Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed
Today we commemorate:
Prophet Sophonias (Zephaniah) (635 BC). St. John the Silent of St. Sabbas’ Monastery (558). Hieromartyr Theodore, archbishop of Alexandria (606). Holy Martyrs Agapius and Seleucius. St. Theodoulos, eparch of Constantinople (c.440). New Martyr Angelos of Chios (1813). Monk-martyr Cosmas of St. Anne’s Skete. St. Sabbas, abbot of Zvenigorod, disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh (1406).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Birinus, bishop of Dorchester and Apostle of Wessex (650). St. Lucius of Britain (c.200). St. Ethernan (c.699). St. Sola, disciple of St. Boniface (794).
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:12-19
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
With what act of thanksgiving for you can we repay God for all the joy that delights us in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day I pray zealously that we may see you face to face and remedy whatever is lacking in your faith. May our God and Father himself with our Lord Jesus Christ direct our path to you. May the Lord make you rich, overflowing with love for one another and for everyone, just as we are for you. And may your hearts be resolute, blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Luke 21:12-19
The Lord told his disciples … ‘You will be seized and persecuted, delivered up to the synagogues and prisons, brought before kings and governors on account of my name. You will be called upon to testify, but make up your minds not to rehearse your defence in advance because I shall give you a voice and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to refute or resist. You will be betrayed, even by parents and relatives and friends and brothers and sisters, and they will put some of you to death. Yes, you will be hated by everyone because of my name, but not a hair on your head will perish. Through your endurance you will take possession of your souls.’