Sunday 28th December 2025
Tone 4 - Eothinon 7
Sunday After the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Twenty Thousand Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia
Afterfeast of The Nativity of Christ
Today we commemorate:
St. Joseph the Betrothed. St. David the Psalmist. St. James the brother of the Lord. Among the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia: Glycerius the presbyter, Zeno, Theophilus, Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Indes, Gorgonius, Peter, Euthymius, and the virgins Agape, Domna, Theophila and others (302). St. Nicanor the deacon, Apostle of the Seventy (38). St. Simon the Myrhh-streaming, founder of Simonopetra monastery on Mt Athos (14th C).
Galatians 1:11-19; Matthew 2:13-23
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 10:35-11:7; Luke 14:25-35
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Galatians 1:11-19
Brothers and sisters, I declare to you that the Gospel proclaimed by me is not of human origin, for that is not how I received it or was taught it, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. You heard of my former behaviour in Judaism, that more than others I persecuted the Church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in the Jewish religion beyond many of my own age and generation and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace, to reveal his Son to me so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia and returned once again to Damascus. Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to consult with Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. Apart from James, the Lord’s brother, I did not see the other apostles.
Matthew 2:13-23
When the magi had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘When you wake, take the young child and his mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you, because Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.’ When Joseph awoke, he took the young child and his mother, and he left by night for Egypt. He was there until the death of Herod so that what the Lord said through the prophet might be fulfilled; he said, ‘Out of Egypt I called my Son.’ When Herod realised that he had been duped by the magi he was extremely angry, and he sent and put to death all the male children of two years and under in Bethlehem and in all its surroundings, corresponding to the time that he had discovered from the magi. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled; he said, ‘A cry was heard in Ramah, lamentation and wailing and great mourning of Rachel weeping for her children, but she would not be comforted because they were no more.’ When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. He said, ‘When you wake, take the young child and his mother and set off for the land of Israel, because those plotting against the child’s life are dead.’ When he awoke, he took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel, but when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judaea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned by God in a dream, he turned away towards the region of Galilee. When he arrived, he settled in a town called Nazareth so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’
Hebrews 10:35-11:7
Brothers and sisters, do not let go of your confidence which holds a great reward, because you need perseverance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive the promise. ‘For in a little while he who is coming will be here, and he will not delay. Then the righteous will live by faith, though my soul is not pleased with any who draw back.’ But we are not among those drawing back towards destruction, but among those of faith for the preservation of the soul. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction about things not seen. People of old bore witness to this. By faith we understand that the ages were formed by the word of God, in that what is seen has come to be from what is not visible. By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, through which he was attested as righteous. God bore witness to his gifts, and in this way he still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was carried over without seeing death. He was not to be found because God had carried him over. It had been attested before he was carried over that he was altogether pleasing to God. Without faith it is impossible to please, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, after he was warned about things not yet seen, was moved by holy fear and built an ark to save his household, through which he condemned the world but became heir to the righteousness that accords with faith.
Luke 14:25-35
At that time great crowds were travelling with Jesus, and he turned and said to them, ‘Those who come to me and do not hate their own father and mother, spouse and children, brothers and sisters, and even their own life, cannot be my disciples. And those who do not take up their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciples. Who among you who wants to build a tower would not first sit down and count the cost to see if you have enough to complete it? Otherwise you might lay the foundation and not be able to finish it, and everyone watching will begin to mock you. They will say, “This person started to build then could not complete it.” Or what king going out to engage another king in battle would not first sit down and consider whether, with ten thousand, he is able to meet the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is still far away he sends emissaries to ask for conditions of peace. In the same way, not one of you who does not renounce all that you have can be my disciple. Salt is good, but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what is it to be seasoned? Being fit neither for the land nor for the manure heap, they will throw it out. Let those who have ears for listening, listen.’