Orthodox Calendar

April 21, 2026
Tuesday of the 2nd Sunday of Pascha

No Fast

Feasts

  • Day of Rejoicing (Radonitsa)

Commemorations

  • Apostles of the Seventy Herodion, Agabus, Asyncritus, Rufuf, Phlegon, Hermes
  • Saint Celestine, Pope of Rome (432)

Scripture Readings (KJV)

Acts 4.1-10 (Epistle)

1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

John 3.16-21 (Gospel)

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Commemorations

Holy Apostles Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon and Hermas

All of these are numbered among the Seventy, and all are mentioned in the Epistles of St Paul.

Herodion was a kinsmen of St Paul: ‘Salute Herodion my kinsman’ (Romans 16:11). After many sufferings for the Gospel, he worked with the Apostle Peter in Rome, and was beheaded with him.

Agabus was granted a spirit of prophecy: two of his prophecies are important in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 11:28, 21:11).

Rufus was Bishop of Thebes. ‘Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord’ (Romans 16:13).

Asyncritus (Romans 16:14) was Bishop of Hyrcania in Asia.

Phlegon, (Romans 16:14) was Bishop of Marathon in Thrace.

Hermas (Romans 16:14) was a bishop in Dalmatia.

Saint Celestine, Pope of Rome (432)

A champion of the Orthodox faith, he sent an epistle to the Third Ecumenical Council, refuting and condemning the Nestorian heresy. He reposed in peace.