Wednesday December 17, 2025 / December 4, 2025
28th Week after Pentecost. Tone two.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). Food with Oil
Great-martyr Barbara and Martyr Juliana at Heliapolis in Syria (306).
Venerable John Damascene (760).
New Hieromartyrs Alexis, John, Alexander and Nicholas priests, Basil deacon and with him 10 Martyrs (1918).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest, Virgin-martyrs Anastasia, Catherine and Cyra (1937).
New Hieromartyr Damascene, bishop of Glukhov (1935) and his father priest Nicholas (Tsedrik).
Venerable John, bishop of Polybotum (716).
St. Gennadius, archbishop of Novgorod (1504).
New Hieromartyr Seraphim, bishop of Phanar (Greek).
Martyrs Christodula and Chistodulus (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 25:1-13 Matins Gospel
1
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2
Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3
Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
4
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6
And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
7
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9
But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
12
But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
9
Be diligent to come to me quickly;
10
for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for ThessalonIca-Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
11
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
12
And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
13
Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come-and the books, especially the parchments.
14
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.
15
You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
16
At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
17
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
19
Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20
Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
21
Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
22
The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
28
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
29
Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.
30
When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.
31
So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
32
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.
33
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Thursday Reading
Titus 1:5-2:1
5
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you-
6
if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
7
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
8
but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
9
holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
10
For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11
whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
12
One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14
not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
15
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
1
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
28
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.
29
Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.
30
When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.
31
So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
32
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.
33
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Galatians 3:23-29 Great-martyr Barbara
23
But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24
Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25
But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Mark 5:24-34 Great-martyr Barbara
24
So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
25
Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,
26
and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
27
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.
28
For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
30
And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
31
But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
32
And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
33
But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.
34
And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”