read

30I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

31'If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

32There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.

33You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

34Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.

35He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

36But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

37And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.

38But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.

39You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

40But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

41'I do not receive honor from men.

42But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.

43I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.

44How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

45Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust.

46For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?'

6:1After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.

2Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.

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In remembrance.

Martyr Isidore of ChiosRead the life

A devout Christian from his early youth, he was kidnapped from his native Chios and impressed into the army. When he openly confessed himself a Christian, his commander ordered him to make sacrifice to the gods. When he resolutely refused, the commander ordered him to be beaten with iron flails, then had his tongue cut out. But even without a tongue, Isidore was miraculously enabled to speak, and clearly proclaimed the name of Christ. At the same moment, the commander was struck mute. The commander then ordered by signs that Isidore be beheaded. Isidore went to his death rejoicing and praising God. This occurred during the persecutions of the Emperor Decius.

Ven. Isidore, Fool-for-Christ of RostovRead the life

He was German by birth but, drawn to the Orthodox faith, he moved to Rostov and not only became Orthodox, but took on the podvig of folly for Christ. He lived in complete destitution, spending the days pretending madness and the nights in prayer. Many wonders were performed by this Saint even in his lifetime. When he died in his meager hut in 1484, the people of Rostov smelled a fragrant odor throughout the city. A merchant whom he had miraculously saved from drowning built a church in the place where his hut had stood.

Our Holy Father Serapion the Sindonite (5th c.)Read the life

“ ‘Sindon’ means ‘linen cloth,’ and this saint was called ‘the Sindonite’ because he covered his naked body only with a linen cloth. He carried the Gospels in his hand. Serapion lived like the birds, with no roof and no cares, moving from one place to another. He gave his linen cloth to a poor wretch who was shivering with cold, and himself remained completely naked. When someone asked him: ‘Serapion, who made you naked?’, he indicated the Gospels and said: ‘This!’ But, after that, he gave away the Gospels also for the money needed by a man who was being hounded to prison by a creditor in debt. [note: Gospel books were all hand-written, and were uncommon and valuable.] At one time in Athens, he did not eat for four days, having nothing, and began to cry out with hunger.

Read the full life

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.