Orthodox Study
From the calendar 2028

Wednesday, September 13

Founding of Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Appointed readings

7 passages

Vespers · Old Testament

3[1] Kings 8:22–23, 27–30

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22You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth, and fulfilled it with Your hand, as today.

23Now, O Lord God of Israel, keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, so long as your people guard and keep their ways to walk before Me, as you walked before Me.'

24So now, O Lord God of Israel, let the word be confirmed You spoke to Your servant David my father.

25'But will God indeed dwell with men on earth? If the heaven and the heaven of heaven will not be sufficient for You, how much less even this temple I built in Your name?

26Yet, O Lord God of Israel, regard my prayer, which Your servant is praying before You today,

27that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there,' to hear the prayer Your servant prays in this place day and night.

28You will hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. You will hear in Your dwelling place in heaven, and You will be merciful.

29'When anyone sins against his neighbor, or if he takes up an oath that he should swear, and comes and redeems himself before Your altar in this temple,

30You will hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your people Israel; condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving to him according to his righteousness.

Vespers · Old Testament

Proverbs 3:19–34

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19Her ways are good ways, And all her paths are in peace.

20She is a tree of life for all who cleave to her, And she is security for those who lean upon her as upon the Lord.

21God by wisdom founded the earth And prepared the heavens with discernment.

22With perception the depths were broken up, And the clouds flowed with dew.

23My son, do not be careless, But keep my counsel and thinking,

24That your soul may live, And grace may be around your neck.

25And there will be healing for your flesh And care for your bones,

26That you may walk confidently in peace in all your ways, And your foot may not stumble.

27For if you sit down, you will be without fear, And if you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.

28And do not be afraid of intimidation when it comes upon you, Nor of the attack of the ungodly when it comes at you;

29For the Lord will be over all your ways, And He will plant your feet firmly, that you may not be shaken.

30Do not withhold doing good to the needy, When you may give a helping hand;

31Do not say, when you are able to do good, "Come back tomorrow, and I will give you something"; For you do not know what the next day will bring forth.

32Do not devise evil things against your friend Who dwells beside you and trusts in you.

33Do not be ready to quarrel with a man in vain, Lest he do you some harm.

34Do not incur the reproach of evil men, Neither seek their ways;

Vespers · Old Testament

Proverbs 9:1–11

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1Wisdom built her house, And she supported it with seven pillars.

2She offered her sacrifices; She mixed her wine in a bowl And prepared her table.

3She sent her servants, Inviting people to the bowl with a lofty proclamation, saying,

4"He who is without discernment, Let him turn aside to me"; And to those in need of discernment, she says,

5"Come, eat my bread And drink the wine I mixed for you;

6Forsake lack of discernment, and you shall live; Seek discernment so you may live, And keep straight your understanding with knowledge."

7He who chastises evil men shall receive dishonor to himself, And he who reproves the ungodly man shall be blamed himself.

8Do not reprove evil men, so they may not hate you; Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9Give the opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser; Instruct a righteous man, and he shall continue to receive it.

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the counsel of saints is understanding; For to know the law is characteristic of a good mind.

11For in this manner you will live a long time, And the years of your life shall be increased.

Epistle

Galatians 3:15–22

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15Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.

16Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ.

17And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.

18For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

20Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

22But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Epistle

Hebrews 3:1–4

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1Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

2who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.

3For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.

4For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.

Gospel

Mark 6:7–13

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7And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

8He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—

9but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

10Also He said to them, 'In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.

11And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!'

12So they went out and preached that people should repent.

13And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

Gospel

Matthew 16:13–18

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13When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?'

14So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'

15He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'

16Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

17Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

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