From the calendar, 2025.
Wednesday, October 1
Protection (Pokrov) of the Most-Holy Theotokos
Fish allowedFish, wine and oil are allowed. No meat, dairy or eggs.
Epistle.
Ephesians 3:8–21
2 min read
8To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
13Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Epistle.
Hebrews 9:1–7
1 min read
1Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.
2For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;
3and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,
4which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
5and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.
7But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;
Gospel.
Luke 5:33–39
1 min read
33Then they said to Him, 'Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?'
34And He said to them, 'Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?
35But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.'
36Then He spoke a parable to them: 'No one puts a piece from new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old.
37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined.
38But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
39And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.' '
Gospel.
Luke 10:38–42, 11:27–28
1 min read
38Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.
40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.'
41And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'
11:27And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!'
28But He said, 'More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'
Matins Gospel.
Luke 1:39–49, 56
1 min read
39Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,
40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.'
46'My soul magnifies the Lord,
47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
56And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Vespers Old Testament.
Genesis 28:10–17
1 min read
10Now Jacob went out from the Well of Oath and went toward Haran.
11So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. Then he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep.
12Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13So behold, the Lord stood above it and said, 'I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. Do not fear, the land on which you lie I will give to you and your seed.
14Also, your seed shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.
15Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.'
16Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'The Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.'
17So he was afraid and said, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.'
Vespers Old Testament.
Ezekiel 43:27–44:4
1 min read
27It will be when these days are over, on the eighth day, the priests shall offer your whole burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar, and I shall accept you,' says the Lord.'
44:1Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faces toward the east, but it was shut.
2So the Lord said to me, 'This gate shall be shut. It shall not be opened, and no man shall pass through it, because the Lord God of Israel will enter by it; therefore, it shall be shut.
3As for the prince, he will sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He will go in by way of the gate chamber and go out the same way.'
4Then He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the house of the Lord was full of glory; and I fell on my face.
Vespers Old Testament.
Proverbs of Solomon 9:1–11 (Proverbs)
1 min read
1Wisdom built her house, And she supported it with seven pillars.
2She offered her sacrifices; She mixed her wine in a bowl And prepared her table.
3She sent her servants, Inviting people to the bowl with a lofty proclamation, saying,
4"He who is without discernment, Let him turn aside to me"; And to those in need of discernment, she says,
5"Come, eat my bread And drink the wine I mixed for you;
6Forsake lack of discernment, and you shall live; Seek discernment so you may live, And keep straight your understanding with knowledge."
7He who chastises evil men shall receive dishonor to himself, And he who reproves the ungodly man shall be blamed himself.
8Do not reprove evil men, so they may not hate you; Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9Give the opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser; Instruct a righteous man, and he shall continue to receive it.
10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the counsel of saints is understanding; For to know the law is characteristic of a good mind.
11For in this manner you will live a long time, And the years of your life shall be increased.
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.