---
title: "December 4, 2031 — Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the…"
description: "Thursday, December 4, 2031. 21 November (Old Style). Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. Fast day"
url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12-04"
language: "en"
---

Thursday

# December 4, 2031

21 November (Old Style) · 27th week after Pentecost

Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar)

[Old Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12-04) [New Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2031-12-04)

[Month calendar](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12)

[← December 3](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12-03) [December 5 →](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12-05)

## 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 6:17–21

  **Show the text**

  17 Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

  18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;

  19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

  20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,

  21 which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

- Gospel · Entrance

  Luke 10:38–42, 11:27–28

- Gospel

  Luke 18:31–34

  **Show the text**

  31 He took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.

  32 For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on.

  33 They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”

  34 They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said.

Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible.
