Wednesday, September 30, 2026
The Orthodox liturgical day, its saint, its tone, and its fast.
On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Orthodox Christians on the New Calendar remember St Gregory of Armenia; St Gregory of Pelsheme; and Our Father among the Saints Michael. It is a strict fast day. On the Old Calendar the same day remembers Sts Faith, Hope, and Love, and their mother Sophia; and St Lambert of Maastricht. It is a strict fast day.
New Calendar
Commemorated today
- Hieromartyr Gregory of Armenia
- Venerable Gregory of Pelsheme, Wonderworker of Vologda
- Our Father among the Saints Michael, Metropolitan of Kiev (992)
This day is a strict fast, no meat, dairy, fish, wine, or oil.
Old Calendar
Sts Faith, Hope, and Love, and their mother SophiaThe child martyrs and their wise mother · 2nd c.
Also commemorated
This day is a strict fast, no meat, dairy, fish, wine, or oil.
The saints of the day
On the New Calendar
On the Old Calendar
- Tone 8 of the Octoechos
- 17th Week after Pentecost
Readings, New Calendar
EpistleEphesians 5.25-33
5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her, 26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect. 28Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly, 30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.
31“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.” 32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly. 33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
WEB, public domain
GospelLuke 5.33-39
5:33They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?” 34He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.” 36He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old.
37No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled and the skins will be destroyed. 38But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. 39No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
WEB, public domain
The order and appointment of the readings follow the Orthodox lectionary. Come to the Liturgy to hear them proclaimed.
Readings, Old Calendar
EpistleEphesians 5.25-33
5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her, 26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect. 28Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly, 30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.
31“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.” 32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly. 33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
WEB, public domain
GospelLuke 4.1-15
4:1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” 5The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I want. 7If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8Jesus answered him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” 9He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’ 11and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’”
12Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” 13When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time. 14Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
WEB, public domain
The order and appointment of the readings follow the Orthodox lectionary. Come to the Liturgy to hear them proclaimed.
Questions
What does the Orthodox Church remember on Wednesday, September 30, 2026?
- On the New Calendar, St Gregory of Armenia; St Gregory of Pelsheme; and Our Father among the Saints Michael.
- On the Old Calendar, Sts Faith, Hope, and Love, and their mother Sophia; and St Lambert of Maastricht.
Is Wednesday, September 30, 2026 a fast day in the Orthodox Church?
Yes.
- On the New Calendar it is a strict fast day.
- On the Old Calendar it is a strict fast day.
What are the Orthodox readings for Wednesday, September 30, 2026?
On the New Calendar:
At the Liturgy, the Epistle is Ephesians 5.25-33 and the Gospel is Luke 5.33-39.
On the Old Calendar:
At the Liturgy, the Epistle is Ephesians 5.25-33 and the Gospel is Luke 4.1-15.
