2024

On Thursday | November 28

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Thursday of the 23rd Week

The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians.

1 Th. 2:9 – 14

Brethren, remember our labor and toil; we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers; for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea. [RSV]

The Gospel

Thursday of the 11th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 20:9 – 18

The Lord said this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, that they should give him some of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant; him also they beat and treated shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third; this one they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants, and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “God forbid!” But he looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner’? Every one who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on any one it will crush him.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Devout Martyr.

The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy.

2 Tim. 1:8 – 18

Timothy, my son, do not be ashamed of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me — may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day — and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On November 28, we commemorate our devout father Stephen the New the Confessor.

On this day, Saint Andrew died for the sake of the holy Icons, after he was dragged on the ground.

On this day, Saint Peter also died for the holy Icons, after he was struck.

On this day, Saint Anna died, after she was struck in order to denounce Saint Stephen.

On this day we commemorate the holy Martyrs, who witness together with Saint Stephen for the sake of the holy Icons.

On this day we commemorate the holy Martyr Irenarchus and the seven holy women with him.

We also commemorate our father among the saints Theodore, who was Bishop of Theodosioupolis, Armenia, during the reign of emperor Maurice.

These holy Martyrs in Tiberioupolis: Timothy and Theodore the bishops; Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, and Nikephoros the priests; Basil and Thomas the deacons; Hierotheos, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Komasios, Eusebios the monks; and Etimasios, died by the sword.

By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fish: fish, oil and wine are allowed. Refrain from meat, dairy and eggs.

It is the Christmas fast.