Friday, December 2, 2061
Holy Prophet Habbakuk (Abbacum) (7th c. BC).; Holy Martyr Myrope (Myropea) of Chios (251); Our Holy Father Athanasius "the Resurrected," Recluse of the Kiev Caves (1176)
Friday of the 11th week of Luke
Tone 1. Nativity Fast: strict. What this means
The Epistle
2 Timothy 1:1–2, 8–18
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, 2to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 8Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God, 9who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, 10but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News. 11For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.
13Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, 17but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me 18(the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.
The Gospel
Luke 20:19–26
The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. 20They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. 21They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?
24Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”
25He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent.
Commemorated today
- Holy Prophet Habbakuk (Abbacum) (7th c. BC).
- Our Righteous Father Cyril of Phileus
- Joannicos the Monk of Devich
- Theophilos the Hermit
- Holy Martyr Myrope (Myropea) of Chios (251)
- Our Holy Father Athanasius "the Resurrected," Recluse of the Kiev Caves (1176)
- Saint (Stephen) Uroš, King of Serbia (1367)
- Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (1991) (Nov. 19 OC)
Hymns and lives of the saints are on the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.