2025

On Monday | December 8

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Monday of the 27th Week

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

1 Tim. 5:1 – 10

Timothy, my son, do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as you would a father; treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are real widows. If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. She who is a real widow, and is left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; whereas she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command this, so that they may be without reproach. If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband; and she must be well attested for her good deeds, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. [RSV]

The Gospel

Monday of the 12th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 20:27 – 44

At that time, there came to Jesus some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; and the second married the woman, and he died childless, and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.” And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him.” And some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” For they no longer dared to ask him any question. But he said to them, “How can they say that the Messiah is David’s son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies a stool for your feet.’ David thus calls him Lord; so how is he his son?” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Devout Man.

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

2 Th. 2:13 – 17; 3:1 – 5

Brethren, we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On December 8, we commemorate our devout father Patapios.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Apostles of the Seventy: Sosthenes, Apollo, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Sophronios, Bishop of Cyprus.

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