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2026 |
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On Thursday | December 31 |
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The Readings from the Regular Cycle |
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The Epistle |
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Thursday of the 31st Week |
The reading is from the Universal Letter of James. |
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Jas. 1:19 – 27 |
My beloved brethren, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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Tuesday of the 15th Week of Luke |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark. |
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Mk. 11:11 – 23 |
At that time, Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he over turned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons; and he would not allow any one to carry anything through the temple. And he taught, and said to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came he went out of the city. As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” [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 31, we commemorate our devout mother Melania the Roman. |
On this day we also commemorate the Martyr and Priest Zotikos who cared for orphans. |
On this day St. Gelasios reposed in peace. |
On this day the holy 10 Virgins in Nikomedia died after their eyes were pierced and the sides were scraped. |
On this day the holy Martyr Olympiodora died by fire. |
On this day St. Gaios reposed in peace. |
By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen. |
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Fasting Rule |
Fast Free: All foods allowed. |
It is the Twelve Days of Christmas |