2025

On Friday | February 21

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Friday of the 35th Week

The reading is from John’s Second Universal Letter.

2 Jn. 1:1 – 13

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. And now I beg you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Any one who transgresses and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the teaching of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked works. Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen. [RSV]

The Gospel

Friday of Meatfare Week

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 15:20, 22, 25, 33 – 41

At that time, the soldiers took Jesus and led him out to be crucified. And they brought him to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. And when the sixth hour had come there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On February 21 we commemorate our devout father Timothy of Symbola.

On this day we also commemorate our father among the Saints Eustathios, Patriarch of Antioch the Great.

On this day we also commemorate our father among the Saints George, Bishop of Amastris.

On this day our father among the Saints John Scholasticos, Patriarch of Constantinople, reposed in peace.

On this day St. Zachariah, Patriarch of Jerusalem, reposed in peace.

By the intercessions of Your Saints, 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 a Wednesday or Friday.