January 7, 2022

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 7:18–25

  Show the text

  ¹⁸For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

  ¹⁹(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

  ²⁰Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

  ²¹(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’ ”

  ²²By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.

  ²³Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

  ²⁴But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.

  ²⁵Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.

• Gospel · Forerunner

  John 1:29–34

  Show the text

  ²⁹The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

  ³⁰This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’

  ³¹I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”

  ³²John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

  ³³I 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.’

  ³⁴I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

• Gospel

  Luke 20:19–26

  Show the text

  ¹⁹The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.

  ²⁰They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.

  ²¹They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.

  ²²Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

  ²³But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?

  ²⁴Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”

  ²⁵He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

  ²⁶They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent.

Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, New Calendar (OCA practice). Text: World English Bible.

Saints and icons

• Prayer of the day: Short penitential prayers