From the calendar, 2028.

Friday, September 15

Greatmartyr Nicetas the Goth

Strict fastNo meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil.

Appointed to be read.

At the
1. EpistleGalatians 4:8–21
2. GospelMark 6:45–53

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Epistle.

Galatians 4:8–21

2 min read

8But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.

9But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

10You observe days and months and seasons and years.

11I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

12Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.

13You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.

14And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.

16Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

17They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.

18But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.

19My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

20I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

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Gospel.

Mark 6:45–53

1 min read

45Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.

46And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

47Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.

48Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.

49And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;

50for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.'

51Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

52For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

53When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.

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In remembrance.

Greatmartyr Nicetas the GothRead the life

He was a Goth of noble birth among his people, a disciple of Bishop Theophilus of the Goths, who took part in the First Ecumenical Council. When he confronted Athanaric, the pagan ruler of the Goths, for his persecution of Christians and for his unbelief, Nicetas was cruelly tortured and finally burned to death. Though he died in the flames, his body was brought forth unharmed. His relics were taken by his friend Marianus to Mopsuestia in Cilicia, where a church dedicated to the Saint was built.

Holy Martyr Porphyrius (361).Read the life

“An actor, he first mocked at Christians before Julian the Apostate. On one occasion, when he was mimicking the Christian mystery of Baptism, he was dipped into the water, pronouncing the words: ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ When he emerged from the water, he cried out: ‘Now I am a Christian!’ Everyone thought that this was in jest, as always, but he held firm to it, stopped mocking Christians and finally suffered for Christ. He was beheaded in 361, and entered into the Kingdom of Christ.” (Prologue)

We rightly condemn worship that is purely external; but the life of St Porphyrius reminds us in a striking way that the ‘externals’ of the Faith have a power that can work to convert the heart of man. St Porphyrius used the words of Holy Baptism not only carelessly but mockingly, yet by God’s grace he emerged from the waters truly renewed into Christ.

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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.