Fasting Rules
Meat
Allowed
Fish
Allowed
Dairy
Allowed
Oil
Allowed
Wine
Allowed
Saints & Commemorations
Conception of St John the Baptist
Xanthippe & Polyxene the Righteous
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.
Scripture Readings
☩Epistle
Galatians 1:1-10, 20-2:5
1
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2
And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5
To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
20
Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22
And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ:
23
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24
And they glorified God in me.
1
Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
3
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
5
To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
☩Gospel
Luke 4:16-22
16
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
Liturgical data sourced from OCA.org and orthocal.info