☦️orthobot☦️

## [Venerable Alexis the Man of God - 17 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/17/100822-venera…) ![Venerable Alexis the Man of God]() 🎶troparion🎶 You budded from a famous and glorious root; you blossomed from a royal and illustrious city, O supremely wise Alexis; you disdained everything on earth as corruptible and fleeting, and you hastened to Christ the Master. Always entreat Him to save our souls. 🎶kontakion🎶 Today with hymns and praise we celebrate the feast of Alexis the blessed and we cry aloud: Rejoice, gladsome adornment of the righteous! #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

## [Saint Christódoulos, Wonderworker of Patmos - 16 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/16/205333-saint-…) ![Saint Christódoulos, Wonderworker of Patmos]() 🎶troparion🎶 (Podoben: “O citizen of the desert...”)O brethren, let us honor the godly-minded Christódoulos with hymns, the offspring of Nicaea, the boast of Patmos, and the glory of monks. Let us venerate his relics, and so receive healing of soul and body, crying out: “Glory to Him Who strengthened you. Glory to Him Who crowned you. Glory to Him Who, through you, works healings for all.” 🎶kontakion🎶 (Podoben: “You appeared today...”)Since we possess your relics as a holy place of healing for all our diseases and afflictions, we are delivered from them, and we cry aloud to you, “Rejoice, O renowned Christódoulos.” #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

# [Scripture Readings for Monday, 16 March 2026 (OCA)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/16) ## [6th Hour reading for Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent (Isaiah 14:24-32)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/16/1) > The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: That I will break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden removed from their shoulders. This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died. “Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia, because the rod that struck you is broken; for out of the serpent’s roots will come forth a viper, and its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent. The firstborn of the poor will feed, and the needy will lie down in safety; I will kill your roots with famine, and it will slay your remnant. Wail, O gate! Cry, O city! All you of Philistia are dissolved; for smoke will come from the north, and no one will be alone in his appointed times.” What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord has founded Zion, and the poor of His people shall take refuge in it. ## [Vespers reading for Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent (Genesis 8:21-9:7)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/16/2) > And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. “And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man. And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.” ## [Vespers reading for Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent (Proverbs 11:19-12:6)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/16/3) > As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their ways are His delight. Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion. The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. The people will curse him who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil. He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage. He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner. Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions He will condemn. A man is not established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous cannot be moved. An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,” but the mouth of the upright will deliver them. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Bible #Scripture #Orthodox #Orthostr #Biblestr

## [Martyr Sabinus of Egypt - 16 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/16/100813-martyr…) ![Martyr Sabinus of Egypt]() 🎶troparion🎶 With godliness you preached to the ungodly that the Creator of all took flesh without undergoing change. You excelled in your holy contest, for by meeting death in the river you attained to the Source of incorruption. Therefore, we praise you, blessed Sabinus. 🎶kontakion🎶 God-bearing Sabinus, you are a divine root, an unfading blossom, a branch heavily-laden with fruit. Fill with gladness those who honor your memory, and unceasingly pray for us all! #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

## [Martyr Nicander of Egypt - 15 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/15/100812-martyr…) 🎶troparion🎶 Your holy martyr Nicander, O Lord, through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through his intercessions, save our souls! 🎶kontakion🎶 (Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance, which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Nicander; extinguishing the allure of false gods, you enlighten the faithful, always interceding for us all. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

# [Scripture Readings for Sunday, 15 March 2026 (OCA)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/15) ## [Matins Gospel reading (John 20:1-10)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/15/1) > Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. ## [Epistle reading for Third Sunday of Lent (Hebrews 4:14-5:6)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/15/2) > Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; ## [Gospel reading for Third Sunday of Lent (Mark 8:34-9:1)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/15/3) > When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Bible #Scripture #Orthodox #Orthostr #Biblestr

## [3rd Sunday of Great Lent: Veneration of the Cross - 15 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/15/14-3rd-sunday…) ![3rd Sunday of Great Lent: Veneration of the Cross]() 🎶troparion🎶 O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians, over their adversaries. And by virtue of Your Cross preserve Your habitation! 🎶kontakion🎶 Now the flaming sword no longer guards the gates of Eden; it has mysteriously been quenched by the wood of the Cross! The sting of death and the victory of hell have been vanquished; for You, O my Savior, have come and cried to those in hell: “Enter again into paradise.” #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

## [Saint Euschemon the Confessor, Bishop of Lampsacus - 14 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/14/100803-saint-…) 🎶troparion🎶 Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship, the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchs: all-wise father Euschemon, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things. Intercede before Christ God to save our souls. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

# [Scripture Readings for Saturday, 14 March 2026 (OCA)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/14) ## [Epistle reading for Departed (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/14/1) > But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ## [Gospel reading for Departed (John 5:24-30)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/14/2) > Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. ## [Epistle reading for Third Saturday of Lent (Hebrews 10:32-38)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/14/3) > But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” ## [Gospel reading for Third Saturday of Lent (Mark 2:14-17)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/14/4) > As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Bible #Scripture #Orthodox #Orthostr #Biblestr

## [3rd Saturday of Great Lent: Memorial Saturday - 14 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/14/13-3rd-saturd…) 🎶troparion🎶 Only Creator, with wisdom profound, You mercifully order all things, and give that which is needed to all men: Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your servants who have fallen asleep, for they have placed their trust in You, our Maker and Fashioner, and our God. 🎶kontakion🎶 With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Your servants, where there is neither sickness nor sorrow, and no more sighing, but life everlasting. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

## [Martyr Alexander of Macedonia - 13 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/13/100797-martyr…) 🎶troparion🎶 Your holy martyr Alexander, O Lord, through his suffering has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through his intercessions, save our souls! 🎶kontakion🎶 (Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance, which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Alexander; extinguishing the allure of false gods, you enlighten the faithful, always interceding for us all. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

# [Scripture Readings for Friday, 13 March 2026 (OCA)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/13) ## [6th Hour reading for Friday of the Third Week of Lent (Isaiah 13:2-13)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/13/1) > “Lift up a banner on the high mountain, raise your voice to them; wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles. I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger – those who rejoice in My exaltation.” The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts musters the army for battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven – the Lord and His weapons of indignation, to destroy the whole land. Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Therefore all hands will be limp, every man’s heart will melt, And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; they will be amazed at one another; their faces will be like flames. Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will move out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of His fierce anger. ## [Vespers reading for Friday of the Third Week of Lent (Genesis 8:4-21)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/13/2) > Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore. And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. “Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. ## [Vespers reading for Friday of the Third Week of Lent (Proverbs 10:31-11:12)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/13/3) > The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight. When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust. When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of the unjust perishes. The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead. The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Bible #Scripture #Orthodox #Orthostr #Biblestr

## [Translation of the relics of Saint Nikephoros, Patriarch of Constantinople - 13 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/13/100792-transl…) ![Translation of the relics of Saint Nikephoros, Patriarch of Constantinople]() 🎶troparion🎶 Your fragrant relics have been revealed as godly treasure filled with life for the Church. On their august translation we receive the gifts of the Spirit. Righteous Father Nikephorus, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy. 🎶kontakion🎶 The choir of patriarchs, honors your holy memory with praises and hymns, O Nikephorus, for it received your spirit at your translation, O glorious one. Therefore, today the Church magnifies Christ the King, glorifying Him as the only Lover of mankind. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

## [Venerable Simeon the New Theologian - 12 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/12/100790-venera…) ![Venerable Simeon the New Theologian]() 🎶troparion🎶 (Podoben: “Your confession of the Divine Faith...”)Since you received divine enlightenment within your soul, O Venerable Father Symeon, you were shown to the world as a most radiant light, driving away its darkness, and persuading all to seek the grace of the Spirit which they had lost. Earnestly intercede with Him to grant us great mercy. 🎶kontakion🎶 (Podoben: “Today the Virgin...”)Radiant with the Three-Sun Light, you appeared as a true theologian of the Most Divine Trinity, the divinely transcendent Lord; from on high, you were made rich with the wisdom of discourse and poured forth Divine streams of godly wisdom; having drunk from these, we cry out: “Rejoice, thrice-blessed Symeon.” #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

# [Scripture Readings for Thursday, 12 March 2026 (OCA)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/12) ## [6th Hour reading for Thursday of the Third Week of Lent (Isaiah 11:10-12:2)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/12/1) > “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.” It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; together they shall plunder the people of the East; they shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; and the people of Ammon shall obey them. The Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; with His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, and strike it in the seven streams, and make men cross over dry-shod. There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who will be left from Assyria, as it was for Israel in the day that he came up from the land of Egypt. And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’” ## [Vespers reading for Thursday of the Third Week of Lent (Genesis 7:11-8:3)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/12/2) > In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark – they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in. Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. ## [Vespers reading for Thursday of the Third Week of Lent (Proverbs 10:1-22)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/12/3) > The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked. He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall. He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known. He who winks with the eye causes trouble, but a prating fool will fall. The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding. Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty. The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin. He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray. Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom. The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Bible #Scripture #Orthodox #Orthostr #Biblestr

## [Venerable Theophanes the Confessor of Sigriane - 12 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/12/100787-venera…) ![Venerable Theophanes the Confessor of Sigriane]() 🎶troparion🎶 By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile and by your longing for God you brought forth fruits in abundance. By the radiance of miracles you illuminated the whole universe. O our holy Father Theophanes, pray to Christ our God to save our souls. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

## [Saint Sophronius, Bishop of Vratcha, Bulgaria - 11 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/11/100785-saint-…) 🎶troparion🎶 In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Sophronius, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

# [Scripture Readings for Wednesday, 11 March 2026 (OCA)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/11) ## [6th Hour reading for Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent (Isaiah 10:12-20)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/11/1) > Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.” For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am prudent; also I have removed the boundaries of the people, and have robbed their treasuries; so I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, and as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; and there was no one who moved his wing, nor opened his mouth with even a peep.” Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will send leanness among his fat ones; and under his glory He will kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; it will burn and devour His thorns and his briers in one day. And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, both soul and body; and they will be as when a sick man wastes away. Then the rest of the trees of his forest will be so few in number that a child may write them. And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ## [Vespers reading for Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent (Genesis 7:6-9)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/11/2) > Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth. So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. ## [Vespers reading for Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent (Proverbs 9:12-18)](oca.org/readings/daily/2026/03/11/3) > If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city, to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell. #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Bible #Scripture #Orthodox #Orthostr #Biblestr

## [Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem - 11 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/11/100777-saint-…) ![Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem]() 🎶troparion🎶 Patriarch Sophronius, you were glorious in the splendor of sobriety, and through the radiance of your words you revealed ineffable enlightenment from heaven. For by your life you attained wisdom and now you confirm the Church as an illustrious hierarch and intercessor for us with the Lord. 🎶kontakion🎶 You were most wise among patriarchs, Sophronius of Jerusalem. You struggled with divine zeal, spreading the commandments of truth with your lips. You set right the foundations of the Church and firmly established the monastic order. You brought to light wise sermons, and instructed by them, therefore we cry out to you: “Rejoice, splendid boast of the Orthodox.” #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint

## [Martyr Quadratus and those with him at Nicomedia - 10 March](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/03/10/100773-martyr…) ![Martyr Quadratus and those with him at Nicomedia]() 🎶troparion🎶 Your holy martyrs, O Lord, through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. Through their intercessions, save our souls! #Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint