Monday
December 22, 2025
9 December (Old Style) · 29th week after Pentecost
Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar)
Events of the day
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Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by Righteous Anna
Polyeleos rank
Fasting
Fast day · Nativity Fast
Nativity Fast, Monday: cooked food without oil.
- Meat: not allowed
- Dairy & eggs: not allowed
- Fish: not allowed
- Oil: not allowed
- Wine: not 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
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Epistle
Hebrews 3:5–11, 17–19
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5Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken,
6but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house. We are his house, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.
7Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice,
8don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness,
9where your fathers tested me and tried me, and saw my deeds for forty years.
10Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways.’
11As I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’ ”
17With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
18To whom did he swear that they wouldn’t enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
19We see that they weren’t able to enter in because of unbelief.
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Epistle · St Anna
Galatians 4:22–31
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22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
23However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
24These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate have more children than her who has a husband.”
28Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
30However what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
31So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
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Gospel
Mark 8:11–21
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11The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.
12He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
13He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
14They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them.
15He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
17Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?
18Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember?
19When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Twelve.”
20“When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”
21He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
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Gospel · St Anna
Luke 8:16–21
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16“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.
17For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed; nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
18Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”
19His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd.
20Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.”
21But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it.”
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