08/25/2026
13th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. POST-FEAST of the DORMITION. Tone 4
Troparion: When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the glorious news of the resurrection and cast off the ancestral condemnation, they proudly told the apostles: “Death has been plundered! Christ our God is risen, granting to the world great mercy.”
Troparion of Post-feast (Tone 1): In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death
+Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion: My Savior and Deliverer from the grave as God has raised out of bo***ge the children of earth and shattered the gates of Hades; and as Master, He rose on the third day.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion of Post-feast (Tone 2): The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage,* for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.
Prokimenon: Sing to How great are Your works, O Lord; You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, You are exceedingly great. (Ps. 104:24,1)
Prokeimenon: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Lк. 1,46-47)
A reading from the Epistle of the holy apostle Paul to the Corinthians (16:13-24): Brethren, be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love. I urge you, brothers – you know that the household of Stephanas is the first fruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the holy ones be subordinate to such people and to everyone who works and toils with them. I rejoice in the arrival of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So, give recognition to such people. The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca together with the church at their house send you many greetings in the Lord. All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I Paul, write you this greeting in my own hand. If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. “Marana tha.” The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia: Poise yourself and advance in triumph and reign in the cause of truth, and meekness, and justice.
Verse: You have loved justice and hated iniquity. (Ps. 45:5,8)
Verse: Rise up, O Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness. (Ps. 131:8)
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (21:33-42): At that time, “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again, he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered* him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’?
Instead of “It is truly right” Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
Irmos (Tone 1): O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature,* for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life.* Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God,* never cease to save your inheritance.
Communion Verse: Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. (Ps. 148:1)
I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia (3x)