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2024 |
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On Monday | December 16 |
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The Readings from the Regular Cycle |
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The Epistle |
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Monday of the 26th Week |
The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. |
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1 Tim. 1:1 – 7 |
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope. To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the divine order that is in faith; whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. Certain persons by swerving from these have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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Monday of the 14th Week of Luke |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark. |
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Mk. 9:42 – 50; 10:1 |
The Lord said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell, to the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. For every one will be salted with fire and every sacrifice will be salted with salt. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom was, he taught them. [RSV] |
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The Readings for the Commemoration |
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The Epistle |
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For the Saint. |
The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews. |
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Heb. 7:26 – 28; 8:1 – 2 |
Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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For the Saint. |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John. |
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Jn. 10:9 – 16 |
The Lord said, “I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.” [RSV] |
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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion. |
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Synaxarion |
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From the Menaion. |
On December 16, we commemorate the holy and glorious Prophet Haggai. |
On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Marinos. |
On this day, Saints Probus (or Promus) and Hilarion died by fire. |
On this day we also commemorate our father among the saints Modestos, Archbishop of Jerusalem. |
We remember the consecration of the church of the holy Martyr Christopher, next to St. Polyeuctos. |
On this day we also commemorate the wonder-working Saint Theofano, the Empress, wife of Emperor Leo the Wise. |
We also commemorate our father among the saints Nicholas [Chrysovergis], Patriarch of Constantinople; and Memnon, Archbishop of Ephesus. |
By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen. |
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Fasting Rule |
Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs. |
It is the Christmas fast. |