2024

On Friday | February 23

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Friday of the 33rd Week

The reading is from Peter’s Second Universal Letter.

2 Pet. 1:1-10

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promise, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall. [RSV]

The Gospel

Friday of the 16th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 13:1-8

At that time, as Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.” And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign when these things are all to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the sufferings.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Hieromartyr.

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.

Eph. 4:7-13

Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (in saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Hieromartyr.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 12:24-26, 35-36

The Lord said to his disciples, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On February 23, we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna.

On this day we also commemorate our devout fathers John, Moses, Antiochus, and Antoninus.

On this day Saint Gorgonia, the sister of St. Gregory the Theologian, died in peace.

On this day the holy Martyr Clement died by the sword.

On this day the holy Martyr Thea died by the sword.

On this day we also commemorate our devout fathers Zebinas, Polychronios, Moses, and Damian.

Devout St. Damian, who lived as an ascetic near the holy Monastery of Esphigmenou on Mt. Athos, died in peace in the year 1280.

By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.

It is a Wednesday or Friday.