Saturday 13 September 2025

Saturday before Elevation; Founding of Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Saturday of the 14th week after Pentecost

No Fast — Wine and Oil are Allowed Tone 4

Saturday before Elevation; Founding of Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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Saturday before Elevation; Founding of Church of the Holy Sepulchre
late 16th – early 17th century, Russian · Wikimedia Commons · pd-old-work

Saints commemorated

  • Holy Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion (1st c. )

    Cornelius the Centurion is the Roman officer of Acts 10 — a devout, alms-giving "God-fearer" of the Italian Cohort at Caesarea in Palestine — whose baptism by the apostle Peter, at the command of an angel and after Peter's vision of the sheet of clean and unclean creatures, opened the Church to the Gentiles: he is venerated as the first-fruits of the nations. Later tradition makes him a companion of Peter's preaching and bishop of Skepsis in the Troad, where he overthrew a pagan temple by prayer, converted the city's ruler Demetrius, and — despite the "hieromartyr" styling of many calendars — reposed in peace in old age. His feast is September 13.

  • Holy Great Martyr Ketevan, Queen of Georgia (1624)

  • Cronides, Leontius and Serapion

    Cronides (Chronides), Leontius and Serapion were Christians of Egypt who suffered martyrdom at Alexandria in the third century. Refusing to deny Christ under torture, they were bound hand and foot and cast into the sea; the waves carried their bodies to shore, where the Christians of the city buried them. The Byzantine synaxaria commemorate them on September 13, at the head of a company of martyrs of the day that also includes Seleucus, Stratonicus, and the martyrs of Tomis.

  • Macrobius, Gordian and their companions

    Macrobius, Gordian, Elias, Zoticus, Lucian and Valerian were martyrs of the last persecution in the East, under the emperor Licinius (c. 320), who suffered at Tomis in Scythia Minor on the Black Sea (the modern Constanța in Romania). Macrobius, a Paphlagonian, and Gordian, a Cappadocian, had served at the imperial court and were exiled to Scythia when discovered to be Christians; there they met the confessors Elias, Zoticus, Lucian and Valerian, and the whole company was put to death. They are commemorated together on September 13.

  • Peter of Atroa

    Peter of Atroa (773–837) was a Bithynian ascetic and hegumen of the monastery of Saint Zachariah at Atroa, at the foot of the Bithynian Olympus, in the generation of the second iconoclast persecution. Given to God from childhood and famed for extreme fasting and unceasing prayer, he led his community through the persecution of Leo V by dispersing it and wandering through Asia Minor working healings — miracles so abundant that rivals accused him of sorcery, until Theodore the Studite examined and publicly vindicated him. He reposed in peace on 1 January 837, and the Byzantine calendar commemorates him on September 13.

British Isles and Ireland

  • St. Wilfrida, abbess of Wilton (10th C)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion

The Church has been shown to be a heaven of many lights, shedding its light upon all the faithful; wherein we stand and cry: establish this house, O Lord.

Kontakion — Tone 4

The Church received thee as a holy first-fruits from among the nations, enlightening her with thy virtuous deeds, O sacred initiate of God's mysteries, divinely-minded Cornelius.

Troparion

As Thou didst show forth the splendour of the firmament on high, so also hast Thou shown the beauty of the holy dwelling-place of Thy glory here below, O Lord. Establish it for ever and ever, and accept the supplications which we unceasingly offer Thee therein, at the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Thou who art the life and resurrection of all.

Troparion — Tone 4

Sharer of the ways and successor to the throne of the apostles, divinely inspired one, thou didst find thy deeds a ladder to divine vision; wherefore, rightly dividing the word of truth, thou didst suffer for the faith even unto blood. O hieromartyr Cornelius, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4

Thy martyrs, O Lord, by their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for possessing Thy strength they cast down the tyrants and shattered the powerless insolence of the demons. By their intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 4

Thy martyrs, O Lord, by their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for possessing Thy strength they cast down the tyrants and shattered the powerless insolence of the demons. By their intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 8

With the streams of thy tears thou didst till the barren desert, and by thy groanings from the depths thou didst make thy labours bear fruit a hundredfold, and becamest a beacon to the whole world, shining with miracles. O Peter our venerable father, intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Readings

Vespers

3[1] Kings 8.22-23, 27-30

22And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: 23And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 27But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 28Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: 29That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. 30And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.

Proverbs 3.19-34

19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. 21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. 27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. 29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. 31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. 33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Proverbs 9.1-11

1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Epistle

1 Corinthians 2.6-9 (Saturday before Elevation)

6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 4.1-5

1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Hebrews 3.1-4 (Church)

1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Gospel

Matthew 10.37-11.1 (Saturday before Elevation)

37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 1And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Matthew 23.1-12

1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Matthew 16.13-18 (Church)

13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.