Orthodox Daily Readings

Old Testament: Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3

Vespers, 1st reading

15 But the righteous live for ever, and their reward is with the Lord; the Most High takes care of them.

16 Therefore they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord, because with his right hand he will cover them, and with his arm he will shield them.

17 The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor, and will arm all creation to repel his enemies;

18 he will put on righteousness as a breastplate, and wear impartial justice as a helmet;

19 he will take holiness as a invincible shield,

20 and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, and creation will join with him to fight against the madmen.

21 Shafts of lightning will fly with true aim, and will leap to the target as from a well-drawn bow of clouds,

22 and hailstones full of wrath will be hurled as from a catapult; the water of the sea will rage against them, and rivers will relentlessly overwhelm them;

23 a mighty wind will rise against them, and like a tempest it will winnow them away. Lawlessness will lay waste the whole earth, and evil-doing will overturn the thrones of rulers.

1 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.

2 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations.

3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into your plans.

Old Testament: Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9

Vespers, 2nd reading

1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.

2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be affliction,

3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.

4 For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality.

5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;

6 like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.

7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble.

8 They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever.

9 Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.

Old Testament: Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15

Vespers, 3rd reading

7 But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest.

8 For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by number of years;

9 but understanding is gray hair for men, and a blameless life is ripe old age.

10 There was one who pleased God and was loved by him,

11 He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or guile deceive his soul.

12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.

13 Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;

14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him quickly from the midst of wickedness.

15 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing to heart, that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.

Epistle: Hebrews 13:17-21

Epistle, Saint

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.

19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-23

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray without ceasing,

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.

20 Do not despise prophecies.

21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 11:27-30

Matins Gospel

27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Gospel: Luke 6:17-23

Gospel, Saint

17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,

18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.

19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.

23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

Gospel: Luke 16:10-15

10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Commemorated on this day

Venerable and Godbearing Father Anthony the Great (356). Ven. Anthony of Dymsk (Novgorod—ca. 1224). Ven. Anthony of Chernoezérsk (16th c.).