--- title: "December 4, 2023 — Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the…" description: "Monday, December 4, 2023. 21 November (Old Style). Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. Fast day" url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2023-12-04" language: "en" --- Monday # December 4, 2023 21 November (Old Style) · 27th week after Pentecost Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar) [Old Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2023-12-04) [New Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2023-12-04) [Month calendar](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2023-12) [← December 3](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2023-12-03) [December 5 →](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2023-12-05) ## Events of the day - Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple Twelve Great Feast The dedication of the three-year-old Mary to God in the Temple of Jerusalem; falls within the Nativity Fast, when fish is allowed. ## Fasting Fast day · Nativity Fast Entry of the Theotokos: fish is allowed within the Nativity Fast. - Meat: not allowed - Dairy & eggs: not allowed - Fish: allowed - 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 - Vespers Composite reading — Exodus 40:1-5, 9-10, 16, 34-35 - Vespers Composite reading — 3 \[1\] Kings 8:1, 3-7, 9-11 - Vespers Ezekiel 43:27–44:4 - Matins Gospel Luke 1:39–49, 56 **Show the text** 39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” 46 Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. 47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. 56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house. - Epistle · Entrance Hebrews 9:1–7 **Show the text** 1 Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place. 3 After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail. 6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services, 7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people. - Epistle 1 Timothy 5:1–10 - Gospel · Entrance Luke 10:38–42, 11:27–28 - Gospel Luke 17:20–25 **Show the text** 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation; 21 neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, God’s Kingdom is within you.” 22 He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them, 24 for as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part under the sky, shines to another part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible.