## [Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord - 23 December](
Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord
The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Lord begins on December 20. From now on, most of the liturgical hymns will be concerned with the birth of the ...
)
🎶troparion🎶
Prepare, O Bethlehem, for Eden has been opened to all!
Adorn yourself, O Ephratha, for the Tree of Life blossoms forth from the Virgin in the cave!
Her womb is a spiritual paradise planted with the Divine Fruit;
if we eat of it, we shall live forever and not die like Adam.
Christ is born to raise up again what fell in former times, His image.
🎶kontakion🎶
Today the Virgin comes to the cave
to give birth to the Eternal Word.
Hear the glad tidings and rejoice, O universe!
Glorify with the angels and the shepherds
the Eternal God, who is willing to appear as a little child!
#Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint
# [Scripture Readings for Tuesday, 23 December 2025 (OCA)](oca.org/readings/daily/2025/12/23)
## [Epistle reading for the 29th Tuesday after Pentecost (Hebrews 4:1-13)](oca.org/readings/daily/2025/12/23/1)
>Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
## [Gospel reading for the 14th Tuesday of Luke (Mark 10:2-12)](oca.org/readings/daily/2025/12/23/2)
>The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him. And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ‘and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
#Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Bible #Scripture #Orthodox #Orthostr #Biblestr
## [Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Poisons, her teacher, Martyr Chrysogonos, and many with them - 22 December](
Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Poisons, her teacher, Martyr Chrysogonos, and many with them
The Great Martyr Anastasia (Anastasía) the Deliverer from Poisons, was a Roman by birth, who suffered for Christ during Diocletian’s persecution...
)
🎶troparion🎶
As a Martyr you emulated the deeds of the Martyrs
to whom you ministered,
and, striving valiantly, you overcame the Enemy.
You are an abundant and overflowing source of grace
for all who come to you, O godly-minded Anastasía.
🎶kontakion🎶
Those in temptations and afflictions hasten to your temple
and are restored by the grace that dwells in you,
for you ever pour forth healings for all the world,
O Great Martyr Anastasía.
#Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint
# [Scripture Readings for Monday, 22 December 2025 (OCA)](oca.org/readings/daily/2025/12/22)
## [Epistle reading for the 29th Monday after Pentecost (Hebrews 3:5-11, 17-19)](oca.org/readings/daily/2025/12/22/1)
> And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
## [Gospel reading for the 14th Monday of Luke (Mark 9:42-10:1)](oca.org/readings/daily/2025/12/22/2)
> But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched – where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched – where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire – where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.
#Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Bible #Scripture #Orthodox #Orthostr #Biblestr
## [Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord - 22 December](
Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord
The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Lord begins on December 20. From now on, most of the liturgical hymns will be concerned with the birth of the ...
)
🎶troparion🎶
Prepare, O Bethlehem, for Eden has been opened to all!
Adorn yourself, O Ephratha, for the Tree of Life blossoms forth from the Virgin in the cave!
Her womb is a spiritual paradise planted with the Divine Fruit;
if we eat of it, we shall live forever and not die like Adam.
Christ is born to raise up again what fell in former times, His image.
🎶kontakion🎶
Today the Virgin comes to the cave
to give birth to the Eternal Word.
Hear the glad tidings and rejoice, O universe!
Glorify with the angels and the shepherds
the Eternal God, who is willing to appear as a little child!
#Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint
## [Sunday before the Nativity - 21 December](
Sunday before the Nativity
The Sunday before the Nativity of Christ we commemorate Adam and Eve (the first-created), the righteous Abel, son of Adam, the righteous Seth, son ...
)
🎶troparion🎶
Great are the accomplishments of faith,
for the Three Holy Youths rejoiced in the source of the flame, as if by restful waters,
and the Prophet Daniel appeared
as a shepherd of lions as of sheep.
By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
🎶kontakion🎶
You would not worship an image made by hands, O thrice-blessed youths;
but shielded by the ineffable Essence, you were glorified through your ordeal by fire.
In the midst of the unbearable fire you called upon God, crying:
"Hasten, O compassionate One,
and in Your mercy come to our aid,
for if You will, You can do so."
Be glad, O Bethlehem! Prepare yourself, O Ephratha;
for the Lamb is on her way to give birth to the Great Shepherd she carries in her womb.
The God-bearing Fathers will rejoice, beholding Him,
and with the shepherds, they will praise the Virgin who nurses Him.
#Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint
## [Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, Bishop of Antioch - 20 December](
Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, Bishop of Antioch
The Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, was a disciple of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, as was also Saint Polycarp, Bishop ...
)
🎶troparion🎶
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,
you became a successor to their throne.
Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God;
by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood.
Hieromartyr Ignatius, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
🎶kontakion🎶
The stirring celebration of your victorious fight
is an announcement of the One who is to be born of the Virgin.
In your eagerness to possess Him forever,
you hastened to be devoured by the wild beasts.
Therefore, O glorious Ignatius, you were called the bearer of God!
#Christian #OrthodoxChristian #Orthodox #Orthostr #Saint
