2025

On Wednesday | December 3

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Wednesday of the 26th Week

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

1 Tim. 1:18 – 20; 2:8 – 15

Timothy, my son, this charge I commit to you in accordance with the prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; also that women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire but by good deeds, as befits women who profess religion. Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through bearing children, if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty. [RSV]

The Gospel

Wednesday of the 11th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 20:1 – 8

At that time, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question; now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know whence it was. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Prophet.

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

Rom. 10:11 – 21; 11:1 – 2

Brethren, the scripture says, “No one who believes in God will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On December 3, we commemorate the holy Prophet Zephaniah.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Theodore, Archbishop of Alexandria.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Theodoulos the Eparch.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father John the Hesychast, Bishop of Cologne.

On this day Saints Agapios, Seleukos, and Mamas died by the sword.

Our devout father Theodoulos the Cypriot, the fool for Christ, died in peace.

We also commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Gabriel, formerly Bishop of Ganos, and then of Constantinople, who was martyred in Prousa in the year 1659.

Holy Neo-Martyr Angeles, who competed in Chios in the year 1813, died by the sword.

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 the Christmas fast.