Week 26 after Pentecost ·
Orthodox Study

Wednesday, December 3

Prophet Zephaniah

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

Epistle.

1 Timothy 1:18–20, 2:8–15

1 min read

18This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

19having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

20of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2:8I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

9in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,

10but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

11Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

13For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

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Gospel.

Luke 20:1–8

1 min read

1Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him

2and spoke to Him, saying, 'Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?'

3But He answered and said to them, 'I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:

4The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?'

5And they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

6But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.'

7So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

8And Jesus said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'

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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