From the calendar, 2025.
Wednesday, January 8
Ven. George the Chozebite
Strict fastNo meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil.
Appointed to be read.
Epistle.
Hebrews 5:11–6:8
2 min read
11of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
6:1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3And this we will do if God permits.
4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
8but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Gospel.
Luke 21:5–7, 10–11, 20–24
1 min read
5Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,
6'These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.'
7So they asked Him, saying, 'Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?'
10Then He said to them, 'Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
20'But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.
21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.
22For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
24And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
What this is.
The Scripture the Orthodox Church reads each day, the saints it remembers, and a study aid that answers from Scripture and the Fathers and shows its sources.
Divine Liturgy. The Church's main service, at which Holy Communion is given. Its Epistle and Gospel are what most people mean by the day's readings.
Matins. The morning service of praise. On Sundays and feasts it has a Gospel of its own.
Vespers. The evening service. The Church's day begins at sunset, so a feast's Vespers is served the evening before.
Hours. Short services of psalms and prayer at set times of the day: the First, Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours.
Tone. The hymns of the week are sung in one of eight tones, or melodies, which follow each other week by week.
New Calendar. Fixed feasts are kept on the civil date, as in the OCA and the Antiochian Archdiocese. Churches on the Old Calendar keep them 13 days later. Pascha is the same for both.