From the calendar 2027

Wednesday, July 14

Apostle Aquila of the Seventy and St Priscilla

Appointed readings

2 passages

Epistle

Romans 11:2–12

2God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

3'LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life'?

4But what does the divine response say to him? 'I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.'

5Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

7What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8Just as it is written: 'God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.'

9And David says: 'Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them.

10Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.'

11I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

12Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

Gospel

Matthew 11:20–26

Open Reader ↗

20Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:

21'Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

23And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.'

25At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

26Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

The rhythm of the day

Fasting: Strict fast
Weekly tone: Tone 2

In remembrance

The saints commemorated this day

Apostle Aquila of the Seventy and St PriscillaRead the life

He, along with his wife Priscilla, is mentioned in the book of Acts and in St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. He and his wife were Jews who moved to Corinth when the Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Italy. They were working as tentmakers in Corinth when they met and worked with St Paul, also a tentmaker by trade, who brought them to faith in Christ. From that time onward they worked diligently to spread the Gospel of Christ. The Prologue says that they died at the hands of pagans, the Great Horologion that the circumstances of their repose are unknown.

Our Father among the Saints Joseph, Archbishop of Thessalonika (833)Read the life

He was the brother of St Theodore the Studite (November 11), and is also sometimes called Studite. He is one of the inspired composers of the canons in the Lenten Triodion, many of which bear the title “by Joseph”. (He should not be confused with St Joseph the Hymnographer, who is commemorated April 3.) As Archbishop of Thessalonika, he suffered greatly for his zealous defense of the holy icons: he was imprisoned, and was exiled three times.

St Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, spiritual writer (1809)Read the life

He is best known for his collections of Orthodox writings, most importantly the Philokalia, a five-volume compendium of writings on asceticism and prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer, by the holy Fathers of the Church. (The first four volumes have been translated into English). He produced an Orthodox edition of Unseen Warfare, originally by Lorenzo Scupoli, a Roman Catholic. (This was further revised by St Theophan the Recluse). He also edited the Pedalion (Rudder), a collection of the canons of the Orthodox Church with his commentary.

Note: The English edition of the Rudder needs to be read with care, since it includes additional comments by the translator, not clearly distinguished from those of the Saint.