Thursday, 4 December 2025

Hieromartyr Alexander Hotovitzky

Thursday of the 26th week after Pentecost

228 days after Pascha · Tone 8 · Liturgy · Nativity Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Holy Great Martyr Barbara

The Holy Great Martyr Barbara lived and suffered during the reign of the emperor Maximian (305-311). Her father, the pagan Dioscorus, was a rich and illustrious man in the Syrian city of Heliopolis. After the death of his wife he devoted himself to his only daughter, and seeing her extraordinary beauty, built a tower in which to hide her from the eyes of strangers, allowing only her pagan teachers to approach her. Beholding from her tower the mountains and rivers, the meadows and the harmonious vault of heaven, the maiden began to ponder upon the First Cause and Creator of the world. Through conversation with Christian women of the city she came to the knowledge of the true God and was secretly baptised. While her father was away she ordered the workmen who were preparing a bath-house for her to make a third window, that the light might come in honour of the Holy Trinity, and on the marble wall she traced a Cross with her finger which was deeply etched as if cut by iron. When Dioscorus returned and learned the truth, he fell into a fury and dragged her before the prefect Martianus. Saint Barbara confessed Christ steadfastly, and a fellow martyr Juliana came forward to share her confession. They were beaten with rawhide whips and their wounds rubbed with hair cloth; but in the night the Saviour Himself appeared and healed them. The next day they were paraded naked through the city and beheaded, the unnatural father Dioscorus himself striking the blow against his own daughter. Both he and Martianus were straightway destroyed by lightning. The relics of Saint Barbara were translated to Constantinople in the sixth century and to Kiev in the twelfth. She is venerated as a protector against sudden death and the patroness of artillerymen, miners and architects.

★ Venerable John of Damascus

760

Saint John of Damascus was born about the year 676 into a wealthy Christian family of Damascus. His father Sergius held high office in the court of the Umayyad Caliph, an office to which John himself succeeded. Together with his foster brother, the future Saint Cosmas the Hymnographer, he was educated by a learned monk also named Cosmas, who instructed him deeply in theology, philosophy, music, astronomy and the natural sciences. When the Iconoclast persecution erupted under the Emperor Leo the Isaurian, John, who was outside the reach of the imperial power, took up his pen in defence of the holy icons, composing his three Apologetic Treatises against those who attack the divine images. Tradition relates that the emperor, by means of a forged letter, brought about the cutting off of John's right hand, which was miraculously restored by the Most Holy Theotokos through the icon known thereafter as "Of the Three Hands." Distributing his goods to the poor, John retired with Cosmas to the Lavra of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified near Jerusalem. There he was tonsured a monk and later ordained priest. In stillness and obedience he produced a vast body of writings: the Fount of Knowledge, of which the third part, On the Orthodox Faith, became the principal manual of dogmatic theology in the Christian East; commentaries on Scripture; sermons; and a great treasury of hymnody, including the Octoechos, the Paschal Canon, and many other canons of the Church. Saint John reposed in peace at the Monastery of Saint Sabbas around the year 749. He is honoured as a Father and Doctor of the universal Church, and his feast is kept on 4 December.

Holy Hieromartyr Seraphim, Archbishop of Phanarion and Neochorion

Saint Seraphim was born to pious parents Sophronios and Maria in the village of Mpezila in the Agrapha region of central Greece in the mid-sixteenth century, when Greece lay under Ottoman rule. From his youth he embraced the monastic life at the Monastery of the Mother of God in Korona, and was given the name Seraphim. Distinguished by his ascetic labour, prayer and learning, he was elected in 1587 archbishop of Phanarion and Neochorion, succeeding the late incumbent. He laboured zealously to comfort and strengthen his Christian flock under the heavy burden of Turkish oppression, building churches and supporting his people in the faith. When Dionysius "the Skylosophos" of Larissa rose in revolt against the Turks, Seraphim was unjustly accused of complicity. Going to Phanarion to pay the tribute owed to the Ottoman authorities, he was seized, beaten and tortured. Though urged to apostatise to save his life, he replied that he would never deny Christ, his God and Creator. He was put to death by impalement on 4 December 1601. From that day his sacred skull, preserved at the Monastery of Korona, has remained fragrant and a source of healing for those who entreat his intercessions.

Saint John the Wonderworker, Bishop of Polybotus

Saint John lived in the eighth century and was bishop of Polybotus in Phrygia Salutaris in Asia Minor. From his youth he gave himself to the love of God, and by ascetic struggle and prayer attained great purity of heart. As bishop he shepherded his people in piety and was a fearless defender of the Orthodox veneration of the holy icons during the iconoclast persecution unleashed by the Emperor Leo the Isaurian. By his prayers he wrought numerous miracles, healing the sick, casting out demons, and turning aside the army of the Saracens that had attacked his city. He reposed in peace around the year 716, and his relics continued to work wonders for those who approached them with faith. His memory is kept on 4 December together with that of Saint Barbara and Saint John of Damascus.

Saint Gennadius, Archbishop of Novgorod

1505

He was of noble birth, but entered monastic life at Valaam. He lived as a hermit on the island of Solovki from 1430 until 1447, when he was appointed abbot of the Chudov Monastery in Moscow. In 1484 he became Bishop of Novgorod. He found that the Tatar invasions had so disrupted the Church that a complete text of the Holy Scriptures could hardly be found in all of Russia. He ordered and oversaw the publication of the first printed Slavonic edition of the Holy Scriptures, set up schools for the instruction of the clergy, re-established order in the divine services, and fought various heresies. His devotion earned him enemies, and he resigned his episcopate to withdraw once again to a monastery. He reposed in peace in 1505.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Timothy — 1 Timothy 3.1-13

¹Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

¹This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. ²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; ²The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; ³Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; ³no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; ⁴one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; ⁴One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; ⁵(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) ⁵(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) ⁶Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁶not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ⁷Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ⁸Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; ⁸Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; ⁹Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. ⁹holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. ¹⁰And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless. ¹⁰And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. ¹¹Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. ¹¹Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. ¹²Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ¹²Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ¹³For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹³For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Epistle

— St Alexander

Hebrews — Hebrews 13.7-16

⁷Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.

⁷Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever. ⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ⁹Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. ⁹Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited. ¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle. ¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. ¹¹For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹¹For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹³Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹³Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. ¹⁴For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come. ¹⁵Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. ¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 20.9-18

⁹Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

⁹And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time. ¹⁰And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. ¹⁰And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. ¹¹And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. ¹¹And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. ¹²And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. ¹²And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth. ¹³And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him. ¹³Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. ¹⁴But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. ¹⁴But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. ¹⁵And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? ¹⁵So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? ¹⁶He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. ¹⁶He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. ¹⁷And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? ¹⁷But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner? ¹⁸Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

¹⁸Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.

Gospel

— St Alexander

Luke — Luke 12.32-40

³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. ³³Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; ³⁶And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. ³⁶and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. ³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. ³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. ³⁹But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. ⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. ⁴⁰Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.