Wednesday 10th December 2025
Nativity Fast: strict fast
Today we commemorate:
Holy martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus of Alexandria (313). St. Thomas of Bithynia (10th C). St. Joasaph, bishop of Belgorod (1754). Holy Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia (361). Blessed John, King of Serbia (1503), and his parents Stephen (1468) and Angelina Brancovich (16th C).
1 Timothy 5:22-6:11; Luke 21:5-8, 10-11, 20-24
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
1 Timothy 5:22-6:11
Timothy, my son, do not lay hands hastily upon anyone, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. No longer drink water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. The sins of some people are immediately obvious and lead straight to condemnation, while others follow on later. In the same way noble deeds are also immediately obvious, and any that are not cannot remain hidden. Those who are slaves under the yoke should consider their own masters worthy of all respect so that God’s name and the teaching may not be reviled. And those who have masters who are believers should not withhold respect because they are brothers, but let them serve all the more because those who receive the benefit are believers and dearly loved. Teach and encourage these things. If any teach otherwise, or do not assent to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the teaching that is appropriate for godliness, they are conceited and know nothing; they are obsessed by disputes and quibbles that cause envy, conflict, insults, malicious suspicions, antagonism between people corrupted in mind and destitute of the truth; they use religion for profit. Avoid such people. What is highly profitable is godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and it is evident that we can carry nothing out; but with food and clothing, with these we shall be content. Those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are snared by the many foolish and harmful cravings that bring people down to ruin and destruction, for the root of all evils is the love of money. Some, in reaching out for it, have strayed from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, man of God, flee from these things.
Luke 21:5-8, 10-11, 20-24
At that time there were some who were saying about the temple that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive offerings. Jesus said, ‘As for these things you gaze at, the day will come when no stone will be left on another without being thrown down.’ They questioned him, asking, ‘When will this happen, Teacher, and what will be the sign that it is about to happen?’ He replied, ‘See that you are not led astray, because many will come in my name and say, “I am he” and, “The time has come.” Do not go after them.’ … Then he told them, ‘Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes everywhere and famines and plagues, and there will be terrors and mighty signs from heaven. … When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that her destruction is near. Those in Judaea should then flee to the mountains, and those in the city should leave, and those out in the countryside should not go there. For these are days of retribution, the fulfilment of everything that has been written. Pity those who are with child and those breast-feeding in those days, for at that time there will be great distress across the land and anger against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captive to all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the nations until the time for the nations is fulfilled.’