Saturday 25th January 2025
Saint Gregory (Nazianzus) the Theologian, archbishop of Constantinople (389)
Today we commemorate:
Holy martyrs Felicitas of Rome, and her seven sons: Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martial (c.164). St. Mares the Singer of Syria (430). Venerable Demetrios. New Martyr Auxentius of Constantinople (1720). New Hieromartyr Vladimir, metropolitan of Kiev, Protomartyr of the communist yoke (1918)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Eochod, apostle of the Picts of Galloway (597). St. Dwynwen of Wales (460). St. Sigebert, King of the East Angles and Martyr (635). St. Thordgyth of Barking, nun (700).
Hebrews 7:26-8:2; John 10:9-16
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Hebrews 7:26-8:2
Such a High Priest was appropriate for us: pure, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners and higher than the heavens. He does not need to offer daily sacrifices as the high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, because he did this once and for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men with weaknesses, but the word given on oath that came after the law appoints a Son who has been made perfect for all time. The nub of what is being said is this: we have such a High Priest who took his seat at the right hand of the Throne of Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the Holy Places and of the true Tent that the Lord, not a human being, pitched.
John 10:9-16
The Lord said … ‘I am the Gate. Anyone who enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy. I came so that they may have life and have it in abundance. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep; but when the hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf carries the sheep off and scatters them. The hired hand, being a hired hand, runs away and does not care about the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and I am known by those who are mine, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, not of this fold; I must fetch them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, one Shepherd.’