From the calendar, 2028.

Thursday, July 13

Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel

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Appointed to be read.

At the
1. Epistle1 Corinthians 3:18–23
2. GospelMatthew 13:36–43

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Epistle.

1 Corinthians 3:18–23

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18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness';

20and again, 'The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'

21Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:

22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.

23And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

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Gospel.

Matthew 13:36–43

1 min read

36Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, 'Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.'

37He answered and said to them: 'He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

38The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

40Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,

42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

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In remembrance.

Synaxis of Archangel GabrielRead the life

On this day all the many visitations and miracles of the holy Archangel, recorded in Holy Scripture and ever since, are commemorated. This feast duplicates the Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel that is celebrated on March 26, the day after Annunciation; it is thought that it was added to the calendar here some time in the ninth century, so that it could be celebrated more festively outside of Great Lent.

Holy Martyr Golinduc of Persia (6th c.)Read the life

She was a Persian noblewoman during the reign of Chosroës II (590-628). Through a vision of an angel, she came to belief in Christ and received holy baptism; her name in baptism was Maria. Her furious husband reported her to King Chosroës, who had her thrown into a foul dungeon known as Oblivion for eighteen years. During these years she was repeatedly told to renounce Christ and was tormented in many ways. She was thrown to venomous snakes, which refused to harm her. Some lawless young men were sent to her cell to defile her, but God made her invisible to them. Many Persians, amazed and inspired by her patient sufferings, accepted Christ. She was finally set free through the visitation of an angel, traveled to Jerusalem and Constantinople, and reposed in peace.

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Saint Julian, Bishop of Cenomanis (Le Mans) (1st c.)Read the life

He was made bishop by the Apostle Peter and sent to Gaul as a missionary. Some believe that he was Simon the Leper, whom the Lord healed, later named Julian in Baptism. In Gaul, despite great difficulty and privation, he converted many to faith in Christ and worked many miracles — healing the sick, driving out demons, and even raising the dead. In time the local prince, Defenson, was baptised along with many of his subjects. He reposed in peace.

Repose of Photios Kontoglou (1965) (June 30 OC)Read the life

He is called “Blessed Photios” by many, but has not yet been officially glorified. In the twentieth century, he almost singlehandedly restored the practice of true Byzantine iconography to the Church. He was born in 1895 in one of the many Greek towns of Asia Minor. He and his family fled to Greece during the “exchange of populations” of 1923, when more than a million Greeks were driven from Turkey and resettled in Greece. He studied to be a secular artist, but was increasingly drawn to Byzantine iconography, the practice of which had almost disappeared: he learned the iconographic ethos and technique by copying ancient models and studying with the few monks on the Holy Mountain who still practiced true iconography. Initially his work was scorned, since secular western standards had come to dominate even the art of the Church.

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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.