November 8, 2023

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 2:1–8

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  ¹For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain,

  ²but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.

  ³For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

  ⁴But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

  ⁵For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),

  ⁶nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.

  ⁷But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

  ⁸Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.

• 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 12:48–59

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  ⁴⁸but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

  ⁴⁹“I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.

  ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

  ⁵¹Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.

  ⁵²For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

  ⁵³They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

  ⁵⁴He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens.

  ⁵⁵When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens.

  ⁵⁶You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time?

  ⁵⁷Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

  ⁵⁸For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

  ⁵⁹I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny.”

• 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, New Calendar (OCA practice). Text: World English Bible.

Saints and icons

• Prayer of the day: The Trisagion