Sunday December 22, 2024 / December 9, 2024
26th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone one.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Fish Allowed
The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos.
New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest (1919).
New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest and Virgin-martyr Ephrosia (1920).
New Hieromartyrs Basil and Alexander priests (1937).
New Martyr Priest Sergius Mechev of Moscow (1941).
Prophetess Anna (Hannah) (1100 B.C.), mother of the Prophet Samuel.
Saint Sophronios, Archbishop of Cyprus (6th C).
Venerable Stephen the “New Light” of Constantinople (912).
Icon of the Mother of God, named “Unexpected Joy”.
Martyr Narses of Persia (Greek).
St. Valeria of Aquitaine (2nd c.).
Martyr Sositheus of Persia (553).
Martyr Isaak (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 24:1-12 (4th Matins Gospel)
1
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2
But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3
Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4
And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
5
Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6
He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
7
saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’
8
And they remembered His words.
9
Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11
And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
12
But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12
For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13
But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14
Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
15
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
12
Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.
13
And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14
So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
15
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16
and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
17
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18
Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?
19
And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Galatians 4:22-31 St. Anna
22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23
But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
24
which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar-
25
or this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children-
26
but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27
For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.”
28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29
But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30
Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”
31
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Luke 8:16-21 St. Anna
16
No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.
17
For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
18
Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.
19
Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.
20
And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
21
But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”