2025

On Monday | November 3

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Monday of the 22nd Week

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

Col. 2:13 – 20

Brethren, when you who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, Christ made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food or drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the body belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on things he has not seen, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental principles of the world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations? [RSV]

The Gospel

Monday of the 7th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 11:29 – 33

At that time, when the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel, but on a stand, that those who enter may see the light.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

2025

November 3

Memory of the Holy Great-martyr George

The Readings from Vespers the Previous Evening

From Menaion - - -

Is 43:9 – 14

Thus says the Lord: All the nations are gathered together, and the rulers shall be assembled from among them. Who will declare these things or tell us things from the beginning? Let them bring forth their witnesses, and be proven right; and let them speak the truth. “You are My witnesses, and I am a witness,” says the Lord God, “and My Servant whom I chose, that you may know and believe, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no other God, nor shall there be after Me. I am God, and besides Me there is no one who saves. I proclaimed, and I saved. I denounced foreign gods so there were none among you. You are My witnesses, and I am a witness,” says the Lord God. “Even from the beginning, there is no one who can deliver out of My hands; I will work, and who will reverse it?” Thus says the Lord God who redeems you, the Holy One of Israel. [SAAS]

WSol 3:1 – 9

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torture will ever touch them. In the eyes of the undiscerning they seemed to have died, and their departure was considered to be misfortune, and their passage from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in man’s view they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Though chastened in a few things, great kindness will be shown them, for God tested them and found them worthy of Himself. He tested them like gold in a furnace and accepted them as a whole burnt offering. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and they will run about like sparks through straw. They will judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall reign over them unto the ages. Those who trust in Him will understand truth, and the faithful shall continue with Him in love, because grace and mercy are upon His elect [and He watches over His holy ones]. [SAAS]

WSol 5:15 – 6:3

The righteous live forever, and their reward is with the Lord; and their care is by the Most High. Therefore they shall receive a kingly dwelling of dignity and a crown of beauty from the hand of the Lord, because He will shelter them with His right hand and protect them with His arm. He will take His zeal as His full armor and will turn His creation into weapons against His enemies. He will wear righteousness as a breastplate and put on impartial judgment as a helmet. He will take holiness as an unconquerable shield and sharpen His relentless wrath for a sword; and creation will fight with Him against the senseless. Well-aimed flashes of lightning will strike and leap to their object as from a well-drawn bow of clouds; and hailstones full of anger will be hurled as from an engine of war. The water of the sea will be vexed with them, and the rivers will wash over them severely. A powerful wind will oppose them, and like a storm it will winnow them away. Lawlessness will lay waste all the earth, and wrongdoing will overturn the thrones of rulers. Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and take pride in yourself over a multitude of nations. For power was given to you from the Lord, and your lordship from the Most High. [SAAS]

The Epistle

For the Martyrs.

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]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On November 3, we commemorate the holy Martyrs Acepsimas, Joseph, and Aeithalas.

On this day we also celebrate the consecration of the church St. George the Great-martyr, in Lydda, namely when his holy body was installed there.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Acepsimas.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Theodore the Confessor, Bishop of Ancyra. We also commemorate the holy Martyrs Dasius, Severus, Andronas, Theodotus, and Theodota, who died by the sword.

On this day, our devout father Elias died in peace.

On this day, the holy Nine Martyrs died by the sword.

On this day, the holy Twenty-eight Martyrs died by fire.

On this day we also commemorate Saint Achemenides the Confessor.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father and New Hieromartyr George of Neapolis, who died in 1797.

By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.