2026

On Sunday | January 4

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Sunday Before Epiphany

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

2 Tim. 4:5 – 8

Timothy, my son, always be watchful, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. [RSV]

The Gospel

Sunday Before Epiphany

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 1:1 – 8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight —’ John was baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Apostles.

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

1 Cor. 4:9 – 16

Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Forefeast.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 1:18 – 28

No one has ever seen God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.” They said to him then, “Who are you? let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, who ranks before me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On January 4, the Synaxis of the Holy and glorious 70 Apostles.

On this day the devout St. Theoktistos, the Abbot of Koukouma in Sicily, reposed in peace.

On this day the Holy 6 Martyrs reposed in peace.

On this day the commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Zosimas the Monk and Athanasios the Notary.

On this day the commemoration of the devout Apollinaria the Senator.

The commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Chrysanthos and Ephimia, who was close to the Holy Martyr Akakios.

The holy New-Martyr Onuphrios, who witnessed on Chios in the year 1818.

By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy and save us. Amen

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.

It is the Twelve Days of Christmas