From the calendar 2025

Thursday, December 11

Ven. Daniel the Stylite

Appointed readings

2 passages

Epistle

1 Timothy 6:17–21

17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 21:28–33

Open Reader ↗

28Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.'

29Then He spoke to them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.

30When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.

31So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

32Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.

33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

The rhythm of the day

Fasting: Wine & oil
Weekly tone: Tone 1

In remembrance

The saints commemorated this day

Ven. Daniel the StyliteRead the life

He was from Samosata in Mesopotamia, and became a monk at the age of twelve. As a young monk he visited St Symeon the Stylite (September 1) to receive his blessing. Years later he moved to the neighborhood of Constantinople at the request of the holy Patriarch Anatolius (July 3), whom he had healed of a deadly ailment through his prayers. For a time Daniel lived in the church of the Archangel Michael at Anaplus, but nine years later St Symeon the Stylite appeared to him in a vision and told him to imitate Symeon’s ascesis of living on a pillar. For the remaining thirty-three years of his life the Saint did just that. He stood immovably in prayer regardless of the weather: once after a storm his disciples found him standing covered with ice. He was much loved by several Emperors (including Leo the Great), who sought him out for counsel.

Read the full life

Saint Nikon the Dry of the Kiev Caves (1101)Read the life

He was a monk in Kiev, taken into slavery by a band of Polovtsi (Turkic raiders who were troubling the country at that time) along with the holy Martyr Eustratius (March 28). He humbly refused to be ransomed by his family and therefore suffered a harsh captivity for three years. Despite this, he prayed constantly for his captors, worked miracles for their sake, and once healed their leader from a deadly illness. One day St Eustratius appeared to him in a vision and told him that he would be set free in three days. When he told his captors, they severed the tendons of his knees and ankles and kept him under guard. But at the appointed time he was miraculously transported to Kiev, where he suddenly appeared in church among his astonished brethren.

Read the full life

Our Venerable Father Luke the New Stylite (979)Read the life

He was an Anatolian, and in his youth served in the Byzantine army in the war against the Bulgar Tsar Symeon. After the war, he left the army to become a monk, and was in time ordained to the priesthood. For a time he served as an army chaplain, living even more austerely than he had as a monk and distributing all his possessions to soldiers in need.

Read the full life

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