Wednesday 31st December 2025
Fast free
Leavetaking of The Nativity of Christ
Today we commemorate:
St. Melania the Younger, Nun, of Rome (439). Hieromartyr Zoticus, Guardian of the Orphans (4th C). St. Gelasius, monk, of Palestine (5th C). St. Theophylact of Ochrid (1126). St. Peter Mogila, metropolitan of Kiev (1646).
Hebrews 10:1-18; Mark 11:22-26
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Hebrews 10:1-18
Brothers and sisters, because the law possesses but a shadow of the good things to come, not the image of the things themselves, the same sacrifices that they offer year after year can never make perfect those who draw near. For otherwise would they not have stopped being offered, since those serving, once purified, would no longer be conscious of sins? But with them there is a yearly reminder of sins, for it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why on coming into the world he said, ‘Sacrifice and oblation you do not want, but you prepared a body for me; in whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you do not delight. Then I said, “Behold, I come to do your will, O God,” as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ He is saying above that ‘Sacrifice and oblation and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings,’ which are offered in accordance with the law, ‘you neither want nor delight in.’ Then he said, ‘Behold, I come to do your will, O God.’ He abolishes the first in order to establish the second, and because of that we have been sanctified through the once only offering of the body of Jesus Christ. While all the established priests serve day after day, offering many times over the same sacrifices that can never take away sins, he offered for all time one sacrifice for sins and sat down at the right hand of God to wait until his enemies are thrust down to be a stool beneath his feet. For by one offering he has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified. The Holy Spirit also bears witness for us, because first he proclaims, ‘This is the covenant that I shall make with them in those days, says the Lord, putting my laws in their hearts and writing them upon their minds,’ and then, ‘I will no longer remember their sins and their transgressions.’ And where there is forgiveness of these, there is no further offering for sin.
Mark 11:22-26
The Lord said, ‘Have faith in God. Truly I tell you that if you were to say to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” with no doubt in your heart but believing that what you say is happening, whatever you ask will be yours. This is why I tell you that whatever you ask in prayer, however much, believe that you are receiving it and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.’