Week 24 after Pentecost ·
Orthodox Study

Sunday, November 23

Rt. Blv. Great Prince Alexander Nevsky

Fish allowedFish, wine and oil are allowed. No meat, dairy or eggs.

Appointed to be read.

  1. At the

    1. EpistleEphesians 2:14–22
    2. EpistleGalatians 5:22–6:2
    3. GospelLuke 12:16–21
    4. GospelMatthew 11:27–30
  2. At

    1. GospelMark 16:1–8

More than one commemoration is kept today, so more than one Epistle and Gospel is appointed.

Ask about these readings in Study

Epistle.

Ephesians 2:14–22

1 min read

14For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

15having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

16and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

17And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

18For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,

21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

22in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

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Epistle.

Galatians 5:22–6:2

1 min read

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

6:1Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

2Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

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Gospel.

Luke 12:16–21

1 min read

16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

17And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'

18So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

19And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.' '

20But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'

21'So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.'

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Gospel.

Matthew 11:27–30

1 min read

27All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'

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Matins Gospel.

Mark 16:1–8

1 min read

1Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

2Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

3And they said among themselves, 'Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?'

4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.

5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

6But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

7But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.'

8So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

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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.

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In the margin · source text