Friday
January 2, 2026
2 January (Revised Julian) · 30th week after Pentecost
New Calendar (Revised Julian)
Events of the day
No commemorations in the content package for this day yet
- Forefeast: Holy Theophany. The Baptism of the Lord
Fasting
No fast
Christmastide (25 Dec – 4 Jan Old Style) is fast-free: no fasting.
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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Vespers
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1–9
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Vespers
Wisdom of Solomon 5:15–6:3
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Vespers
Wisdom of Solomon 4:7–15
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Matins Gospel
Matthew 11:27–30
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27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
28“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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Epistle
Hebrews 11:8, 11–16
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8By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
11By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
12Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
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Epistle · St Seraphim
Galatians 5:22–6:2
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22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
25If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.
26Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
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Gospel
Mark 12:1–12
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1He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.
2When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
3They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.
4Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
5Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some.
6Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
7But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
8They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.
10Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner.
11This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him, and went away.
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Gospel · St Seraphim
Luke 6:17–23
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17He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
18as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed.
19All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out of him and healed them all.
20He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, God’s Kingdom is yours.
21Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.
23Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets.
Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, New Calendar (OCA practice). Text: World English Bible.
Saints and icons
- Prayer of the day: Short penitential prayers