Friday, December 26
Synaxis of the Most-Holy Theotokos
Appointed readings
2 passagesEpistle
Hebrews 2:11–18
11For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12saying: 'I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.'
13And again: 'I will put My trust in Him.' And again: 'Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.'
14Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
17Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Gospel
Matthew 2:13–23
13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.'
14When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
15and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt I called My Son.'
16Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
17Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18'A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.'
19Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead.'
21Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.
23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'