Wednesday, 2 December 2026

Prophet Habbakuk

Wednesday of the 27th week after Pentecost

234 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · Nativity Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Myrope of Chios

251

The Holy Martyr Myrope was born in the city of Ephesus at the beginning of the third century. She lost her father at an early age, and her mother raised her in the Christian faith. Saint Myrope frequently visited the grave of the Martyr Hermione, daughter of the holy Apostle Philip, took myrrh from her relics, and healed the sick with it. During the persecution under Decius (249-251), Myrope went with her mother to the island of Chios, where they spent their time in fasting and prayer. By order of the cruel governor of the island, the soldier Isidore, a man of deep faith and great piety, was martyred. Saint Myrope secretly removed the body of the martyr and buried it. The soldiers who had been ordered not to allow the Christians to take Isidore's body were sentenced to death. Saint Myrope, taking pity on the condemned men, came forward and confessed what she had done, and at her trial she also confessed herself a Christian. For this she was fiercely beaten and cast into prison. At midnight as she prayed, a light shone in the prison; Saint Isidore appeared surrounded by angels, and Saint Myrope surrendered her soul to God. The prison was filled with a sweet fragrance. The pagan guard, trembling at the vision, told it to a priest; he later accepted Baptism and a martyric death for the confession of Christ.

Holy Prophet Habakkuk

The Holy Prophet Habakkuk, the eighth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, was descended from the tribe of Simeon and prophesied around 650 BC. The Prophet Habakkuk foresaw the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the Babylonian Captivity, and the later return of the captives to their native land. During the war with the Babylonians the prophet withdrew to Arabia, where a remarkable miracle occurred. As he was bringing dinner to the reapers, he met an angel of the Lord, and instantly, by the strength of the spirit, he was transported to Babylon, where the Prophet Daniel was languishing in the lions' den. The food intended for the reapers thus assuaged the hunger of the holy Prophet Daniel. After the end of the war Habakkuk returned to his homeland and reposed at a great old age. His relics were discovered during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger together with the relics of the Prophet Micah. The book of Habakkuk gives us the song "O Lord, I have heard Thy report and was afraid," which forms the basis of the fourth ode of the canon at Matins.

Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

Saint Porphyrios (in the world Evangelos Bairaktaris) was born in 1906 in the village of Saint John of Karystia on the island of Euboea, the son of pious peasant parents. From his earliest years he longed for the monastic life, and at the age of twelve he secretly left for the Holy Mountain of Athos, where he was received as a novice at the skete of Kavsokalyvia. Under his elders Panteleimon and Ioannikios he advanced quickly in obedience and prayer, and was tonsured a monk with the name Niketas, later called Porphyrios. While still very young he received the rare gift of clairvoyance, perceiving the inner state of souls and the unseen realities of nature. Forced by illness to leave Athos, he was ordained priest and for many decades served as chaplain at the Polyclinic Hospital of Athens, where he became spiritual father to thousands. With great love and discernment he counselled the simple and the learned alike, healing the sick by his prayers and bringing the despairing back to faith. In his last years he founded the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration at Milesi in Attica, and finally returned to his beloved Kavsokalyvia, where he reposed in peace on 2 December 1991. He was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 27 November 2013, and his memory is kept on 2 December.

Saint Solomon, Archbishop of Ephesus

Saint Solomon was an archbishop of the great see of Ephesus, succeeding the line of holy hierarchs that began with the Apostle Timothy. Little detail of his life has come down to us, but he is remembered as a confessor of the Orthodox faith and a faithful shepherd of his flock, ruling the Church of Ephesus with wisdom and pastoral care. He reposed in peace and is named together with the other saints of Ephesus among the commemorations of 2 December.

Venerable Athanasius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves

Saint Athanasius, called "the Resurrected," was a hermit of the Near Caves of Kiev and a contemporary of the holy archimandrite Polycarp of the Caves in the twelfth century. He was grievously ill for a long time, and when at last he died, the brethren prepared his body for burial. On the third day, when the abbot came to bury him, they all beheld the dead man alive, sitting up and weeping. He answered no questions and spoke only to instruct his brethren: "Cherish obedience above all; repent every hour; pray to the Lord Jesus Christ, His All-Pure Mother and to Saints Anthony and Theodosius, that you may end your life here, and be made worthy to be buried with the holy fathers in the Caves." After this he lived twelve more years in solitude in a cave, never speaking another word, weeping day and night, eating only a little dry bread and drinking only a little water. He reposed in peace and was buried in the Near Caves. A second saint of the same name, Athanasius the Recluse of the Far Caves, is also commemorated on this day; according to the tradition the cave needed no candle, for a heavenly light shone for him, and he grants healing to all who approach his relics with faith.

Saint Uroš, King of Serbia

1367

“The son of King Dušan, he ruled during the difficult time of the fall of the Kindom of Serbia. Humble, pious and gentle, he refused to attempt to restrain the power of the powerful nobles by force. Amongst these was Vukašin, who brought about his death. Good King Uroš suffered a martyr’s death on December 2nd, 1367, at the age of thirty-one. Killed by men, he was glorified by God. His wonderworking relics were preserved in the monastery of Jazak in the Fruška Gora, whence they were taken to Belgrade in 1942, during the Second World War, and placed in the Cathedral beside the bodies of Prince Lazar and Despot Stephen Štiljanovic. During the reign of this benevolent king, the monastery of St Nahum was built beside Lake Ochrid by one of Uroš’s nobles, Grgur.” (Prologue)

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Timothy — 1 Timothy 5.22-6.11

²²Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. ²³Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities. ²⁴Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. ²⁵Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

¹Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. ²And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

³If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; ⁴He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. ⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. ⁹But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ¹¹But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 20.1-8

¹And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, ²And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? ³And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: ⁴The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? ⁵And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? ⁶But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. ⁷And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. ⁸And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.