Orthodox Readings

Monday, February 3, 2025

Righteous Simeon the Godbearer and Anna the Prophetess; Our Father among the Saints, Nikolai (Nicholas), Archbishop and Enlightener of Japan (1912); Stamatios, John, & Nicholas, New Martyrs of Spetses

Tone 7. No fast. What this means

The Epistle for Afterfeast of Presentation

Hebrews 9:11–14

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The Gospel for Afterfeast of Presentation

Luke 2:25–38

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Commemorated today

  • Righteous Simeon the Godbearer and Anna the Prophetess
  • Stamatios, John, & Nicholas, New Martyrs of Spetses
  • Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos
  • Ansgar of Hamburg-Bremen
  • Our Father among the Saints, Nikolai (Nicholas), Archbishop and Enlightener of Japan (1912)

Hymns and lives of the saints are on the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

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