2026

On Friday | November 20

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Friday of the 25th Week

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

2 Th. 3:6 – 18

Brethren, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat any one’s bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing. If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. [RSV]

The Gospel

Friday of the 9th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 16:15 – 18, 17:1 – 4

The Lord said to the Jews who came to him, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one enters it violently. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one dot of the law to become void. Every one who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.” And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” [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

Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.

It is the Christmas fast.