Holy Fathers

12/09/2026

Have a Blessed Sunday 🙏🙏🙏

12/09/2026

THE GOSPEL (For the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
13 September, 2026

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (3:13-17)

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

For Children click here to listen to the Holy Gospel: audio.ancientfaith.com/letusattend/2011-09-11-Jn03-Younger-B.mp3

12/09/2026

THE EPISTLE (For the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
13 September, 2026

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
To Thee, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (6:11-18)

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the Law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all, who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.

Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

12/09/2026

THE FOURTH EOTHINON GOSPEL

* For Sunday 13 September 2026

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke (24:1-12).

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the Living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.”

And they remembered His words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, wondering to himself what had happened.

Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

12/09/2026

The Appearance of the Sign of the Cross Near Athens in 1925

The miraculous appearance of the Cross near Athens above Mt Hymettus on the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, September 14, 1925. "At 11:30 P.M. there began to appear in the heavens above the church a bright, radiant Cross of light.

The form of the Cross itself was an especially dense light & it could be clearly seen as a Byzantine cross with an angular cross bar toward the bottom. This heavenly miracle lasted for 1/2 hour, until midnight & then the Cross began slowly to raise up vertically.

More Info:
http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/cross_sign.aspx

12/09/2026

September 13
† Commemoration of the Founding of the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulchre) at Jerusalem (335)

The Church is located on Golgotha, where our Lord was crucified and buried. The true Cross and the place of the Resurrection were covered over by those hostile to Christ and His Apostles, and in the reign of Hadrian a temple to Aphrodite was built over the holy sites. St Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, personally commanded and oversaw the excavations that restored the site and recovered the Cross itself.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was begun at the Empress Helena's command, but she reposed before it could be completed. The Church was completed by Constantine and consecrated on this date in 335.

Makarios archbishop of Jerusalem, presided at the consecration and also exalted the precious Cross (September 14). It is at this church that the miracle of the Holy Fire occurs every Pascha.

Troparion in Tone Four

Thou hast shown the earthly beauty of the holy tabernacle of Thy glory to be like unto the splendor of the heavenly firmament, O Lord. Strengthen it forever and ever, and accept our prayers which we unceasingly offer therein unto Thee, through the Theotokos, O Thou Who art the Life and Resurrection of all.

Kontakion in Tone Four

The Church is shown to be * a many-lighted heaven * that doth shine a guiding light * upon all them that do believe; * wherein while standing, we cry aloud: * Do Thou Thyself now establish this house, O Lord.

12/09/2026

The Saint of the day 13 September (2)

† Holy Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion (1st c. )

This is the Cornelius who received St Peter into his household in Caesarea (Acts ch.10). He was then instructed in the Faith and baptised by St Peter, though he had been a pagan and a Gentile: a great turning point in the growth of the Church, for before this time many (including St Peter) had believed that the Church was meant only for the Jews.

Tradition holds that St Cornelius later became a bishop and died a martyr.

Troparion — Tone 4

O Blessed Cornelius, / You were distinguished in works of righteousness. / You received the enlightenment of godliness, / And were a fellow-laborer with the Apostles, / For you shared in their work, / Preaching Christ’s incarnation to all. / With them pray that all who honor your memory may be saved!

Kontakion — Tone 4

O Divinely minded Cornelius, / The Church, receiving you as a blessed first-fruit of the Gentiles, / Is enlightened by your holy life, / For you are a perfect seer of the Mysteries!

12/09/2026

The Saint of the day 13 September (1)

† Holy Great Martyr Ketevan, Queen of Georgia (1624)

http://audio.ancientfaith.com/sotd/09_13_Ketevan_pc.mp3

In the seventeenth century, the Kingdom of Georgia was cruelly pressed by the Ottoman Empire on one side and Persia, under Shah Abbas the Great, on the other. King Theimuraz was taken captive by the Persians during an invasion and held captive in the fortress of Shiraz until, after many tortures, he was strangled.

The King's mother, Queen Ketevan, travelled to the Persian court at Shiraz along with her grandsons Levan and Alexander, to plead with the Shah to spare the Kingdom. The Shah agreed, but the three were kept as hostages, where all were cruelly tortured.

Queen Ketevan endured ten years of captivity, throughout which the Shah attempted to convert her to Islam, first by persuasion and threats, then by torture. The Queen refused every effort to drive her into apostasy, and before each new torture would make the sign of the Cross and say 'In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.'

At the end a brazier of burning coals was fixed to her head and, in the midst of her extreme torment, she was strangled with a bow-string on September 13 1624. After her glorious martyrdom a divine light surrounded her tomb.

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyr Ketevan, O Lord, / through her sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, she laid low her adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through her intercessions, save our souls!

Kontakion — Tone 2
(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)

You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance, / which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Ketevan; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

Today's Gospel Saturday 12 September, 2026

* For Saturday before Holy Cross

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (10:37-42, 11:1)

The Lord said, "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."

And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.