Saturday January 17, 2026 / January 4, 2026
32nd Week after Pentecost. Tone six.
Sviatki. Fast-free
Saturday before the Theophany.
Forefeast of the Theophany.
Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles: James the Brother of the Lo’rd, Mark the Evangelist, Luke the Evangelist, Cleopas the Brother of Joseph the Betrothed, Symeon the son of Cleopas, Barnabas, Justus, Thaddeus, Ananias, Stephen the Archdeacon; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas of the seven deacons; Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Onesimus, Epaphras, Archippus, Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, Crispus, Epenetus, Andronicus, Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobus, Hermas, Linus, Gaius, Philologus, Lucius, Jason, Sosipater, Olympas, Tertius, Erastus, Quartus, Euodias, Onesiphorus, Clement, Sosthenes, Apollos, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Carpus, Quadratus, Mark called John, Zenas, Aristarchus, Pudens, Trophimus, Mark, Artemas, Aquila, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; Dionysius Areopagite and Simeon Niger.
Venerable Theoctistus, abbot at Cucomo in Sicily (800).
Repose of St. Eustathius I (Eustace), archbishop of Serbia (1285).
New Hieromartyrs Alexander, Stephen and Philippe priests (1933).
New Hieromartyr Nicholas priest (1939).
New Hieromartyr Paul priest (1941).
Venerable Aquila, deacon of the Kiev Caves (14th c.).
Martyr Zosimas the Hermit and Martyr Athanasius the Commentarisius (superintendent of prisoners), anchorites of Cilicia (3rd-4th c.).
Martyrs Chrysantha and Euphemia.
Venerable Euthymius the New of Thessalonica, monk.
St. Gregory of Langres (539-540) (Gaul).
Martyrs Abbot Euthymius and Twelve Monks of Vatopedi Monastery, Mt. Athos (1285) (Greek).
New Martyr Onuphrius Manassias of Gabrovo and Hilandar Monastery, Mt. Athos (1818) (Greek).
The Ethiopian Eunuch of Queen Candace.
Venerable Fathers Evagre, Ilia the Deacon, and the Disciples of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers (6th. c.) (Georgia).
St. Symeon, metropolitan of Smolensk (1699).
The Scripture Readings
4
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
15
See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16
Rejoice always,
17
pray without ceasing,
18
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19
Do not quench the Spirit.
20
Do not despise prophecies.
21
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22
Abstain from every form of evil.
23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2
saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3
Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4
And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5
‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
6
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7
And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?
Romans 8:8-14 Apostles
8
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Luke 10:1-15 Apostles
1
After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
2
Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
3
Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
4
Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
5
But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’
6
And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
7
And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
8
Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
9
And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
10
But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,
11
‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’
12
But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
13
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
15
And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades.
1 Timothy 3:14:4-5 Saturday before the Holy Theophany
14
These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
15
but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
2
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
3
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
5
for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Matthew 3:1-11 Saturday before the Holy Theophany
1
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
3
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ”
4
Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
6
and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
9
and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.