November 20, 2026

Events of the day

• The 33 Martyrs of Melitene; St Lazarus of Mount Galesion

  Commemoration

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

• Epistle

  2 Thessalonians 3:6–18

  Show the text

  ⁶Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us.

  ⁷For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

  ⁸neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you,

  ⁹not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

  ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”

  ¹¹For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.

  ¹²Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.

  ¹³But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right.

  ¹⁴If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

  ¹⁵Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

  ¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

  ¹⁷The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how I write.

  ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

• Gospel

  Luke 12:2–12

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  ²But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.

  ³Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

  ⁴“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

  ⁵But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

  ⁶“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God.

  ⁷But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

  ⁸“I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God;

  ⁹but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of God’s angels.

  ¹⁰Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

  ¹¹When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;

  ¹²for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”

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

Saints and icons

• Prayer of the day: Short penitential prayers