Thursday, 3 December 2026

Prophet Zephaniah; Ven. Savva of Zvenigorod

Thursday of the 27th week after Pentecost

235 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Nativity Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Holy Prophet Zephaniah

The Holy Prophet Zephaniah, the ninth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, lived and prophesied in the seventh century before Christ during the reign of the pious King Josiah of Judah, and was a contemporary of the Prophet Jeremiah and the Prophetess Huldah. According to tradition he was descended from the tribe of Simeon, born in the village of Sabaratha. From his youth he was distinguished by his attentiveness to the things of God, and he lived at the royal court, where he preached repentance and helped King Josiah uproot the worship of idols. He prophesied of the calamities that were to come upon Judaea and the surrounding nations of Gaza, Ascalon, Crete, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Ninevites, and he foresaw the deliverance of the captives of Israel. Foreseeing the coming of the Messiah, he cried out joyfully: "Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem." He died in peace in his native village. He is commemorated on 3 December in the Eastern Orthodox calendar.

Saint Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester and Apostle of Wessex

Saint Birinus was a Frankish or Italian missionary monk who in the seventh century was sent by Pope Honorius I to preach the Gospel to the still pagan inhabitants of the inner regions of Britain. Before setting out he was consecrated bishop in Genoa by Archbishop Asterius. Arriving in southern Britain in 635, he found the West Saxons sunk in idolatry, and resolved to remain among them rather than press further inland. By his preaching and example he persuaded Cynegils, king of the West Saxons, to receive Holy Baptism, with King Oswald of Northumbria standing as his godfather. The king bestowed upon Birinus the old Roman town of Dorchester-on-Thames as the seat of his bishopric. From there the saint travelled tirelessly throughout Wessex, baptising multitudes, founding churches and consecrating priests. He reposed at Dorchester around the year 650 and was buried in his own church there. Saint Birinus is honoured as the Apostle of Wessex by the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches; his commemoration is kept on 3 December.

Saint Theodulus, Eparch of Constantinople

Saint Theodulus was eparch of Constantinople during the reign of Theodosius the Great. After the death of his wife, having no taste for the vain cares of the world, he resigned his office, distributed his wealth to the poor, and embraced the monastic life. He travelled to Edessa in Mesopotamia, where he ascended a pillar and lived as a stylite for thirty years, eating only the Body and Blood of Christ together with the antidoron once a week. Once a thought of vainglory came to him, that none lived in such virtue as himself; but a divine voice rebuked him, telling him he was equal in stature to a certain Cornelius, a mime in a theatre at Damascus who bore the name Pandouros. Going down to find this man, the saint discovered him living a hidden life of charity, almsgiving and chastity beneath his lowly profession, and was instructed in humility by his example. Saint Theodulus the Stylite reposed in peace around the year 440.

Venerable Sabbas of Storozhev, Wonderworker of Zvenigorod

Saint Sabbas (Savva) of Zvenigorod forsook the world in his early youth and received the monastic tonsure from Saint Sergius of Radonezh, becoming his disciple and fellow ascetic. Among the first companions of Saint Sergius at the Holy Trinity Lavra, he laboured in deep humility, silence and prayer, taking food only from common cooked dishes and weeping often. After the repose of Saint Methodius of Peshnosha, Saint Sergius appointed Sabbas as abbot of the Dormition Monastery on the river Dubenka, which had been founded in thanksgiving for the victory over Mamai. Following the death of Saint Sergius, Sabbas was chosen abbot of the Trinity Lavra itself for six years. Then Prince Yuri of Zvenigorod, godson of Saint Sergius, persuaded the saint to come and bestow his blessing upon his household. Yielding to entreaty, Sabbas remained in the prince's homeland and in 1399 founded a new monastery at the place called Storozhev near Zvenigorod, building a small wooden church in honour of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and a cell beside it. There he laboured in fasting and prayer, dug a well with his own hands, and gathered many disciples. After appointing his disciple Savva as his successor, the saint reposed in advanced old age on 3 December 1406. His commemoration on this day was established by the Moscow Council of 1547.

Our Venerable Father John the Silent, Bishop of Colonia

558

He was born into a Christian family at Nikopolis in Armenia. When he was eighteen his parents died, and with twelve other young men he established a small monastery. After a few years, much against his will he was made Bishop of Colonia, but he continued to live the ascetic life of a monk. After nine years of service as bishop, discouraged by the worldliness and intrigue around him, he secretly left for Jerusalem to live as a monk. He was divinely guided to the monastery of St Sabas, who received him and, knowing nothing of his rank, assigned him a lowly place among the new monks. Saint John cheerfully undertook whatever task was given to him and served the other monks in humility and silence. After completing his novitiate he was given a cell where he lived in total silence, fasting five days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays he joined the brethren for prayer, Communion and meals; but even at these times the other monks were edified by his silence and unceasing compunction. Saint Sabas desired to make him a priest and took him to be ordained by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Saint John asked the Patriarch for a private meeting and explained that he could not be ordained because he was already a bishop. The Patriarch returned St John to St Sabas, telling him only that it was impossible for him to ordain John, who should be allowed to live in silence and solitude. Saint Sabas was perplexed (thinking that some sin prevented the monk from being ordained), but soon received a revelation of John’s true rank. After many years of reclusion, St John withdrew further to a cave in the desert for nine years. He became known as a divinely-enlightened counselor and a wonderworker, and cheerfully received all who came to him for guidance or prayer. In 509 he returned to the monastery, where he lived as an anchorite in his cell, communicating with the world only through one of his disciples. For many years he lived only on thin porridge, into which he would mix ashes. One day a disciple saw him pouring ashes into his food, and John abandoned the practice, not wanting to be known for the practice of any virtue. Once he asked God for a sign revealing whether he would be granted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Taking a fig-seed, he placed it on a bare rock outside his cell. Without soil or water, the seed brought forth a plant, put forth leaves and flowers, and produced three figs, which St John shared with his disciples. The Saint then made ready for death. He reposed in peace, at the age of 104.

Also commemorated: Ven. Savva of Zvenigorod

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Timothy — 1 Timothy 6.17-21

¹⁷Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; ¹⁸That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; ¹⁹Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. ²⁰O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: ²¹Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

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. 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. ¹¹And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. ¹²And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 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 among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 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. 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? ¹⁸Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.