Tuesday, 23 September 2025

Conception of St John the Baptist

Tuesday of the 16th week after Pentecost

156 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ The Conception of John the Baptist

“On this day are celebrated God’s mercy, His wondrous act and His wisdom: His mercy towards the devout and righteous parents of St John, the aged Zacharias and Elisabeth, who had all their lives begged a child of God; the wonder of the conception of John in Elisabeth’s more-than-aged womb; and the wisdom of the dispensation of man’s salvation.” (Prologue) The story of the Baptist’s conception is told in the first chapter of St Luke’s Gospel.

Conception of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

The Holy Church celebrates on this day the miraculous conception of Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist, last and greatest of the prophets, foretold by the Archangel Gabriel to his father Zachariah, the priest, in the Temple at Jerusalem. Both his parents, the righteous priest Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth of the line of Aaron, were of advanced age and had remained childless, having long entreated the Lord for a child. While Zachariah was offering incense within the Holy Place, the Archangel appeared on the right side of the altar and announced that his prayer had been heard, that his wife should bear a son named John, and that this child should go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias. When Zachariah doubted, he was struck dumb until the day of the child's naming. Saint Elizabeth conceived as the angel had said, and remained in seclusion for five months, until at the sixth month the Most Holy Theotokos came to visit her and the unborn Forerunner leapt for joy in his mother's womb at the presence of the incarnate Lord. The feast prefigures the joyful announcement of salvation and is one of six commemorations of Saint John kept by the Orthodox Church.

Holy Virgin Martyr Iraida of Alexandria

308

The Holy Martyr Iraida, also called Rais or Herais, suffered for Christ in Alexandria during the persecution of Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century. Going one day to a well to draw water, the saint saw a ship moored at the shore, on board of which were a great company of men, women, clergy and monks bound in chains for the confession of the Christian faith. Casting aside her water pitcher, the holy virgin ran to the prisoners and voluntarily numbered herself among them, that she also might suffer for the Lord; the soldiers placed fetters upon her without delay. When the ship arrived at the Egyptian city of Antinopolis, Saint Iraida was the first to be led out for trial. After cruel tortures, she was beheaded with the sword, going to her bridegroom Christ at the head of the others who shortly after followed her in martyrdom. She is honoured by both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, and her commemoration in the Orthodox Church is kept on 23 September.

Righteous Zechariah the Priest and Elizabeth, parents of the Forerunner

Together with the Conception of Saint John the Forerunner, the Orthodox Church on this day commemorates his holy parents, the priest Zechariah of the course of Abia and his wife Elizabeth, of the daughters of Aaron, who were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. They had remained childless to advanced age, and the conception of John in answer to long prayer was a miracle of God's mercy. Saint Zechariah served as a priest at the Temple in Jerusalem, and it was while burning incense at the hour of prayer that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to announce the coming of his son. After Saint Elizabeth fled with the infant John into the wilderness during the slaughter of the innocents at Bethlehem, the soldiers of Herod sought tidings of the child from his father; refusing to betray him, the righteous Zechariah was slain between the Temple and the altar, of whom the Lord Himself made mention. Saint Elizabeth reposed in the wilderness forty days after her husband, the Lord providing for her son until he came of age to begin his public ministry of repentance.

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. 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.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Galatians — Galatians 5.11-21

¹¹But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away. ¹¹And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. ¹²I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision. ¹²I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

¹³For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. ¹³For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. ¹⁴For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ¹⁵But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. ¹⁵But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. ¹⁶This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

¹⁶But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. ¹⁸But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ¹⁸But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Epistle

— Forerunner

Galatians — Galatians 4.22-31

²²For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. ²²For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. ²³Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise. ²³But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. ²⁴Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar. ²⁴Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. ²⁵Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children. ²⁵For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. ²⁶But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁶But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother. ²⁷For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. ²⁷For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband. ²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now. ²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. ³⁰Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. ³⁰Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. ³¹Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman. ³¹So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 3.23-4.1

²³And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

²³And Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, ²⁴the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, ²⁵the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, ²⁶the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁷Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, ²⁸the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁸Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, ²⁹Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, ²⁹the son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, ³⁰the son of Symeon, the son of Judas, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, ³¹the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³²Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, ³²the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, ³³Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, ³³the son of Amminadab, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁴Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, ³⁵the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁵Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, ³⁶Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, ³⁶the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, ³⁷the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. ³⁸the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

¹And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

¹And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness

Gospel

— Forerunner

Luke — Luke 1.5-25

⁵There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁵There was in the days of Herod, king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. ⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. ⁷And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. ⁸And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

⁸Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, ⁹according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ⁹According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense. ¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. ¹¹And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹¹And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. ¹²And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. ¹³But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. ¹³But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. ¹⁴And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. ¹⁴And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁵For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. ¹⁶And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. ¹⁷And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. ¹⁷And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. ¹⁸And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. ¹⁸And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. ¹⁹And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. ¹⁹And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. ²⁰And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. ²⁰And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. ²¹And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. ²¹And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple. ²²And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb. ²²And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. ²³And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house. ²³And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. ²⁴And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁴And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men. ²⁵Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.