Monday December 15, 2025 / December 2, 2025
28th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast).
Prophet Habakkuk (Abbacum) (7th c. B.C.).
New Hieromartyr John priest (1919).
New Hieromartyr Mathew priest (1921).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest and Venerable Vera confessor (1932).
New Hieromartyrs Alexis, Constantine, Nicholas, Sergius, Vladimir, John, Theodore, Nicholas, John, Nicholas, Paul, Sergius priests, Hieromartyr Danact, Cosmas,, Woman Hieromartyrs Theuromia, Tamara, Antonina, and Nymphodora; and Virgin-martyrs Mary and Matrona (1937).
Virgin-martyr Mary (1938).
Martyr Boris (1942).
Venerable Athanasius “the Resurrected,” recluse of the Kiev Caves, whose relics are in the Near Caves (1176).
Venerable Athanasius, recluse of the Kiev Caves whose relics are in the Far Caves (13th c.).
Martyr Myrope of Chios (251).
Venerables John, Heraclemon, Andrew, and Theophilus of Egypt (4th c.).
Venerable Jesse (Ise), bishop of Tsilkani in Georgia (6th c.) (Georgia).
St. Stephen-Urosh IV, king (1371), and St. Helen of Serbia.
Icon of the Mother of God, named “Gerontissa”.
St. Solomon, archbishop of Ephesus.
Venerable Cyril of Philea (1110).
Venerable Ioannicius, monk of Devich (1430) (Greek).
St. Abibus the New (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
20
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
21
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
22
Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
24
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25
in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
26
and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
27
Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,
28
saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
29
Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children.
30
And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.
31
Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.
32
Last of all the woman died also.
33
Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.
34
Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35
But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
36
nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
37
But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
38
For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.
39
Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”
40
But after that they dared not question Him anymore.
41
And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?
42
Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand,
43
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ‘
44
Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?