Readings and saints

Friday, July 31, 2026

July 18 on the Old Calendar

Forefeast of the Procession of the Lifegiving Cross

Friday of the 9th week after Pentecost

Fasting: Fast day: no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, or oil.Your priest can tell you how to keep the fast.
Tone: Tone 7This week’s Resurrection hymns are sung in the seventh of the Church’s eight tones.

The readings

TranslationTraditionalModernSide by side

Traditional: the King James Version (1611) for the New Testament. Underlined words are explained in Words of Prayer.

Modern: the World English Bible for the New Testament. Your choice is remembered on this device.

Epistle

1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Traditional

²⁶How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ²⁷If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. ²⁸But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ²⁹Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. ³⁰If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. ³¹For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. ³²And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. ³⁴Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. ³⁵And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. ³⁶What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? ³⁷If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. ³⁹Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. ⁴⁰Let all things be done decently and in order.

Modern

²⁶What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. ²⁷If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. ²⁸But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern. ³⁰But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. ³¹For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted. ³²The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, ³³for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints. ³⁴Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says, ³⁵if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.” ³⁶What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone? ³⁷If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. ³⁸But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. ³⁹Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages. ⁴⁰Let all things be done decently and in order.

Gospel

Matthew 21:12-14, 17-20

Traditional

¹²And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, ¹³And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. ¹⁴And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

¹⁷And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. ¹⁸Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. ¹⁹And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. ²⁰And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

Modern

¹²Jesus entered into the temple of God and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. ¹³He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!” ¹⁴The lame and the blind came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

¹⁷He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there. ¹⁸Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit from you forever!” Immediately the fig tree withered away. ²⁰When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree immediately wither away?”

Remembered on this day

Righteous Joseph of Arimathea
Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia (9th c.)

Calendar: Orthocal, following the Revised Julian (New) Calendar of the Orthodox Church in America. Parishes on the Old Calendar keep each day 13 days later. Check your own parish calendar.