2024

On Saturday | December 7

----------

The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Saturday of the 24th Week

The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians.

2 Cor. 11:1 – 6

Brethren, I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles. Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. [RSV]

The Gospel

Saturday of the 12th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 13:19 – 29

The Lord said this parable, “The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ There you will weep and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God.” [RSV]

__________

The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Saint.

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

2 Th. 2:13 – 17; 3:1 – 5

Brethren, we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. [RSV]

__________

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On December 7 we commemorate our devout Father St. Ambrose Bishop of Milan.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Athenodoros.

On this day Saint Neophytos died when he was thrown into the sea.

On this day Saint Dometios died by the sword.

In this day Saints Isidore, Acepsimas, and Leo died by fire.

On this day Saint Ammoun, Bishop of Nitria, reposed in peace.

On this day the holy Martyrs Gaianos and Gaius died by fire.

On this day the holy 300 Martyrs, who were in Africa, died by the sword.

On this day devout St. Ignatius, who was near Blachernae, reposed in peace.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Paul the Monk, the subordinate.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyrs Priscus, Martin, and Nicholas; the first (Priscus) was starved, the second (Martin) cut to pieces with an axe, and the third (Nicholas) died by fire. The services in their honor were held near the wall of Blachernae.

On this day was the Consecration of the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Curator.

By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy and save us. Amen.

__________

Fasting Rule

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

It is the Christmas fast.