Readings and saints

Friday, October 30, 2026

October 17 on the Old Calendar

Hieromartyr Zenobius and His Sister Zenobia

Friday of the 22nd 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 4This week’s Resurrection hymns are sung in the fourth of the Church’s eight tones.

The readings

Translation

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

Colossians 4:10-18

Traditional

10Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 15Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. 18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Modern

10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, “if he comes to you, receive him”), 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, with Nymphas and the assembly that is in his house. 16When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” 18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 11:23-26

Traditional

23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Modern

23“He who is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters. 24The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ 25When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. 26Then he goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”

Remembered on this day

St. Zenobius and St. Zenobia

Zenobius and Zenobia were brother and sister, remembered as martyrs of the late third century in Cilicia, now part of Turkey. Tradition holds that Zenobius became bishop of Aegae and cared for the sick, and that Zenobia joined him when he was arrested for his faith. Their remembrance holds together a bishop’s service and a sister’s courage. We need not hold an office in the Church to stand beside someone who is suffering, or to bear faithful witness ourselves.

How they died
Tradition holds that Zenobius and his sister Zenobia were both beheaded for their faith in Christ.

St. Zenobius and St. Zenobia: the full page

Also remembered today: Holy Apostle Cleopas; St Joseph I, Patriarch of Constantinople (1283); Holy Martyr Hermengild, Prince of the Visigoths (486); Holy Hieromartyr John Kochurov, First Hieromartyr of the Russian Revolution (1917).

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.