January 26, 2025

Events of the day

No commemorations in the content package for this day yet

Fasting

No fast

No fast today.

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

• 9th Matins Gospel

  John 20:19–31

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  ¹⁹When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

  ²⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.

  ²¹Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

  ²²When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

  ²³If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

  ²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.

  ²⁵The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

  ²⁶After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”

  ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

  ²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

  ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”

  ³⁰Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;

  ³¹but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

• Epistle

  1 Timothy 1:15–17

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  ¹⁵The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

  ¹⁶However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.

  ¹⁷Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

• Gospel

  Matthew 15:21–28

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  ²¹Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.

  ²²Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”

  ²³But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.”

  ²⁴But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

  ²⁵But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

  ²⁶But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

  ²⁷But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

  ²⁸Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, New Calendar (OCA practice). Text: World English Bible.

Saints and icons

• Prayer of the day: The Symbol of Faith (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)