This Month’s Saints and Readings

This Month's Saints and Readings

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December 2025

FROM THE FATHERS

“BEHOLD a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt his glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised. Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side, the Sun of justice. And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of nature yields. For he willed; he had the power; he descended; he redeemed; all things yielded in obedience to God. This day he who is, is born; and he who is, becomes what he was not. For when he was God, he became man; yet not departing from the Godhead that is his. Nor yet by any loss of divinity became he man, nor through increase became he God from man; but being the Word he became flesh, his nature, because of impassability, remaining unchanged.”

St. John Chrysostom + AD 407

BUT the glad tidings of the Angels exhort us to bring our discourse back to Bethlehem and to behold the mysteries in the cave. What is this? A Child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger; and she who remains a Virgin after giving birth, the incorrupt Mother, cares for her offspring. Let us, the shepherds, utter the cry of the Prophet: “As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God.” Surely these things that are related about Christ did not happen fortuitously or accidentally, and surely there is some reason behind this story. What does it mean for the Master that He dwells in a cave and lies in a manger? That He became involved with our life at the time of the whole world was being registered for taxation? Is it not clear that, just as He delivers us from the curse of the Law, becoming a curse for our sake, and transfers our stripes to Himself, so that by His stripes we might be healed, so also He submits to taxation in order to free us from the evil fetters of the tax which death has been exacting from humanity?

St. Gregory of Nyssa + AD 394

This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world; So let no one threaten;
This is the night of the Most Gentle One - Let no one be cruel;
This is the night of the Humble One - Let no one be proud.
Now is the day of joy - Let us not revenge;
Now is the day of Good Will - Let us not be mean.
In this Day of Peace - Let us not be conquered by anger.
Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake;
So, rich one, invite the poor to your table.
Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask;
So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.
This present Day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers;
Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness.
Today the DIVINE BEING took upon Himself the seal of our humanity,
In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of DIVINITY.

St. Isaac the Syrian + c.AD 700

Fasting Guidelines:
On days designated strict fast we abstain from dairy products, meat, fish, oil and wine. Some seafoods, e.g. squid, crab, roe and prawn, are permitted.

Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy

Monday 1st December 2025

Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed

Commemorations:
Prophet Nahum (7th C. BC). Righteous Philaret the Merciful of Amnia (792). Holy Martyr Ananias of Persia. St. Porphyrios, patriarch of Antioch (413). St. Theoclites, archbishop of Lakedaimonia (870). SS Ananias and Solochonus, archbishops of Ephesus.
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Grwst of Llanrwst (7th C).
Readings:
1 Timothy 1:1-7; Luke 19:37-44

Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed

Commemorations:
Prophet Avakkum (Habakkuk) (7th C. BC). Holy Martyrs Abibus the New and Myrope of Chios (251). St. Ioannicius of Devich, monk (1430). St. Cyril of Phileus (1110). SS John, Heraclemon, Andrew, and Theophilus of Egypt (4th C). St. Stephen-Urosh V, King of Serbia (1371) and St. Helen of Serbia. St. Ise (Jesse), bishop of Tsilkani in Georgia (6th C).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Trumwine of Abercorn, (late 7th C).
Readings:
1 Timothy 1:8-14; Luke 19:45-48

Wednesday 3rd December 2025

Nativity Fast: strict fast

Commemorations:
Prophet Sophonias (Zephaniah) (635 BC). St. John the Silent of St. Sabbas’ Monastery (558). Hieromartyr Theodore, archbishop of Alexandria (606). Holy Martyrs Agapius and Seleucius. St. Theodoulos, eparch of Constantinople (c.440). New Martyr Angelos of Chios (1813). Monk-martyr Cosmas of St. Anne’s Skete. St. Sabbas, abbot of Zvenigorod, disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh (1406).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Birinus, bishop of Dorchester and Apostle of Wessex (650). St. Lucius of Britain (c.200). St. Ethernan (c.699). St. Sola, disciple of St. Boniface (794).
Readings:
1 Timothy 1:18-20,2:8-15; Luke 20:1-8

Thursday 4th December 2025

Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed

Great Martyr Barbara and Martyr Juliana at Heliopolis in Syria
Commemorations:
St. John the Righteous, of Damascus (776). New Hieromartyr Bishop Seraphim at the Phanar (1601). New Martyrs Protopresbyter Alexander Hotovitzky of New York (1937), and Priest Alexis Benemansky of Tver (1937).
Readings:
1 Timothy 3:1-13; Luke 20:9-18
For the Commemoration: Galatians 3:23-4:5; Mark 5:24-34

Friday 5th December 2025

Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed

Saint Sabbas the Sanctified
Commemorations:
Holy Martyr Diogenes (435). Philotheos the Righteous of Mount Athos. St. Nectarius of Bitol (1500), and his Elder, St. Philotheus, of Karyes Skete. Commemoration of St. Cosmas of Vatopedi (1276) and the monks of Karyes Skete, martyred by the Latins. St. Gurias, archbishop of Kazan (1563).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Cawrdaf, monk and disciple of St. Illtyd (5th C). St. Justinian (Iestin), hermit of Ramsey (560).
Readings:
1 Timothy 4:4-8, 16; Luke 20:19-26
For the Commemoration: Galatians 5:22-6:2; Matthew 11:27-30

Saturday 6th December 2025

Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
Commemorations:
St. Nicholas, bishop of Patara (c.3rd C). New Martyr Nicholas of Karamania in Asia Minor (1657). St. Theophilus, bishop of Antioch (181). Blessed Maximus, metropolitan of Kiev (1305).
British Isles and Ireland:
SS Auxilius, Isserninus and Secundinus, workers with St. Patrick (5th C).
Readings:
Galatians 3:8-12; Luke 12:32-40
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 13:17-21; Luke 6:17-23

Sunday 7th December 2025

Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed
Tone 1 - Eothinon 4

26th after Pentecost, 10th of Luke
Commemorations:
St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan (397). Holy martyr Athenodorus of Mesopotamia (304). St. Gregory the Silent of Serbia , founder of Grigoriou monastery, Mt. Athos (14th C). St. Nilus of Stolbensk Lake (1554). St. Anthony, abbot of Siya, Novgorod (1558). St. John, Faster of the Kievan Caves (12th C). Holy Martyr Philothea of Arges (13th C). Venerable Gerasimos.
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Buithe, missionary (521). St. Diuma, bishop and missionary (658).
Readings:
Ephesians 5:8-19; Luke 13:10-17

Monday 8th December 2025

Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed

Forefeast of the Conception of the Mother of God
Commemorations:
St. Patapius of Thebes (8th C). Holy Apostles of the Seventy: Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, and Onesiphorus (1st C). St. Sophronius, archbishop of Cyprus (6th C).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Gunthild of Wimborne (748).
Readings:
1 Timothy 5:1-10; Luke 20:27-44

Tuesday 9th December 2025

Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed

The Conception by the Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Mother of God
Commemorations:
Prophetess Anna (Hannah), mother of the Prophet Samuel (1100 BC). Holy Martyr Narses of Persia. St. Stephen the ‘New Light’ of Constantinople (912).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Budoc, abbot of Youghal (7th C). St. Ethelgif (Æthelgifu), abbess of Shaftesbury (896). St. Wolfeius, hermit of St. Benet Hulme, Norfolk (1000).
Readings:
1 Timothy 5:11-21; Luke 21:12-19
For the Commemoration: Galatians 4:22-27; Luke 8:16-21

Wednesday 10th December 2025

Nativity Fast: strict fast

Commemorations:
Holy martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus of Alexandria (313). St. Thomas of Bithynia (10th C). St. Joasaph, bishop of Belgorod (1754). Holy Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia (361). Blessed John, King of Serbia (1503), and his parents Stephen (1468) and Angelina Brancovich (16th C).
Readings:
1 Timothy 5:22-6:11; Luke 21:5-8, 10-11, 20-24

Thursday 11th December 2025

Nativity Fast: fish, wine and oil allowed

Commemorations:
St. Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople (490). St. Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon (980). St. Nikon the Dry of the Kievan Caves (12th C). Monk-martyr Barsabas, abbot of Ishtar and 10 companions in Persia (342). St. Leontius, Monk, of Monembasia in the Peloponnese (1450). Holy martyrs Acepsius and Aeithalas at Arbelus (534).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Cian the Hermit (6th C). St. Peris of Llanberis (c.6th C).
Readings:
1 Timothy 6:17-21; Luke 21:28-33

Friday 12th December 2025

Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed

Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker, bishop of Tremithus
Commemorations:
St. John, metropolitan of Zichon, founder of the monastery of the Forerunner on Mt. Menikion (1333). Hieromartyr Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem (251). Holy martyr Synesius of Rome (275).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Finnian, bishop of Clonard and founder of Skellig Michael (c.549). St. Colman of Glendalough (659). St. Columba of Leinster (548). St. Cormac, abbot (6th C). St. Agatha of Wimborne (790).
Readings:
2 Timothy 1:1-2, 8-18; Luke 21:37-22:8
For the Commemoration: Ephesians 5:8-19; John 10:9-16

Saturday 13th December 2025

Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed

Commemorations:
Virgin-martyr Lucy of Syracuse (304). Holy Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes, at Sebaste (4th C). Repose of St. Herman of Alaska (1836). St. Arsenios of Latros (9th C). Hieromartyr Gabriel I, patriarch of Serbia (1659).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Edburgh (Eadburh), abbess of Minster-in-Thanet (751).
Readings:
Galatians 5:22-6:2; Luke 13:18-29

Sunday 14th December 2025

Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed
Tone 2 - Eothinon 5

Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, 11th of Luke
Commemorations:
Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucis and Callinicus of Apollonia (250). St. Venantius Fortunatus, hymnographer and bishop of Poitiers (7th C). Holy martyrs Apollonius, Philemon, Arianus, and Theoctychus of Alexandria (3rd C)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Hygbald, abbot of Hibaldstow (7th C). SS. Fingar and Phiala, and 770 other martyr companions (5th C).
Readings:
Colossians 3:4-11; Luke 14:16-24; Matthew 22:14

Monday 15th December 2025

Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed

Hieromartyr Eleutherius, bishop of Illyria
Commemorations:
Martyr Anthia, mother o St Eleutherius, and Corivus the Eparch (126). Holy martyr Susanna the deaconess of Palestine (4th C). Monk-martyr Bacchus of Mar Sabba (8th C). St. Stepan (Stephen) the Confessor, bishop of Sourozh in the Crimea (790). St. Tryphon, of Pechenga (1583), and his martyred disciple Jonah. Venerable Paul of Latros (955)
British Isles and Ireland:
Offa, King of Essex, monk (c.709). St. Florentius (Flann), abbot of Bangor (7th C).
Readings:
2 Timothy 2:20-26; Mark 8:11-21
For the Commemoration: 2 Timothy 1:8-18; Mark 2:23-3:5

Tuesday 16th December 2025

Nativity Fast: strict fast

Commemorations:
Prophet Aggaeus (Haggai) (520 BC). Hieromartyr Modestus II, patriarch of Jerusalem (634). Blessed Empress Theophania of Constantinople (894). St. Memnon, archbishop of Ephesus (5th C). St. Nicholas Chrysoberges, patriarch of Constantinople (10th C)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Beoc of Lough Derg (5th C).
Readings:
2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Mark 8:22-26

Wednesday 17th December 2025

Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed

Holy Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Children: Ananias, Azarias, and Misael
Commemorations:
St. Dionysius of Zakynthos, bishop of Aegina, the Wonderworker (1624). New Martyrs Paisus of Serbia, abbot, and Abbacum, deacon, of Serbia (1814)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Tydecho (6th C). St. Briach, disciple of St. Tudwal (6th C).
Readings:
2 Timothy 4:9-22; Mark 8:30-34
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 11:33-12:2; Luke 11:47-12:1

Thursday 18th December 2025

Nativity Fast: strict fast

Commemorations:
Holy Martyr Sebastian at Rome and his companions, Nicostratus, Zoe, Castorius, Tranquillinus, Marcellinus, Mark, Claudius, Symphorian, Victorinus, Tiburtius, and Castulus (287). Our Holy Father Michael Syngellon the Confessor at Constantinople (845)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Winebald, abbot and missionary in England and Heidenheim (761). St. Samthan, foundress of Clonbroney Convent (6th C). St. Flannan, 1st bishop of Killaloe (7th C).
Readings:
Titus 1:5-14; Mark 9:10-15

Friday 19th December 2025

Nativity Fast: strict fast

Commemorations:
Holy martyr Boniface and his Companions, at Tarsus in Cilicia, and the Righteous Aglais (Aglaida) of Rome (290). Holy martyr Eutyches of Thessalonica and with him 200 men and 70 women. Righteous Gregentius, archbishop of Omirits in Ethiopia (552)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Manirus, bishop and Apostle of the north of Scotland.
Readings:
Titus 1:15-2:10; Mark 9:33-41

Saturday 20th December 2025

Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed

Saturday before the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Hieromartyr Ignatius the Godbearer, bishop of Antioch
Forefeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
Repose of Righteous John of Kronstadt (7th December O.S.) (1908). St. Philogonius, bishop of Antioch (323). New Martyr John of the Isle of Thasos. St. Daniel II, archbishop of Serbia (1338)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Urscinus, disciple of St. Columbanus and abbot of St. Ursanne (625).
Readings:
Galatians 3:8-12; Luke 13:18-29
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 10:32-38; Mark 9:33-41

Sunday 21st December 2025

Nativity Fast: wine and oil allowed
Tone 3 - Eothinon 6

Sunday before the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Forefeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
Virgin-Martyr Juliana of Nicomedia, and with her 500 men and 130 women (304). Repose of St. Peter, metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia (1326). Holy martyr Theomistocles of Myra in Lycia (251)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Bernwald of Bampton (8th C).
Readings:
Hebrews 11:9-10,32-40; Matthew 1:1-25

Monday 22nd December 2025

Nativity Fast: strict fast

Forefeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
Great Martyr Anastasia, ‘Deliverer From Bonds’, and her teacher, Martyr Chrysogonus, and with them Martyrs Theodota, Evodias, Eutychianus, and others, who suffered under Diocletian (304).
Readings:
Hebrews 3:5-11, 17-19; Mark 9:42-10:1

Tuesday 23rd December 2025

Nativity Fast: strict fast

Forefeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
Holy Ten Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompeius, Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus (3rd C). Dedication of the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Agia Sophia) in Constantinople (360). St. Nahum of Ochrid, Enlightener of the Bulgarians (10th C). St. Paul, bishop of Neo-Caesarea (4th C). New Hieromartyrs John Piankov and Nicholas Yakhontov, priests (1918)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Frithebert, bishop of Hexham (766). St. Mazota of Abernethy (8th C).
Readings:
Hebrews 4:1-13; Mark 10:2-12

Wednesday 24th December 2025

Nativity Fast: strict fast
Liturgy of St Basil

Eve of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Commemorations:
Virgin-Martyr Eugenia of Rome, and with her the Martyrs Philip, her father, Protus, Hyacinth, Basilla and Claudia (c.262). New Martyr Achmed (Ahmet) the Calligrapher of Constantinople (1682)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Caran, missionary (7th C).
Readings:
Hebrews 5:11-6:8; Mark 10:11-16
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 1:1-12; Luke 2:1-20

Thursday 25th December 2025

Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Commemorations:
The Commemoration of the Adoration of the Magi: Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar. The Commemoration of the Shepherds in Bethlehem who were watching their flocks and went to see the Lord. St. Constantine the Jew
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Alburgh (Æthelburh) of Wilton, nun (810).
Readings:
Galatians 4:4-7; Matthew 2:1-12

Friday 26th December 2025

Fast free

Synaxis of the Mother of God and Ever-virgin Mary
Afterfeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
Hieromartyr Euthymius, bishop of Sardis (840). New Hieromartyr Constantine the Russian, at Constantinople (1743). St. Archelaus, bishop of Kaskhara in Mesopotamia (3rd C). St. Zenon, bishop of Maiuma in Palestine (4th C)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Tathai of Glamorgan (6th C). St. Maethlu of Anglesey (6th C).
Readings:
Hebrews 7:18-25; Mark 10:24-32
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 2:11-18; Matthew 2:13-23

Saturday 27th December 2025

Saturday after the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Holy Protomartyr and Protodeacon Stephen
Afterfeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
St. Theodore the Confessor, archbishop of Constantinople (686). St. Theodore Graptus (‘the branded’), Confessor and brother of Theophanes the Hymnographer (840).
Readings:
1 Timothy 6:11-16; Matthew 12:15-21
For the Commemoration: Acts 6:8-7:5,47-60; Matthew 21:33-42

Sunday 28th December 2025

Tone 4 - Eothinon 7

Sunday After the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Twenty Thousand Holy Martyrs of Nicomedia
Afterfeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
St. Joseph the Betrothed. St. David the Psalmist. St. James the brother of the Lord. Among the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia: Glycerius the presbyter, Zeno, Theophilus, Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Indes, Gorgonius, Peter, Euthymius, and the virgins Agape, Domna, Theophila and others (302). St. Nicanor the deacon, Apostle of the Seventy (38). St. Simon the Myrhh-streaming, founder of Simonopetra monastery on Mt Athos (14th C).
Readings:
Galatians 1:11-19; Matthew 2:13-23
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 10:35-11:7; Luke 14:25-35

Monday 29th December 2025

Fourteen Thousand Holy Innocents of Bethlehem
Afterfeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
St. Marcellus, abbot of the monastery of the Unsleeping Ones (485). St. Anthony of Damascus, martyred at Ar-Raqqa (799). Righteous Father Thaddeus the Confessor (818). Commemoration of all Orthodox Christians who died from Hunger, Thirst, the Sword, and Freezing.
Readings:
Hebrews 8:7-13; Mark 10:46-52
For the Commemoration: Hebrews 2:11-18; Matthew 2:13-23

Tuesday 30th December 2025

Afterfeast of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
Virgin-Martyr Anysia at Thessalonica (305). St. Timon the deacon, of the Seventy (1st C). New Martyr Gideon of Karakallou, Mt. Athos (1818). Holy martyr Philoterus of Nicomedia, and with him Six Soldiers and One Count (311). Righteous Father Leondus the Archimandrite
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Egwin, bishop of Worcester and founder of Evesham Abbey (717).
Readings:
Hebrews 9:8-23; Mark 11:11-23

Wednesday 31st December 2025

Fast free

Leavetaking of The Nativity of Christ
Commemorations:
St. Melania the Younger, Nun, of Rome (439). Hieromartyr Zoticus, Guardian of the Orphans (4th C). St. Gelasius, monk, of Palestine (5th C). St. Theophylact of Ochrid (1126). St. Peter Mogila, metropolitan of Kiev (1646).
Readings:
Hebrews 10:1-18; Mark 11:22-26

A copy of this calendar, suitable for printing, is available here in PDF format. For those with appropriate printing facilities a version is available here as an A5 booklet.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In developing the software to generate this monthly calendar we gratefully acknowledge our dependence on many sources, prominent among them being :-
For the synaxaria of the Saints: Michael Purcell (of the Saint John (Maximovich) the Wonderworker Orthodox Church, Atlanta, GA.) and his very impressive software program Menologion; and Father Andrew Phillips whose web site Orthodox England has, amongst its many jewels, a list of the Latin Saints of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Rome. Thank you, both – and Many Years!
For the ranking of the major commemorations and related guidance: The Typikon Charts published by the St Raphael Brotherhood of the Antiochian Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America.
For the matters relating to the Lectionary: The admirably detailed notes included in the Epistle and Gospel Lectionaries published by the Centre for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, Etna, Ca.; together with the annual Kanonion issued by the Phanar.
For the Fasting rules and many other details: The Antiochian Book of the Typikon as translated by Bishop Khoury and edited by Archpriest John W Morris.
Errors in the calendar will inevitably emerge, and for these we apologise. We should be grateful if you would inform us of any you discover.