From the calendar, 2028.
Wednesday, December 20
Repose of St. John of Kronstadt
Strict fastNo meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil.
Appointed to be read.
Epistle.
Hebrews 5:11–6:8
2 min read
11of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
6:1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3And this we will do if God permits.
4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
8but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Gospel.
Mark 10:11–16
1 min read
11So He said to them, 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.'
13Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.
16And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
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.