10 Iulie 2026
Friday of the 6th week after Pentecost

Apostles Fast

Commemorations

St Sampson the Hospitable of Constantinople (530)
St Severus the Priest (6th c.)
St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer (1st c.)

Scripture Readings

1 Corinthians 4.5-8 (Epistle)

5De aceea să nu judecaţi nimic înainte de vreme, până va veni Domnul, care va scoate la lumină lucrurile ascunse în întuneric şi va descoperi gândurile inimilor. Atunci, fiecare îşi va căpăta lauda de la Dumnezeu. 6Fraţilor, pentru voi am spus aceste lucruri, în icoană de vorbire, cu privire la mine şi la Apolo, ca prin noi înşine să învăţaţi să nu treceţi peste „ce este scris”: şi niciunul din voi să nu se fălească deloc cu unul împotriva celuilalt. 7Căci cine te face deosebit? Ce lucru ai pe care să nu-l fi primit? Şi dacă l-ai primit, de ce te lauzi ca şi cum nu l-ai fi primit? 8O, iată-vă sătui! Iată-vă ajunşi bogaţi! Iată-vă împărăţind fără noi! Şi măcar de aţi împărăţi cu adevărat, ca să putem împărăţi şi noi împreună cu voi!

Matthew 13.44-54 (Gospel)

44Împărăţia cerurilor se mai aseamănă cu o comoară ascunsă într-o ţarină. Omul care o găseşte o ascunde; şi, de bucuria ei, se duce şi vinde tot ce are şi cumpără ţarina aceea. 45Împărăţia cerurilor se mai aseamănă cu un negustor care caută mărgăritare frumoase. 46Şi, când găseşte un mărgăritar de mare preţ, se duce de vinde tot ce are şi-l cumpără. 47Împărăţia cerurilor se mai aseamănă cu un năvod aruncat în mare, care prinde tot felul de peşti. 48După ce s-a umplut, pescarii îl scot la mal, şed jos, aleg în vase ce este bun şi aruncă afară ce este rău. 49Tot aşa va fi şi la sfârşitul veacului. Îngerii vor ieşi, vor despărţi pe cei răi din mijlocul celor buni 50şi-i vor arunca în cuptorul aprins; acolo va fi plânsul şi scrâşnirea dinţilor. 51Aţi înţeles voi toate aceste lucruri?”, i-a întrebat Isus. „Da, Doamne”, I-au răspuns ei. 52Şi El le-a zis: „De aceea orice cărturar, care a învăţat ce trebuie despre Împărăţia cerurilor, se aseamănă cu un gospodar care scoate din vistieria lui lucruri noi şi lucruri vechi.” 53După ce a isprăvit Isus pildele acestea, a plecat de acolo. 54A venit în patria Sa şi a început să înveţe pe oameni în sinagogă; aşa că cei ce-L auzeau se mirau şi ziceau: „De unde are El înţelepciunea şi minunile acestea?

Commemorations

St Sampson the Hospitable of Constantinople (530)

He is counted as one of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians. “This saint was born of rich and eminent parents in ancient Rome, where he studied all the secular wisdom of that time, devoting himself in particular to the study of medicine. Sampson was a compassionate and liberal physician, and gave the sick medicine for both soul and body, counselling each man to fulfil the requirements of the Christian faith. He moved to Constantinople, where he lived in a tiny house from which he distributed alms, comfort, advice, hope, medicine and all possible aid to those suffering in spirit and in body. The Patriarch heard of Sampson’s great virtue and ordained him priest. At that time the Emperor Justinian the Great became ill with what his doctors believed to be an incurable disease. The Emperor prayed with great fervor, and God revealed to him in his sleep that Sampson would heal him. When the Emperor summoned Sampson to court, the old man had only to put his hand on the diseased place and the Emperor was healed. When Justinian offered him an immense sum of money, Sampson thanked him but would accept nothing, saying to the Emperor: ‘O Emperor, I had silver and gold and other riches, but I left it all for the sake of Christ, that I might gain heavenly and eternal wealth.’ When the Emperor insisted on doing something for him, Sampson asked him to build a house for the poor. In that home, Sampson cared for the poor as a father cares for his children. His compassion for the poor and weak was second nature to him. This holy man, filled with heavenly power and goodness, entered peacefully into rest on June 27th, 530. He was buried in the Church of the Holy Martyr Mocius, his kinsman. After his death, Sampson appeared many times to those who called upon him for aid.” (Prologue)

St Severus the Priest (6th c.)

“He lived in central Italy. A man of rare holiness, he was once called to hear the confession of, and give Communion to, a man at the point of death. He tarried, working in his vineyard, and the news was brought to him there that the sick man had died. Stricken with grief, as if he had himself killed the man, he wept bitter tears over the corpse, and God raised the dead man to life again in response to his fervent prayer. Then Severus confessed him and gave him Communion, preparing him for a Christian leaving of this world, and on the eighth day the man died again.” (Prologue)

St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer (1st c.)

This is Joanna the wife of Chuza, a servant in Herod’s household (Luke 8:3). When Herod had John the Baptist beheaded, it was Joanna who recovered the head and buried it on the Mount of Olives. She reposed in peace.