January 6, 2025

Events of the day

• Monk-martyr Eugenia

  Commemoration

• Eve of the Nativity of Christ

  Informational

• Forefeast: Nativity of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ

Fasting

Fast day · Eve of the Nativity

Eve of the Nativity: strict fast (xerophagy); with oil on Saturday or Sunday.

• Meat: not allowed
• Dairy & eggs: not allowed
• Fish: not allowed
• Oil: not allowed
• Wine: not allowed
• Xerophagy

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

• 1st Hour, Prophecy

  Micah 5:2–4

• 1st Hour, Epistle

  Hebrews 1:1–12

  Show the text

  ¹God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

  ²has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

  ³His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,

  ⁴having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs.

  ⁵For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?”

  ⁶When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”

  ⁷Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.”

  ⁸But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.

  ⁹You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

  ¹⁰And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

  ¹¹They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.

  ¹²You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won’t fail.”

• 1st Hour, Gospel

  Matthew 1:18–25

  Show the text

  ¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

  ¹⁹Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.

  ²⁰But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

  ²¹She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

  ²²Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

  ²³“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”

  ²⁴Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;

  ²⁵and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

• 3rd Hour, Prophecy

  Jeremiah (Baruch) 3:35–4:4)

• 3rd Hour, Epistle

  Galatians 3:23–29

• 3rd Hour, Gospel

  Luke 2:1–20

  Show the text

  ¹Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

  ²This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

  ³All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

  ⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

  ⁵to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

  ⁶While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

  ⁷She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

  ⁸There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

  ⁹Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

  ¹⁰The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

  ¹¹For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

  ¹²This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

  ¹³Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

  ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

  ¹⁵When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

  ¹⁶They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

  ¹⁷When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

  ¹⁸All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

  ¹⁹But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

  ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

• 6th Hour, Prophecy

  Isaiah 7:10–16; 8:1–4, 9–10

• 6th Hour, Epistle

  Hebrews 1:10–2:3

  Show the text

  ¹⁰And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

  ¹¹They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.

  ¹²You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won’t fail.”

  ¹³But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”

  ¹⁴Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

  ¹Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.

  ²For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

  ³how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,

• 6th Hour, Gospel

  Matthew 2:1–12

  Show the text

  ¹Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

  ²“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”

  ³When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

  ⁴Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.

  ⁵They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

  ⁶‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’ ”

  ⁷Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.

  ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

  ⁹They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.

  ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

  ¹¹They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

  ¹²Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

• 9th Hour, Prophecy

  Isaiah 9:6–7

• 9th Hour, Epistle

  Hebrews 2:11–18

  Show the text

  ¹¹For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

  ¹²saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. Among the congregation I will sing your praise.”

  ¹³Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.”

  ¹⁴Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

  ¹⁵and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

  ¹⁶For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham.

  ¹⁷Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

  ¹⁸For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

• 9th Hour, Gospel

  Matthew 2:13–23

  Show the text

  ¹³Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”

  ¹⁴He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,

  ¹⁵and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

  ¹⁶Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

  ¹⁷Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

  ¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”

  ¹⁹But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

  ²⁰“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”

  ²¹He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

  ²²But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,

  ²³and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene.

• Vespers

  Genesis 1:1–13

• Vespers

  Numbers 24:2–3, 5–9, 17–18

• Vespers

  Micah 4:6–7; 5:2–4

• Vespers

  Isaiah 11:1–10

• Vespers

  Jeremiah (Baruch) 3:35–4:4)

• Vespers

  Daniel 2:31–36, 44–45

• Vespers

  Isaiah 9:6–7

• Vespers

  Isaiah 7:10–16; 8:1–4, 9–10

• Epistle · Eve of Nativity

  Hebrews 1:1–12

  Show the text

  ¹God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

  ²has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

  ³His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,

  ⁴having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs.

  ⁵For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?”

  ⁶When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”

  ⁷Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.”

  ⁸But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.

  ⁹You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

  ¹⁰And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

  ¹¹They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.

  ¹²You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won’t fail.”

• Gospel · Eve of Nativity

  Luke 2:1–20

  Show the text

  ¹Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

  ²This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

  ³All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

  ⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

  ⁵to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

  ⁶While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

  ⁷She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

  ⁸There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

  ⁹Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

  ¹⁰The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

  ¹¹For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

  ¹²This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

  ¹³Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

  ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

  ¹⁵When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

  ¹⁶They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

  ¹⁷When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

  ¹⁸All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

  ¹⁹But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

  ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible.

Saints and icons

• Prayer of the day: Morning prayer of St Macarius the Great