Commemorated September 1 (New Calendar) September 14 (Old Calendar)
The Latin Church keeps him on September 1.
Joshua was leader of Israel after Moses. He brought the people across the Jordan on dry ground, as Moses had brought them through the Red Sea. He saw face to face the Archistrategos Michael, captain of the heavenly hosts. At the sound of the trumpets the walls of Jericho fell. In one battle he held the sun until the enemy was beaten. He divided the promised land by lot and died in peace at one hundred and ten.
The memory records the life and death; it does not preserve spoken words.
What the reading keeps
He succeeded Moses as leader of the Hebrew people.
He crossed the Jordan dry-shod with all the people.
He saw the Archistrategos Michael face to face.
The walls of Jericho fell at the sound of the trumpets.
In battle he stopped the sun until the enemy was wholly broken.
He divided the land among the tribes by lot.
He died at one hundred and ten.
The Church reads these things from the Book of Joshua. He was of the tribe of Ephraim. He was buried at Timnath-serah.
Who stood with them
Moses went before him.
The Archistrategos Michael stood before him with a drawn sword.
The people of Israel crossed with him and received their lots.
No other companions are named in this short reading.
He finished the work Moses could not finish, and he died in the land he had been told to enter.
We ask his prayers when a long obedience still has a river in front of it, and when the day is too short for the work given.
Pray for us
Troparion — Tone 2
As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophet Joshua, O Lord, through him we beseech Thee to save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 4
At thy prayer the sun stood still, O righteous Jesus; for thou rightly wast adorned both with the likeness and the name of Him at Whose death the sun grew dark. Ever entreat Him to save us who honour thee.
Saint Joshua, pray for us.
Sources
St. Demetrius of Rostov, Lives of the Saints, September 1.
https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Dmitrij_Rostovskij/zhitija-svjatykh/728
Orthodox Church in America, Righteous Joshua, son of Nun (Navi).
https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/09/01/102456-righteous-joshua-son-of-nun-navi
Orthodox Encyclopedia, Иисуса Навина книга.
https://www.pravenc.ru/text/293947.html
Orthodox Encyclopedia calendar, 14 сентября (1 сентября).
https://www.pravenc.ru/calendar/2024/09/14.html
Also in the Latin books
Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent), Josue (Joshua).
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08524a.htm
The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on September 1.
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Updated 9/20/2026