The Holy Prophet Sophonias (Zephaniah)

Saints, Feasts, and Readings for 12/03/2024

Saints and Feasts: The Holy Prophet Sophonias (Zephaniah); Our Righteous Father John, Bishop and Hesychast; Holy Martyrs Agapius and Seleucius; Theodore, Archbishop of Alexandria; Angelis the New Martyr; Karpos the Hieromartyr

Fast Day (Fish Allowed)

Epistle Reading: I Thessalonians 3:8-13
Brethren, if you stand fast in the Lord, what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God, praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you, so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Gospel Reading: Luke 21:12-19
The Lord said to his disciples, “Beware of men who will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”