Fasting Rules
Meat
Abstain
Fish
Abstain
Dairy
Abstain
Oil
Allowed
Wine
Allowed
Saints & Commemorations
Holy Martyr Iraida (Rais) of Alexandria (308)
She was an Egyptian maiden, variously called Iraida, Rais and Raida. One day, while drawing water from a well near the sea, she saw a ship laden with Christians being taken by their pagan persecutors to torture and death. By God’s grace, Iraida was touched by a desire to suffer for the Lord. She went to the ship, confessed herself to be a Christian, and was immediately taken prisoner with the other servants of Christ. T
She was an Egyptian maiden, variously called Iraida, Rais and Raida. One day, while drawing water from a well near the sea, she saw a ship laden with Christians being taken by their pagan persecutors to torture and death. By God’s grace, Iraida was touched by a desire to suffer for the Lord. She went to the ship, confessed herself to be a Christian, and was immediately taken prisoner with the other servants of Christ. They were all taken to the Egyptian town of Antinopolis, where Iraida was the first of the company to be beheaded.
New Martyr John of Epirus (1814)
He was born to Muslim parents in Konitsa of Albania — the ancient region of Epirus. His father was a prominent ruler among the Muslims and a member of the Sufi order, sometimes called dervishes, a mystical Islamic sect. John himself became a prominent Sufi and settled in Joannina. Though not a Christian, he attended to his conscience and lived a sober and prayerful life.
O
He was born to Muslim parents in Konitsa of Albania — the ancient region of Epirus. His father was a prominent ruler among the Muslims and a member of the Sufi order, sometimes called dervishes, a mystical Islamic sect. John himself became a prominent Sufi and settled in Joannina. Though not a Christian, he attended to his conscience and lived a sober and prayerful life.
Over time, he became increasingly attracted to the Christian faith and, in time, asked for holy Baptism. No Christian in his region dared to baptize him, knowing the reprisals that would follow. So John migrated to Ithaka, was baptized, and settled there in a village called Xiromeron, where he married and lived as a simple countryman. In 1813, John’s father somehow learned where he was, and that he had become a Christian. He sent two Sufis to bring him back and restore him to the Muslim faith. Because of this, the Ottoman authorities on Ithaka learned who he was and brought him before a judge. To each of the judge’s questions John would only reply ‘I am a Christian and I am called John.’
Realizing that no amount of persuasion or coercion would move him, the authorities determined to behead him. At his execution, since they would not loose his hands so that he could make the sign of the Cross, John cried out ‘Lord, Remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom!’ With these words he submitted himself to a Martyr’s end. The Turks intended to leave his body for the dogs, but pious Christians retrieved it and secretly gave it honorable burial.
Troparion - Tone 3
Your holy martyr John, O Lord, / through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through his intercessions, save our souls!
Conception of St John the Baptist
Scripture Readings
☩Epistle
Ephesians 3:8-21
8
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
☩Gospel
Luke 4:1-15
1
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7
If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10
For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11
And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12
And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13
And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
14
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15
And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
Liturgical data sourced from OCA.org and orthocal.info