2025

On Tuesday | November 18

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Tuesday of the 24th Week

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

1 Th. 3:8 – 13

Brethren, if you stand fast in the Lord, what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God, praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you, so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. [RSV]

The Gospel

Tuesday of the 9th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 14:25 – 35

At that time, great multitudes accompanied Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Martyrs.

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

2 Tim. 2:1 – 10

Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On November 18, we commemorate the holy Great-martyr Plato.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Romanos.

On this day the holy infant, who was asked by the governor, “Which God ought one to worship?” and then replied, “Christ,” was killed by the sword.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr and Deacon Romanos of Palestine.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Zacchaeus, a Deacon of the Church in Gadeira; and also the holy Martyr Alphaeus.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Neo-martyr Anastasios of Paramythia, Epirus. There is also the story about Daniel the Ishmaelite.

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

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Fasting Rule

Fish: fish, oil and wine are allowed. Refrain from meat, dairy and eggs.

It is the Christmas fast.