21 September Monday
Old Style — 8 SeptemberToday
Nativity of the Mother of God
The 17th week after Pentecost. Monday
The Nativity of the All-holy Mother of God›
Commemoration
Tap a name to open the life
2 of 7 names — the rest are in Georgian only
All the lives for this day — 2
Readings
At Vespers: 1) Gen 28:10–17; 2) Ezek 43:27; 44:1–4; 3) Prov 9:1–11
At Matins: Lk 1:39–49, 56 (§4)
For the Mother of God: Phil 2:5–11 (§240); Lk 10:38–42; 11:27–28 (§54)
The tone and the day's psalms
What is a tone?
A tone is not a psalm number. It is the mode in which that week's resurrection hymns are sung — the whole week's Vespers, Matins and Liturgy are set in one tone.
There are eight tones, and they change each week. The cycle opens with the first tone on Thomas Sunday after Pascha and returns to the first every eight weeks; Bright Week itself has no tone of its own. A new tone begins on Saturday evening, with the new church week.
The Psalter is divided into twenty kathismata and, by the usual rule, is read through once a week. Appointed for this day:
- At Matins · kathisma 4Psalms 24–31›
- At Matins · kathisma 5Psalms 32–36›
- At Vespers · kathisma 6Psalms 37–45›
This is the usual rule. In Great Lent the Psalter is read twice a week, and the kathismata are divided differently.
Word of the day
Our sins, by which we offend the Lord’s goodness, are far greater than God’s chastisement, whatever it may be: God, in His very great mercy, always punishes us less than we deserve.
Icons of the day's saints — from our shop
For every day — candles and incense
Honey (Beeswax) Candles, 50 pieces
Incense, Grade III
Charcoal for the Liturgy
Censer
Icon: The Nativity of the All-holy Mother of God · Public domain