Orthodox Devotional — Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Leavetaking of Pascha / Forefeast of the Ascension

Tone 5 | Wednesday of the 6th Week of Pascha

Commemorations

• Martyr Thalelaeus at Aegae in Cilicia and those with him (327)
• St. Aleksy (Alexis), Metropolitan of Kiev and Moscow — Uncovering of Relics (1431)

Epistle: Acts 18:22–28

The Journey of Paul and the Coming of Apollos

²²And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. ²³And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. ²⁵This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. ²⁶And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

²⁷And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: ²⁸For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

OSB Commentary Notes

The Apostle Paul’s tireless circuit — from Caesarea through Antioch, then through Galatia and Phrygia — models the pastoral work of strengthening the already-baptized. The Church does not plant and abandon; she revisits, consolidates, builds up. Aquila and Priscilla appear here as lay teachers of extraordinary importance: they receive Apollos, a man “fervent in spirit” and learned in Scripture, yet formed only in the baptism of John. Their correction is gentle and private — they “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” In this the OSB notes the Orthodox understanding that zeal and eloquence, while gifts, must be submitted to the fullness of the Tradition. Apollos then becomes a powerful apologist, demonstrating from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ — the same method the risen Lord used on the road to Emmaus.

Gospel: John 12:36–47

Children of Light / The Blindness of Unbelief

³⁶While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

³⁷But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: ³⁸that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? ³⁹Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, ⁴⁰He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. ⁴¹These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

⁴²Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: ⁴³for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

⁴⁴Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. ⁴⁵And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. ⁴⁶I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. ⁴⁷And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

OSB Commentary Notes

This passage stands at the hinge of John’s Gospel — the end of Jesus’ public ministry. The OSB notes that Isaiah’s vision (Is. 6) is understood by John as a direct vision of Christ’s pre-incarnate glory; the prophet “saw His glory and spoke of Him.” The hardening of hearts is not arbitrary divine cruelty but the tragic terminus of freely chosen unbelief: light refused becomes darkness confirmed. The Fathers read verse 36 — “While ye have light, believe” — as an urgent paschal call. The Leavetaking of Pascha makes this urgent today: the Risen Light is present; the question is whether we will receive Him or shrink back into the comfortable darkness of human praise. The OSB commentary on John 12 emphasizes that this Passover (the third in John’s Gospel) marks the final week of Christ’s earthly ministry, narrated in meticulous detail. The contrast between rulers who “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” and the bold confession required of every Christian remains searingly contemporary.

Commemorations Reflection

Martyr Thalelaeus was a physician who healed the very governor who tortured him — and that act of mercy did not soften the tyrant’s heart, but it did win two soldiers (Alexander and Asterius) to the Faith, who were beheaded moments later shouting “The Lord is alive to us!” His feast runs alongside today’s Gospel theme: the Light shines; some refuse it while others — even mid-persecution — receive it instantly.

St. Alexis of Moscow translated the Gospels from Greek into Slavonic and interceded for his people before their Tartar overlords. He healed the Khan’s wife and used the reward to build a monastery. A physician who healed, an intercessor who prayed, a pastor who translated the Word into the language of his flock — an icon of integrated Christian vocation.

Closing Reflection

Leavetaking of Pascha. Forefeast of Ascension.

These two days press against each other. We are releasing Christ’s Resurrection even as we strain toward His Ascension — the movement from He is risen to He has gone before us. The Paschal light does not diminish; it rises. Today’s Gospel catches this exactly: “I am come a light into the world.” The question John presses is not whether the Light is real — miracles attested it — but whether we will love the Light more than we love the praise of men.

That is always the question. In the consulting room, at the dinner table, in the inbox, in the mirror: do we confess, or do we hedge?

Apollos, fervent and eloquent, submitted to correction from a tentmaker and his wife. Thalelaeus healed his executioner. Alexis translated the Word so ordinary people could hear it.

The Light is available. Believe in the light, that ye may be children of light.

☦️ Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! — Even now, on the eve of His Ascension.

Sources: orthocal.info Gregorian API · Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) commentary via brain memory Published: 2026-05-20 | NOSTR Orthodox Devotional Series