2025

On Sunday | February 23

   

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Meatfare Sunday

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

1 Cor. 8:8 – 13; 9:1 – 2

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. [RSV]

The Gospel

Meatfare Sunday

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 25:31 – 46

The Lord said, “When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” [RSV]

   

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Hieromartyr.

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

Eph. 4:7 – 13

Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Hieromartyr.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 12:24 – 26, 35 – 36

The Lord said to his disciples, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” Then Jesus said to the crowd, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On February 23, we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna.

On this day we also commemorate our devout fathers John, Moses, Antiochus, and Antoninus.

On this day Saint Gorgonia, the sister of St. Gregory the Theologian, died in peace.

On this day the holy Martyr Clement died by the sword.

On this day the holy Martyr Thea died by the sword.

On this day we also commemorate our devout fathers Zebinas, Polychronios, Moses, and Damian.

Devout St. Damian, who lived as an ascetic near the holy Monastery of Esphigmenou on Mt. Athos, died in peace in the year 1280.

From the Triodion.

On this day, we also remember the second and impartial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses

When You the Judge will sit in judgment,

May You judge me worthy of the “Come” invitation.

In Your ineffable benevolence, O Christ our God, make us worthy to hear Your auspicious voice, number us among those at Your right hand, and have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.