Friday 26th December 2025
Fast free
Synaxis of the Mother of God and Ever-virgin Mary
Afterfeast of The Nativity of Christ
Today we commemorate:
Hieromartyr Euthymius, bishop of Sardis (840). New Hieromartyr Constantine the Russian, at Constantinople (1743). St. Archelaus, bishop of Kaskhara in Mesopotamia (3rd C). St. Zenon, bishop of Maiuma in Palestine (4th C)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Tathai of Glamorgan (6th C). St. Maethlu of Anglesey (6th C).
Hebrews 7:18-25; Mark 10:24-32
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 2:11-18; Matthew 2:13-23
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Hebrews 7:18-25
Brothers and sisters, on the one hand there is an annulment of the earlier commandment because it is impotent and useless, for the law made nothing perfect, and on the other there is the introduction of a better hope through which we come close to God. This does not happen without an oath, because although others have become priests without an oath, he did so with an oath through the one who said to him, ‘The Lord has sworn and will not retract: you are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.’ Jesus has become the guarantor of a far nobler covenant, for although a great many have become priests, they are prevented by death from continuing; but he, because he continues for ever, holds a priesthood that does not pass away, and he is therefore able to save to the very end those who approach God through him who lives for all time to intercede for them.
Mark 10:24-32
The Lord said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have relied on wealth to enter the Kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go in through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.’ They were utterly bewildered and said to themselves, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For human beings it is impossible, but not for God; because everything is possible for God.’ Peter began to say to him, ‘You know that we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus responded by saying, ‘Truly I tell you that there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or land for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times over, here and now, houses and brothers and sisters and father and mother and children and land, with persecutions, and in the age to come, everlasting life. Many who are first will be last, and the last first.’ They were on the road going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them, and they were following behind, bewildered and afraid.
Hebrews 2:11-18
Brothers and sisters, both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one. He is therefore not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters when he says, ‘I shall proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; from within the assembly I shall sing your praise.’ And again, ‘I shall have confidence in him.’ And again, ‘Behold, I and the children God gave me.’ Since the children have flesh and blood in common, he himself also shared these very things in the same way so that through death he might destroy the one who holds the dominion of death, that is, the devil, and set free all who were subject to slavery throughout their whole lives because of the fear of death. It is clear that he is not engaging with angels. No, he is engaging with the offspring of Abraham, and that is why it was necessary for him to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a compassionate and faithful High Priest in relation to God in order to atone for the sins of the people. And in that he has suffered and was tested himself, he is able to come to the aid of those who are being tested.
Matthew 2:13-23
When the magi had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘When you wake, take the young child and his mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you, because Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.’ When Joseph awoke, he took the young child and his mother, and he left by night for Egypt. He was there until the death of Herod so that what the Lord said through the prophet might be fulfilled; he said, ‘Out of Egypt I called my Son.’ When Herod realised that he had been duped by the magi he was extremely angry, and he sent and put to death all the male children of two years and under in Bethlehem and in all its surroundings, corresponding to the time that he had discovered from the magi. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled; he said, ‘A cry was heard in Ramah, lamentation and wailing and great mourning of Rachel weeping for her children, but she would not be comforted because they were no more.’ When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. He said, ‘When you wake, take the young child and his mother and set off for the land of Israel, because those plotting against the child’s life are dead.’ When he awoke, he took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel, but when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judaea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned by God in a dream, he turned away towards the region of Galilee. When he arrived, he settled in a town called Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’