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2025 |
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On Saturday | January 4 |
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The Readings from the Regular Cycle |
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The Epistle |
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Saturday Before Epiphany |
The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. |
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1 Tim. 3:13 – 16; 4:1 – 5 |
Timothy, my son, those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: God was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving; for then it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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Saturday Before Epiphany |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. |
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Mt. 3:1 – 6 |
At that time, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [RSV] |
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The Readings for the Commemoration |
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The Epistle |
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For the Apostles. |
The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. |
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1 Cor. 4:9 – 16 |
Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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For the Forefeast. |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John. |
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Jn. 1:18 – 28 |
No one has ever seen God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.” They said to him then, “Who are you? let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, who ranks before me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. [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 January 4, the Synaxis of the Holy and glorious 70 Apostles. |
On this day the devout St. Theoktistos, the Abbot of Koukouma in Sicily, reposed in peace. |
On this day the Holy 6 Martyrs reposed in peace. |
On this day the commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Zosimas the Monk and Athanasios the Notary. |
On this day the commemoration of the devout Apollinaria the Senator. |
The commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Chrysanthos and Ephimia, who was close to the Holy Martyr Akakios. |
The holy New-Martyr Onuphrios, who witnessed on Chios in the year 1818. |
By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy and save us. Amen |
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Fasting Rule |
Fast Free: All foods allowed. |
It is the ru.Twelve Days of Christmas |