Wednesday 19th November 2025
Nativity Fast: strict fast
Today we commemorate:
Prophet Obadiah (Abdias). Holy Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea in Cappadocia (c.304). Holy Martyr Agapius of Gaza (306). St. Barlaam and Monk Ioasaph, Prince of India, and St. Abenner the King, his father (4th C). Holy Martyrs Anthimos, Thallalaeos, Christopher, Euphemia & her children. St. Philaret, metropolitan of Moscow (1867). St. Hilarion the Georgian, wonderworker of Thessalonica (875). Holy Martyr Heliodorus in Pamphylia (273). St. Barlaam, abbot of the Kievan Caves (1065).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Egbert, 1st archbishop of York (766). St. Ermenburgh, abbess of Thanet (c.700). St. Medana of Galloway (8th C).
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; Luke 15:1-10
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Brothers and sisters, we implore and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that you must live and please God in the way you received from us so that you may flourish more and more, and you know what instructions we gave to you through the Lord Jesus. For this, your sanctification, it is the will of God that you abstain from sexual immorality, each of you knowing how to exercise self control in purity and honour, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; and no one is to go too far and take advantage of a brother or sister in this respect, because the Lord is an avenger of all these things, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us for impurity but to holiness. It follows that whoever disregards this is not disregarding a human being, but God who gave you his Holy Spirit. In the matter of love for the brothers and sisters you do not need me to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and this you do among all the brothers and sisters in the whole of Macedonia. We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more in this respect. Aspire also to be at peace and to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands as we instructed you, so that you may live virtuously in the eyes of outsiders and lack nothing.
Luke 15:1-10
At that time all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming up to Jesus to listen to him, but the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ He told them this parable. He said, ‘What man among you who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he finds it, he joyfully sets it on his shoulders; and when he arrives home, he calls together friends and neighbours and says to them, “Rejoice with me because I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, rather than over ninety-nine righteous who do not need repentance. Or what woman who has ten silver pieces, if she loses one silver piece, will not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls together friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me because I have found the piece that I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’