From the calendar, 2025.

Wednesday, October 22

St Abercius, Equal-to-the-Apostles

Strict fastNo meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil.

Appointed to be read.

At the
1. EpistlePhilippians 2:24–30
2. GospelLuke 9:44–50

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Epistle.

Philippians 2:24–30

1 min read

24But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

25Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;

26since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

27For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;

30because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

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Gospel.

Luke 9:44–50

1 min read

44But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 'Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.'

45But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

46Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.

47And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him,

48and said to them, 'Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.'

49Now John answered and said, 'Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.'

50But Jesus said to him, 'Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.'

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In remembrance.

St Abercius, Equal-to-the-ApostlesRead the life

He was bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia of Asia Minor, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, a persecutor of Christians. During a pagan festival, Abercius was instructed by an Angel to throw down the idols of Apollo and other pagan gods. When his work was discovered, the people of the city were outraged; but instead of hiding, the bishop went to the marketplace and openly confessed the Christian faith. The people grew angrier still, but when Abercius healed three possessed men they were amazed and listened to him more closely. He preached the Faith with such power that the entire city and surrounding countryside became Christian.

Read the full life

Venerable Lot of Egypt (5th c.)Read the life

He was one of the company of ascetic Fathers who fled the world into the Egyptian desert in the fourth and fifth centuries.

Once Abba Lot went to his spiritual father Joseph and asked him, simply, ‘What shall I do to be saved?’ Abba Joseph stretched his hands toward heaven and his fingers became ten flames. He said, ‘If you desire it, you can become entirely as a fire.’

Read the full life

Holy Seven Youths of EphesusRead the life

They are also commemorated August 4. See that date for their story.

Further.

The Library

The Fathers, the services and the lives of the saints.

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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.