Monday 24th November 2025
Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed
Afterfeast of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple
Today we commemorate:
Hieromartyr Clement, pope of Rome (101). Hieromartyr Peter, archbishop of Alexandria (311). Hieromartyr Hermogenes, bishop of Agrigentum (c.260). Hieromartyr Mercurius, bishop of Smolensk (1238). Holy Martyrs Philomenos and Alexander at Corinth (4th C). Venerable Mercurius, the Faster of the Kievan Caves (14th C).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Colman, bishop of Cloyne (606). St. Kenan, bishop of Darnleag (500). St. Enfleda, abbess of Whitby (c.704). Holy Martyr Bieuzy, disciple of Gildas (7th C).
2 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Luke 17:20-25
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
2 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought to be thanking God for you all the time, as is only right, brothers and sisters, because your faith is growing strongly and the love of each of you for one another knows no bounds. This is why we boast of you to the Churches of God, about your perseverance and faith through all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are suffering. It is evidence of the righteous judgement of God for you to be accounted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you suffer. It is surely just for God to repay with affliction those who are afflicting you, and to give relief to those who with us are suffering affliction, when at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels in blazing fire he brings retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not heed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will incur the penalty of everlasting death far from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might when he comes on that Day to be glorified by his saints and to be adored by all who believe, because our witness among you was believed.
Luke 17:20-25
At that time, when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he gave this reply, ‘The Kingdom of God does not come by being observed, nor will they say, “Look, here it is,” or “Look, there it is,” for the Kingdom of God is within you.’ And he told the disciples, ‘The time will come when you will long to see one of the Days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. They will then tell you, “Look here, look there.” Do not go, do not follow. For just as lightning flashing from one side of the sky illuminates the other side of the sky, so it will be with the Son of Man on his Day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.’