ORTHROS

Monday, March 31, 2025

The Orthodox liturgical day, its saint, its tone, and its fast.

New Calendar

Commemorated today

  • Repose St Innocent, Metr. Moscow and Apostle to Americas
  • Hieromartyr Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra (326)
  • St Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow (1461)

Today is a strict fast, no meat, dairy, fish, wine, or oil.

Old Calendar

Commemorated today

  • St Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem
  • Rep. St Nikolaj of Zhicha
  • St Ananias (Aninus) the Wonderworker (?)
  • Saint Nikolai (Velimirovic), Bishop of Ochrid and Zica, Serbia (1956)(March 5 OC)

Today is a strict fast, no meat, dairy, fish, wine, or oil.

  • The Paschal season

Readings, New Calendar

Matins GospelJohn 10.1-9

10:1“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them. 7Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.

WEB, public domain

6th HourIsaiah 37.33-38.6

37:33Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians, He shall not enter into this city, nor cast a weapon against it, nor bring a shield against it, nor make a rampart round it. 34But by the way by which he came, by it shall he return, and shall not enter into this city: thus saith the Lord. 35I will protect this city to save it for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 36And the angel of the Lord went forth, and slew out of the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand: and they arose in the morning and found all these bodies dead. 37And Sennacherim king of the Assyrians turned and departed, and dwelt in Nineve. 38And while he was worshipping Nasarach his country's god in the house, Adramelech and Sarasar his sons smote him with swords; and they escaped into Armenia: and Asordan his son reigned in his stead. 38:1And it came to pass at that time, that Ezekias was sick even to death. And Esaias the prophet the son of Amos came to him, and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, Give orders concerning thy house: for thou shalt die, and not live. 2And Ezekias turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, with a true heart, and have done that which was pleasing in thy sight. And Ezekias wept bitterly. 4And the word of the Lord came to Esaias, saying, Go, and say to Ezekias, 5Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, and seen thy tears: behold, I will add to thy time fifteen years. 6And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians: and I will defend this city.

Brenton LXX, public domain

VespersGenesis 13.12-18

13:12And Lot dwelt in a city of the neighbouring people, and pitched his tent in Sodom. 13But the men of Sodom were evil, and exceedingly sinful before God. 14And God said to Abram after Lot was separated from him, Look up with thine eyes, and behold from the place where thou now art northward and southward, and eastward and seaward; 15for all the land which thou seest, I will give it to thee and to thy seed for ever. 16And I will make thy seed like the dust of the earth; if any one is able to number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed be numbered. 17Arise and traverse the land, both in the length of it and in the breadth; for to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 18And Abram having removed his tent, came and dwelt by the oak of Mambre, which was in Chebrom, and he there built an altar to the Lord.

Brenton LXX, public domain

VespersProverbs 14.27-15.4

14:27The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes men to turn aside from the snare of death. 28In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince. 29A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish. 30A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones. 31He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor. 32The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just. 33There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned. 34Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes. 35An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace. 15:1Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things. 3The eyes of the Lord behold both the evil and the good in every place. 4The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.

Brenton LXX, public domain

EpistleHebrews 7.26-8.2

7:26For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself. 28For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son forever who has been perfected. 8:1Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2a servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man.

WEB, public domain

GospelJohn 10.9-16

10:9I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture. 10The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.

WEB, public domain

The order and appointment of the readings follow the Orthodox lectionary. Come to the Liturgy to hear them proclaimed.

Readings, Old Calendar

6th HourIsaiah 37.33-38.6

37:33Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians, He shall not enter into this city, nor cast a weapon against it, nor bring a shield against it, nor make a rampart round it. 34But by the way by which he came, by it shall he return, and shall not enter into this city: thus saith the Lord. 35I will protect this city to save it for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 36And the angel of the Lord went forth, and slew out of the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand: and they arose in the morning and found all these bodies dead. 37And Sennacherim king of the Assyrians turned and departed, and dwelt in Nineve. 38And while he was worshipping Nasarach his country's god in the house, Adramelech and Sarasar his sons smote him with swords; and they escaped into Armenia: and Asordan his son reigned in his stead. 38:1And it came to pass at that time, that Ezekias was sick even to death. And Esaias the prophet the son of Amos came to him, and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, Give orders concerning thy house: for thou shalt die, and not live. 2And Ezekias turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, with a true heart, and have done that which was pleasing in thy sight. And Ezekias wept bitterly. 4And the word of the Lord came to Esaias, saying, Go, and say to Ezekias, 5Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, and seen thy tears: behold, I will add to thy time fifteen years. 6And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians: and I will defend this city.

Brenton LXX, public domain

VespersGenesis 13.12-18

13:12And Lot dwelt in a city of the neighbouring people, and pitched his tent in Sodom. 13But the men of Sodom were evil, and exceedingly sinful before God. 14And God said to Abram after Lot was separated from him, Look up with thine eyes, and behold from the place where thou now art northward and southward, and eastward and seaward; 15for all the land which thou seest, I will give it to thee and to thy seed for ever. 16And I will make thy seed like the dust of the earth; if any one is able to number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed be numbered. 17Arise and traverse the land, both in the length of it and in the breadth; for to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 18And Abram having removed his tent, came and dwelt by the oak of Mambre, which was in Chebrom, and he there built an altar to the Lord.

Brenton LXX, public domain

VespersProverbs 14.27-15.4

14:27The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes men to turn aside from the snare of death. 28In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince. 29A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish. 30A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones. 31He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor. 32The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just. 33There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned. 34Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes. 35An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace. 15:1Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things. 3The eyes of the Lord behold both the evil and the good in every place. 4The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.

Brenton LXX, public domain

The order and appointment of the readings follow the Orthodox lectionary. Come to the Liturgy to hear them proclaimed.

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