January 7, 2028

Events of the day

• Synaxis of the Forerunner and Baptist John

  Great Feast

• Afterfeast: Holy Theophany. The Baptism of the Lord

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

• Epistle · Forerunner

  Acts 19:1–8

• Epistle

  Hebrews 7:18–25

  Show the text

  ¹⁸For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

  ¹⁹(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

  ²⁰Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

  ²¹(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’ ”

  ²²By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.

  ²³Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

  ²⁴But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.

  ²⁵Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.

• Gospel · Forerunner

  John 1:29–34

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  ²⁹The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

  ³⁰This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’

  ³¹I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”

  ³²John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

  ³³I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

  ³⁴I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

• Gospel

  Luke 21:37–22:8

  Show the text

  ³⁷Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.

  ³⁸All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

  ¹Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.

  ²The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people.

  ³Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve.

  ⁴He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them.

  ⁵They were glad, and agreed to give him money.

  ⁶He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.

  ⁷The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed.

  ⁸Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

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

Saints and icons

• Prayer of the day: Short penitential prayers