2025

On Thursday | November 20

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Thursday of the 24th Week

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

1 Th. 4:18 – 5:10

Brethren, comfort one another with these words. But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. [RSV]

The Gospel

Thursday of the 9th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 16:1 – 9

The Lord said this parable, “There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ And the steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Saint.

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

Heb. 7:26 – 28; 8:1 – 2

Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On November 20, we commemorate our devout father Gregory of Decapolis.

On this day, we also commemorate our father among the saints Proklos, Archbishop of Constantinople. He was a student of blessed John Chrysostom and successor to his throne.

On this day also commemorate the contest of the holy martyr Dasios who was in Dorostolos.

On this day we also commemorate the holy martyrs Nirsa the Bishop, and Joseph his student, and others who died with them in Persia.

The holy martyrs Isakios, John, and Saborios died by stoning.

The holy martyrs Geithazet and another three died when they were pierced by spears.

The holy virgins Thecla, Vaoutha, and Denachis died by the sword.

On this day we also commemorate the holy martyrs Eustathius, Thespesios, and Anatolios.

On this day we also commemorate St. Theoktistos. He was a patrician and a eunuch during the reign of Empress Theodora Augusta.

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.