Tuesday, December 23, 2031

Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ

On Tuesday, December 23, 2031, Orthodox Christians on the New Calendar remember Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; Ten Martyrs of Crete; and St Paul of Neocaesarea. It is a fast day, with wine and oil. On the Old Calendar the same day remembers Menas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus. It is a fast day, with wine and oil.

New Calendar

Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ

This day is a fast day, but wine and oil are permitted, no meat, dairy, or fish.

Old Calendar

This day is a fast day, but wine and oil are permitted, no meat, dairy, or fish.

The saints of the day

  • Tone 4 of the Octoechos
  • 29th Week after Pentecost

Readings, New Calendar

EpistleHebrews 9.8-10, 15-23

9:8The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect, 10being only (with foods and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. 15For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

16For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. 17For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. 18Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. 19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

21He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood. 22According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. 23It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

WEB, public domain

GospelMark 10.2-12

10:2Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3He answered, “What did Moses command you?” 4They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.” 5But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. 6But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. 7For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, 8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.

9What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” 10In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter. 11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12If a woman herself divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

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

EpistleHebrews 9.8-10, 15-23

9:8The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect, 10being only (with foods and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. 15For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

16For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. 17For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. 18Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. 19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

21He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood. 22According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. 23It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

WEB, public domain

GospelMark 8.22-26

8:22He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. 24He looked up, and said, “I see men, but I see them like walking trees.” 25Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly. 26He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.”

WEB, public domain

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

Questions

What does the Orthodox Church remember on Tuesday, December 23, 2031?

  • On the New Calendar, Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; Ten Martyrs of Crete; and St Paul of Neocaesarea.
  • On the Old Calendar, Menas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus.

Is Tuesday, December 23, 2031 a fast day in the Orthodox Church?

Yes.

  • On the New Calendar it is a fast day, with wine and oil.
  • On the Old Calendar it is a fast day, with wine and oil.

What are the Orthodox readings for Tuesday, December 23, 2031?

On the New Calendar:

At the Liturgy, the Epistle is Hebrews 9.8-10, 15-23 and the Gospel is Mark 10.2-12.

On the Old Calendar:

At the Liturgy, the Epistle is Hebrews 9.8-10, 15-23 and the Gospel is Mark 8.22-26.

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