Sunday Oct. 5 / 18 ns 2026 • c 9th Matins Gospel: St. John 20:19-31 Gal. 1:11-19 (20th Sunday of Epistles); St. Luke 6:31-36

God took flesh of thy pure blood; wherefore, every generation doth hymn thee, O Lady, and the multitudes of the noetic beings glorify thee; for through thee we have clearly seen the Master of all, Who assumed the nature of man

SUNDAY

OCTOBER 5 / 18 NS 2026

HOLY MARTYR CHARITINA

SAINT JOHN, BISHOP OF EVCHAITA

SAINT METHODIA THE NEW

OF KIMOLOS

Having been orphaned in infancy, Charitína was adopted by an eminent Christian man named Claudius, who raised her as his own daughter. Charitína was meek, humble, obedient and quiet. She studied the Law of God day and night, and vowed to live her life in chastity, as a true bride of Christ.

Since Charitína also brought others to the Christian Faith, Dometius, Emperor Diocletian's eparch, heard of her, sent soldiers to take her from her foster father, and brought her to trial. The judge questioned her: "Is it true, young maiden, that you are a Christian, and that you deceive others, leading them to this profane Faith?'' Charitína courageously replied: "It is true that I am a Christian, but it is a lie that I deceive others; rather, I lead those in error to the true path, by leading them to my Christ.''

The evil judge condemned her. Her hair was shorn and hot coals were poured onto her head. Even so, she was saved by the power of God. They threw her into the sea, but God delivered her again. They tied her to a wheel and began to turn it, but an angel of God stopped the wheel, and Charitína remained unharmed. Then the depraved judge sent some dissolute young men to defile her. Fearing this dishonor, St. Charitína prayed to God to receive her soul before those degenerates could defile her virginal body. While she knelt, praying to God, her soul departed from her and was translated to the Immortal Kingdom of Christ.

Saint John 20:19-31 KJV

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Galatians 1:11-19 KJV

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Saint Luke 6:31-36 KJV

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

God said to Adam 

by St Symeon the New Theologian

In the day that thou eatest of it (that is, of the forbidden tree), thou will die the death (Genesis 2:17) that is, the death of the soul. This happened immediately: man was stripped of the garment of immortality. God said nothing more than that decree, nor did anything special happen after that. God, foreseeing that Adam was to sin and desiring to forgive him if he repented, did not say anything more than the above. But Adam refused to acknowledge his sin and did not repent even when he was accused by God; for he said, "the woman whom Thou gave us to be with me she deceived me (Genesis 3:12). Oh woe to his blinded soul! Seeing this, it was as Adam said to God: Thou Thyself are guilty because the woman whom Thou gavest me, has deceived me.

This very same thing I myself now suffer, wretched and miserable, when I do not desire to be humbled, and say that with my whole heart: "that person over there inspired me to do or say this. He advised me and knocked me off the path." Woe is my poor soul which speaks such words - filled with sin! O most shameless and irrational words of a shameless and irrational soul.

BOREDOM

Does one who keeps endless company with the Creator ever become bored?

FOR SURE?

An atheist once claimed:  "There is no God!"  In response he was asked:  "Are you sure?  Can you prove it?" Surprised, he answered with a "No".  This scenario isn't uncommon among atheists who seem to like to address a subject in which they have little more to offer than conjecture.  Hmm ...

Another atheist meekly asked if the existence of God could be proved. "Yes"  was the reply.  Ok, what is your proof?  

If you will, please repeat the name Jesus, and he did.   Now what? he said.  If you really desire to know, start calling for Christ by simply saying his name ceaselessly, either within or outwardly. Ok, he replied, and for how long? Don't stop until ...

KECHARITOMENE - FULL OF GRACE

In the Church the following is related concerning St. Gregory Palamas the Wonderworker. He called the name of Most Holy Ever Virgin Mary ceaselessly for so long that she finally appeared in the room and asked what he wanted.  

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