Readings and saints

Thursday, October 28, 2027

October 15 on the Old Calendar

Martyrs Terence, Neonila and Children

Thursday of the 19th week after Pentecost

Martyr
St. Terence, St. Neonila and Their Children
Fasting
No fast today.
Tone
Tone 1This week’s Resurrection hymns are sung in the first 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

Philippians 1:20-27

Traditional

20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Modern

20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. 23But I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24Yet to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake. 25Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again. 27Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

Gospel

Luke 11:14-23

Traditional

14And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Modern

14He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.” 16Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls. 18If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you. 21“When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. 22But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his plunder. 23“He who is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters.

Remembered on this day

St. Terence, St. Neonila and Their Children

Terence and Neonila are remembered with their seven children as a Christian family who suffered martyrdom. Few details of their lives can be established with certainty, but the Church has preserved the names of parents and children together in its worship. Their remembrance gives a human face to the word martyr: a household, with bonds of love, faced persecution. We honor their faith and ask God to strengthen families living with fear or hardship now.

How they died
Tradition holds that they were beheaded in Syria in the third century.

St. Terence, St. Neonila and Their Children: the full page

Also remembered today: St Arsenius of Serbia; Rep. Ven. Job of Pochaev; St Dimitri (Demetrius) of Rostov (1709); Our Holy Father Firmilian, Bishop of Caesarea (268); Holy Hieromartyr Cyriacus, Bishop of Jerusalem, and his mother Anna (4th 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.