--- title: "January 20, 2021 — Synaxis of the Forerunner and Baptist John" description: "Wednesday, January 20, 2021. 7 January (Old Style). Synaxis of the Forerunner and Baptist John. Fast day" url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2021-01-20" language: "en" --- Wednesday # January 20, 2021 7 January (Old Style) · 33rd week after Pentecost Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar) [Old Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2021-01-20) [New Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2021-01-20) [Month calendar](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2021-01) [← January 19](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2021-01-19) [January 21 →](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2021-01-21) ## Events of the day - Synaxis of the Forerunner and Baptist John Great Feast - Afterfeast: Holy Theophany. The Baptism of the Lord ## Fasting Fast day · Wednesday / Friday Wednesday and Friday: fast without meat, dairy or eggs. Whether fish is allowed depends on the day's feast — check the church calendar. - Meat: not allowed - Dairy & eggs: not allowed - Fish: not specified - Oil: allowed - Wine: allowed Food rules are reference church information. Agree your personal measure of fasting with a priest; consult a doctor if you are ill. ## Readings of the day - Epistle · Forerunner Acts 19:1–8 - Epistle Hebrews 5:11–6:8 **Show the text** 11 About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing. 12 For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. 13 For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. 14 But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. 1 Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, 2 of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 This will we do, if God permits. 4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame. 7 For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned. - Gospel · Forerunner John 1:29–34 **Show the text** 29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” 32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” - Gospel Luke 21:5–7, 10–11, 20–24 **Show the text** 5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.” 7 They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible. ## Saints and icons - Prayer of the day: [The Trisagion](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/prayers/trisagion)