|
2026 |
|
On Saturday | December 26 |
|
|
|
---------- |
|
|
|
The Readings from the Regular Cycle |
|
The Epistle |
|
Saturday of the 30th Week |
The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. |
|
Eph. 5:1 – 8 |
Brethren, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. [RSV] |
|
The Gospel |
|
Saturday after Nativity |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. |
|
Mt. 12:15 – 21 |
At that time, many crowds followed Jesus, and he healed them all, and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick, till he brings justice to victory; and in his name will the Gentiles hope.” [RSV] |
|
__________ |
|
|
|
The Readings for the Commemoration |
|
The Epistle |
|
Post-festal. |
The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews. |
|
Heb. 2:11 – 18 |
Brethren, he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. [RSV] |
|
The Gospel |
|
Post-festal. |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. |
|
Mt. 2:13 – 23 |
When the magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the magi, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” [RSV] |
|
__________ |
|
|
Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion. |
|
Synaxarion |
|
From the Menaion. |
On December 26 is the Synaxis in honor of our all-holy Lady Theotokos. |
On this day we also commemorate our father among the saints Efthymios the Confessor, Bishop of Sardis. |
On this day we also commemorate our devout father Constantine who was of Jewish origin. |
We also commemorate our devout father Evarestos. |
We also commemorate the holy New Hieromartyr Constantine the Russian, who contested in Constantinople in the year 1743. |
By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen. |
|
__________ |
|
|
Fasting Rule |
Fast Free: All foods allowed. |
It is the Twelve Days of Christmas |