November 21, 2031

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

  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.

• 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