Orthodox Calendar

18 Octombrie 2025
Saturday of the 19th week after Pentecost

No Fast

Commemorations

  • Holy Martyr Charitina of Amissos (304)
  • Holy Hierarchs of Moscow Peter (1326), Alexis (1378), Jonas (1461), Macarius (1563), Philip (1569), Hermogenes (1612), Philaret (1867), Innocent (1879), and Tikhon (1925)
  • Our Holy Mother Methodia of Kimolos (1865)

Scripture Readings

1 Corinthians 15.58-16.3 (Epistle)

58De aceea, preaiubiţii mei fraţi, fiţi tari, neclintiţi, sporiţi totdeauna în lucrul Domnului, căci ştiţi că osteneala voastră în Domnul nu este zadarnică. 1Cât priveşte strângerea de ajutoare pentru sfinţi, să faceţi şi voi cum am rânduit bisericilor Galatiei. 2În ziua dintâi a săptămânii, fiecare din voi să pună deoparte acasă ce va putea, după câştigul lui, ca să nu se strângă ajutoarele când voi veni eu. 3Şi, când voi veni, voi trimite cu epistole pe cei ce îi veţi socoti vrednici ca să ducă darurile voastre la Ierusalim.

Luke 5.27-32 (Gospel)

27După aceea Isus a ieşit afară şi a văzut pe un vameş, numit Levi, şezând la vamă. Şi i-a zis: „Vino după Mine!” 28Vameşul a lăsat totul, s-a sculat şi a mers după El. 29Levi I-a făcut un ospăţ mare la el în casă; şi o mulţime de vameşi şi de alţi oaspeţi şedeau la masă cu ei. 30Fariseii şi cărturarii cârteau şi ziceau ucenicilor Lui: „Pentru ce mâncaţi şi beţi împreună cu vameşii şi cu păcătoşii?” 31Isus a luat cuvântul şi le-a zis: „Nu cei sănătoşi au trebuinţă de doctor, ci cei bolnavi. 32N-am venit să chem la pocăinţă pe cei neprihăniţi, ci pe cei păcătoşi.”

Commemorations

Holy Martyr Charitina of Amissos (304)

She was the handmaid (according to the Great Horologion) or adopted daughter (according to the Prologue) of an eminent Roman citizen named Claudius, during the reign of Diocletian. She was betrayed as a Christian to the governor Dometian, before whom she fearlessly confessed her faith. After she had endured many cruel tortures, the governor sent some dissolute youths to rape her. Having prayed to be spared this dishonor, she was permitted to give up her soul to God.

Holy Hierarchs of Moscow Peter (1326), Alexis (1378), Jonas (1461), Macarius (1563), Philip (1569), Hermogenes (1612), Philaret (1867), Innocent (1879), and Tikhon (1925)

This Feast of the Hierarchs of Moscow was established during the reign of Tsar Theodore and Patriarch Job in the year 1596. All of them are commemorated individually as well as on this day. Only Sts Peter, Alexis, Jonas and Philip are specifically mentioned in the Menaion service, but other holy hierarchs of Moscow have been added to the commemoration over the years.

Our Holy Mother Methodia of Kimolos (1865)

She was born in 1865 on the island of Kimolos. Against her own wishes, her parents married her to a sailor, but he drowned soon after their wedding. Though she grieved for him, she also took his loss as a sign that she was to follow the path that she had always most deeply desired — so she entered monastic life, receiving the name Methodia. She then shut herself in a small cell where she gave herself to prayer without reservation, hardly ever leaving. She prayed virtually around the clock, and kept strict fast every day but Saturday and Sunday, on which days she would leave her cell to partake of the Mysteries. She received no visitors at all during Lent; at other times, she would receive only women. She became known throughout her region as a counselor and healer. She reposed in peace at the age of forty-two, in 1908.