January 4, 2026

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

• 8th Matins Gospel

  John 20:11–18

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  ¹¹But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,

  ¹²and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

  ¹³They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”

  ¹⁴When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.

  ¹⁵Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

  ¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”

  ¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

  ¹⁸Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.

• Epistle · Sunday before Theophany

  2 Timothy 4:5–8

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  ⁵But you be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.

  ⁶For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.

  ⁷I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.

  ⁸From now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

• Gospel · Sunday before Theophany

  Mark 1:1–8

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  ¹The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

  ²As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you:

  ³the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’ ”

  ⁴John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

  ⁵All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

  ⁶John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

  ⁷He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.

  ⁸I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

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)