Orthodox Calendar

Monday, October 17, 2005
Monday of the 18th week after Pentecost

No Fast

Commemorations

Scripture Readings

Ephesians 4.25-32 (Epistle)

25Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, 27and don’t give place to the devil. 28Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. 29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Luke 9.18-22 (Gospel)

18As he was praying alone, the disciples were near him, and he asked them, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?”

19They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

20He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

21But he warned them and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”

Commemorations

Prophet Hosea

His name means “God is Help.” He is the first and earliest of the twelve Minor Prophets. At the Lord’s command he married a harlot, who was repeatedly unfaithful to him despite his love and faithfulness toward her. In his prophetic writings he shows this marriage as an image of God’s faithful care for His unfaithful people.

Holy Martyrs Cosmas and Damian, the Unmercenaries of Cilicia (4th c.)

The Church commemorates three pairs of brothers named Cosmas and Damian, all counted among the Unmercenary Physicians. The first reposed in peace and are commemorated on November 1; the second were stoned to death in Rome, and are commemorated on July 1; the third pair, commemorated today, were Arab doctors. They embraced the Christian faith together and thereafter cared for the sick in the name of the Lord Jesus, performing many miraculous healings. They were handed over to the governor Lysias by jealous pagans. When the governor accused them of healing by sorcery, they replied ‘We have no sort of magic, nor use any, but we have the power of Christ to save us and all who call upon His holy Name.’ The governor first attempted to bribe them to deny Christ then, when this was useless, subjected them to many tortures. Finally they were beheaded. Their holy relics continued to perform many miracles of healing.