November 21, 2025

Events of the day

• Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers

  Polyeleos rank

Fasting

Fast day · Wednesday / Friday

Wednesday and Friday: fast without meat, dairy or eggs. Whether fish is allowed depends on the day's feast — check the church calendar.

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

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

• Vespers

  Joshua 5:13–15

• Vespers

  Judges 6:2, 7, 11–24

• Vespers

  Isaiah 14:7–20

• Matins Gospel

  Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

• Epistle

  1 Thessalonians 5:9–13, 24–28

  Show the text

  ⁹For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

  ¹⁰who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

  ¹¹Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.

  ¹²But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,

  ¹³and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

  ²⁴He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.

  ²⁵Brothers, pray for us.

  ²⁶Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

  ²⁷I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.

  ²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

• Epistle · Angels

  Hebrews 2:2–10

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  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,

  ⁴God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

  ⁵For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.

  ⁶But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?

  ⁷You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.

  ⁸You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.

  ⁹But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.

  ¹⁰For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

• Gospel

  Luke 13:31–35

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  ³¹On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”

  ³²He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.

  ³³Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’

  ³⁴“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!

  ³⁵Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

• Gospel · Angels

  Luke 10:16–21

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  ¹⁶Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

  ¹⁷The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

  ¹⁸He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.

  ¹⁹Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

  ²⁰Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

  ²¹In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”

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

Saints and icons

• Prayer of the day: Short penitential prayers