2026

On Saturday | November 21

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Saturday of the 25th Week

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

Gal. 1:3 – 10

Brethren, grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel — not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel of heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ. [RSV]

The Gospel

Saturday of the 9th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 9:57 – 62

At that time, as Jesus was going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

2026

November 21

The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos

The Readings from Vespers the Previous Evening

From Menaion - - -

Ex 40: 1 – 5, 8 – 9, 14, 28 – 29

Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “On the first day of the first month, the new moon, you shall set up the tabernacle of testimony. You shall put in it the ark of the testimony and cover the ark with the veil. You shall bring in the table and lay out its offering, and bring in the lampstand and install its lamps. You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark, and put up the veil for the door of the tabernacle of testimony. You shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; and you shall consecrate it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy. You shall anoint the altar of burnt offerings and all its utensils and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy.” Thus Moses did; according to all the Lord commanded him, so he did. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of testimony, and the tabernacle was filled with the Lord’s glory. But Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of testimony because the cloud overshadowed it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. [SAAS]

3Kg 8:1 – 11

When Solomon finished building the house of the Lord, [he] assembled all the elders of Israel in Zion, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion. The priests took up the ark and the tabernacle of testimony and all the holy furnishings in the tabernacle of meeting. King Solomon and all Israel were before the ark. Then the priests brought in the ark to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and the holy things. Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant. When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the house, so the priests could not stand there ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house. [SAAS]

Ezk 43:27 – 44:4

Thus says the Lord: “When they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer upon the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, says the Lord God.” Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it; for the Lord, the God of Israel, shall enter by it; therefore it shall remain shut. Only the prince shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.” Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; and I looked, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. [SAAS]

The Epistle

For the Feast.

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

Heb. 9:1 – 7

Brethren, the first tent had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the first one, in which were the lamp stand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Feast.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 10:38 – 42; 11:27 – 28

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On November 21, we commemorate the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple.

By the intercessions of the Theotokos, O God, have mercy on 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.