From the calendar, 2027.

Saturday, July 31

Forefeast of the Procession of the Lifegiving Cross

Fast-free

Appointed to be read.

At the Divine Liturgy
1. EpistleRomans 9:1–5
2. GospelMatthew 9:18–26

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Epistle.

Romans 9:1–5

1 min read

1I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

2that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.

3For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

4who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;

5of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

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Gospel.

Matthew 9:18–26

1 min read

18While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.'

19So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

20And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.

21For she said to herself, 'If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.'

22But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, 'Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And the woman was made well from that hour.

23When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,

24He said to them, 'Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.' And they ridiculed Him.

25But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

26And the report of this went out into all that land.

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six stichera · forefeast.

Forefeast of the Procession of the Lifegiving Cross

In remembrance.

Righteous Joseph of ArimatheaRead the life

The “noble Joseph” was a secret follower of Christ and a wealthy member of the Jewish Sanhendrin (ruling council); it was he who provided Christ’s tomb. When his faith became known he was driven from the Sanhendrin, from the synagogues, and from the Holy Land, and traveled through many lands, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. According to some accounts he eventually reached England, where he reposed in peace.

Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia (9th c.)Read the life

“Saint Eudocimus was from Cappadocia, the son of pious and most illustrious parents, patricians in rank. He especially cultivated chastity and mercy, the one by never meeting the gaze of a woman, the other by cheerfully providing the needs of the poor. When he was made military commander of Cappadocia, he continued in his righteous ways, showing mercy and uprightness in all his dealings. Having so lived in piety, quietly and without ostentation, he was called from this life at the age of thirty-three, about the year 840, during the reign of the Iconoclast Theophilus. Not long after his burial, his grave became a fountain of unending miracles, as God revealed the virtue that Eudocimus had striven to hide; when his grave was later opened, his body was found incorrupt. His holy relics were translated to Constantinople.” (Great Horologion)

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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.