Wednesday
February 12, 2020
30 January (Old Style) · Week of the Publican and the Pharisee (fast-free)
Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar)
Events of the day
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Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom
Polyeleos rank
Fasting
No fast
The week after the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is fast-free, including Wednesday and Friday.
Food rules are reference church information. Agree your personal measure of fasting with a priest; consult a doctor if you are ill.
Readings of the day
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Vespers
Deuteronomy 1:8–11, 15–17
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Vespers
Deuteronomy 10:14–21
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Vespers
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1–9
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Matins Gospel
John 10:9–16
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9I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.
10The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them.
13The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own;
15even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
16I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
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Epistle
2 Peter 3:1–18
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Epistle · Hierarchs
Hebrews 13:7–16
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7Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
10We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat.
11For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp.
12Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.
13Let’s therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach.
14For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.
15Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name.
16But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
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Gospel
Mark 13:24–31
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24But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,
25the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.
26Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
28“Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near;
29even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.
30Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.
31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
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Gospel · Hierarchs
Matthew 5:14–19
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14You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
15Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
16Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
19Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible.