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2025 |
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On Sunday | December 14 |
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The Readings for the Commemoration |
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The Epistle |
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Sunday For the Forefathers. |
The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. |
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Col. 3:4 – 11 |
Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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Sunday For the Forefathers. |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke. |
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Lk. 14:16 – 24 |
The Lord said this parable: “A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for all is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.’” [RSV] |
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The Epistle |
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For the Martyrs. |
The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. |
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Eph. 6:10 – 17 |
Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; with all of these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [RSV] |
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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion. |
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Synaxarion |
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From the Menaion. |
On December 14 we commemorate the contest of the holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius, and Callinicus. |
On this day we commemorate the holy Martyrs Philemon, Apollionos, Arrianos, and those with them. |
On this day we we commemorate the four guards who contested together with Arrianos. |
On this day we also commemorate the great love which was shown to us when we were delivered from the fearful threat of earthquake by our benevolent Lord. |
Today is also the Sunday of the holy Forefathers. |
By the intercessions of Your saints, O God, have mercy on us. Amen. |
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Fasting Rule |
Wine: Wine and oil are allowed. Refrain from meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. |
It is the Christmas fast. |