2025

On Saturday | February 8

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Saturday of the 33rd Week

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

2 Tim. 2:11 – 19

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself. Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Avoid such godless chatter, for they will advance into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth by holding that the resurrection is past already. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” [RSV]

The Gospel

Saturday of the Sixeenth Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 18:2 – 8

The Lord said this parable, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’ For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear, what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Martyr.

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.

Eph. 2:4 – 10

Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God — not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Martyr.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 10:16 – 22

The Lord said to his disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On February 8 we commemorate the holy and glorious great martyr Theodore the General.

On this day we also commemorate the holy prophet Zechariah.

On this day the holy martyrs Nikephoros and Stephen died by the sword.

On this day Sts. Martha and Mary, the sisters, and the devout Lycarion the martyr, died by the sword.

On this day the contest of the holy martyrs Philadelphus and Polycarp.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Makarios, Bishop of Paphos.

On this day we also commemorate the holy martyr Pergetus.

By the intercessions of Your Saint, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.