Wednesday 26th November 2025
Nativity Fast: strict fast
Today we commemorate:
Venerable Alypios the Stylite of Adrianopolis (7th C). St. Stylianos of Paphlagonia, monk (7th C). St. Nikon Metanoeite (‘Preacher of Repentance’) (998). Repose of St. Innocent, 1st bishop of Irkutsk (1731). St. James the Solitary of Syria (457). New Martyr George of Chios (1807).
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Luke 18:15-17,26-30
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Brothers and sisters, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we beg you not to be quickly shaken from what you know, nor to be troubled, not by the Spirit, not by a message, not by a letter supposedly from us saying that the day of Christ has come. Let no one deceive you in any way, for the apostasy must come first when the Man of Sin is revealed. He is the Son of Destruction, the Adversary who exalts himself over whatever is called a god or an object of worship, intending to sit as God in the temple of God, representing himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you of this? And now you know what is restraining him so that he may be revealed when his time comes. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one now holding him back is out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed, he whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy at his appearance when he comes. The coming of the lawless one is the work of Satan in all his power with false signs and wonders, and with all the delusion of unrighteousness in those who are perishing because they did not accept the love of the truth for their salvation. And because of this, God will send them a strong delusion to believe what is false so that all who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness may be condemned.
Luke 18:15-17,26-30
At that time they were bringing babies to Jesus so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw this they rebuked them. Jesus called them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for the Kingdom of God is for such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.’ … Those listening asked, ‘Then who can be saved?’ And he replied, ‘What is impossible for human beings is possible for God.’ Peter said, ‘You know, we have left everything and followed you.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly, I tell you that there is no one who has left house or parents, or brothers and sisters, or wife or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God who will not at this time receive in return much much more, and in the age to come, everlasting life.’