Friday January 2, 2026 / December 20, 2025
30th Week after Pentecost. Tone four.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil
Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ.
Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, bishop of Antioch (107).
Repose of Righteous John of Kronstadt (1908).
Venerable Ignatius, archimandrite of the Kiev Caves (1435).
St. Anthony, archbishop of Voronezh (1846).
St. Philogonius, bishop of Antioch (323).
St. Daniel II, archbishop of Serbia (1338).
“Novodvorskaya” and “Lenkovskaya” (Novgorod-Severny) named “Rescuer of the Drowning” Icons of the Mother of God.
New Martyr John of the isle of Thasos (1652) (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 6:1-13 Matins Gospel
1
Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
3
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4
that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
5
And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8
Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11
Give us this day our daily bread.
12
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
8
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
11
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
12
Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude-innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14
For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15
And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16
But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
23
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
24
And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
26
And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
28
Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29
So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,
30
who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life.
31
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
32
Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:
Hebrews 4:14-5:6 St. John
14
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
3
Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
4
And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
5
So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:”You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”
6
As He also says in another place:”You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
Matthew 5:14-19 St. John
14
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Hieromartyr Ignatius
14
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
3
Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
4
And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
5
So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:”You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”
6
As He also says in another place:”You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
Mark 9:33-41 Hieromartyr Ignatius
33
Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”
34
But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
35
And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
36
Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,
37
Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.
38
Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
39
But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
40
For he who is not against us is on our side.
41
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.