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Sunday, 3 January 2027

Forefeast of Theophany; Sunday before Theophany

31st Sunday after Pentecost

266 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Liturgy · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

Holy Prophet Malachi

The Holy Prophet Malachi was the last of the writing prophets of the Old Testament, born after the return of the Jewish people from exile in Babylon in 538 BC. According to sacred tradition, his name was derived from the Hebrew word "malakh," meaning messenger or angel, given perhaps because of his purity of spirit, his outward beauty, or his close communion with the angels of God. The Prophet Malachi lived approximately five hundred years before the incarnation of Christ and clearly foretold the coming and ministry of Saint John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ. He was particularly known as the prophet of the Day of Judgment, and his prophecies concerning the future judgement of mankind remain central to Orthodox eschatology. The book of the Prophet Malachi concludes the Old Testament canon and is filled with his warnings to the people of Israel regarding their unfaithfulness, his call to repentance, and his prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. The Prophet Malachi received his vocation from God while yet young and spent his life proclaiming God's word to the people. After him there arose no prophet in Israel until the coming of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. The exact date and manner of his repose are not recorded in Scripture, but tradition holds that he went to God in his youth. He is commemorated on 3 January in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Martyr Gordius of Caesarea in Cappadocia

314

The Holy Martyr Gordius was born at the end of the third century in the city of Caesarea of Cappadocia to a devout Christian family. When he came of age, he entered the military service of the Roman Empire and, owing to his courage and military skill, was advanced to the rank of centurion. During the fierce persecution of Christians under the Emperor Diocletian and his successor Licinius in the early fourth century, Gordius was deeply troubled by the impiety and idolatry that surrounded him. Unable to endure the atmosphere of pagan worship any longer, he resolved to renounce the world and withdrew to the wilderness to purify himself through prayer, fasting, and ascetical struggle. He spent considerable time in the mountains in solitary prayer, preparing himself spiritually for the good work of confessing Christ before men. After perceiving that his ascetical training had sufficiently prepared him for the struggle, he descended from the mountains when a great pagan festival was being celebrated in Caesarea. Before the multitude assembled for the festival, he boldly professed his Christian faith to the Governor and the people. The pagan authorities subjected him to severe tortures on account of his refusal to renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to idols. After enduring these grievous torments with steadfast faith, the holy martyr Gordius was beheaded in the year 314 during the reign of the Emperor Licinius. His feast was originally celebrated on 2 March but was later transferred to 3 January by the Synaxarion of Constantinople.

Righteous Genevieve of Paris

Saint Genevieve was born of wealthy parents in the village of Nanterre near Paris, in Gaul (modern France), around the year 422. At the age of fifteen, she was taken to Paris to enter the monastic life, where she progressed in monasticism through rigorous fasting, vigilant prayer, and ascetical labour. Through her devotion, she received from God the gifts of clairvoyance and of working miracles. She became renowned throughout the region as a protectress of Paris and an intercessor with God on behalf of her people. Saint Genevieve fell asleep in the Lord around the year 512 at the age of eighty-nine, leaving behind a legacy of sanctity that has made her patron saint of Paris.

Righteous Thomais of Lesbos

Saint Thomais of Lesbos was a righteous ascetic of the tenth century who lived in the Orthodox tradition of monastic virtue. She is commemorated among the saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church as an example of feminine ascetical accomplishment and steadfast devotion to God. Though historical details of her life are limited in surviving records, her memory is preserved in the Church's calendar as a testament to her holiness.

Daily readings

9th Matins Gospel

John — John 20.19-31

19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

19When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 20And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 21Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: 23whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

30Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: 31but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name. 31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Epistle

— Sunday before Theophany weekly cycle

2 Timothy — 2 Timothy 4.5-8

5But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry. 5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 6For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing. 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Gospel

— Sunday before Theophany weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 1.1-8

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

2Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way; 3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight; 4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

4John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins. 5And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 5And there went out unto him all the country of Judæa, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 6And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey. 7And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 7And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 8I baptized you in water; but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.