Sunday 4th January 2026
Tone 5 - Eothinon 8
Sunday before the Theophany
Forefeast of the Theophany
Today we commemorate:
Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles. Holy martyrs abbot Euthymius and twelve monks of Vatopedi Monastery (1276). St. Euthymius the New of Thessalonica, monk (886). St. Theoctistus, abbot of Cuocomo in Sicily (800). New Martyr Onuphrius Manassias the deacon of Chilandar Monastery, Mt. Athos (1818). Repose of St. Eustathius I, archbishop of Serbia (c.1285). Holy martyrs Zosimas the Hermit, and Athanasius the Commentarisius, anchorites of Cilicia (4th C). Holy martyrs Chrysantha and Euphemia.
2 Timothy 4:5-8; Mark 1:1-8
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
2 Timothy 4:5-8
Timothy, my son, you are to be sober in every way. Put up with hardship. Do the work of an evangelist. Carry out your ministry to the full. As for me, I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for my release is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. What remains is the crown of righteousness reserved for me that the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who delight in his appearing.
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, ‘Behold I am sending my messenger ahead of you who will set out your way before you, the voice of one calling out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’ John appeared, baptising in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Everyone from the Judaean countryside was going out to him, and those from Jerusalem. They were all being baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. John was clothed in camel hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He was preaching, saying, ‘He is coming. Following me is the one more powerful than I am. I am not worthy to bend down to untie the strap of his sandals. It is true that I have baptised you in water, but he will baptise you in the Holy Spirit.’