Epistle Reading: Ephesians 4:7-13
But to each one of us grace was given according to the
measure of Christ's gift.
Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led
captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."
(Now this, "He ascended"; what does it mean but that He
also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above
all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ;
Gospel Reading: Matthew 4:12-17
Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He
departed to Galilee.
And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which
is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the
prophet, saying:
"The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of
the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and upon
those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Epistle Reading: Galatians 1:11-19
But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which
was preached by me is not according to man.
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it,
but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I
persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries
in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my
fathers.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's
womb and called me through His grace,
to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the
Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles
before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter,
and remained with him fifteen days.
But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the
Lord's brother.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:1-12
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For
we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and
all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of
the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is
written by the prophet:
'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least
among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will
shepherd My people Israel.' "
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men,
determined from them what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search
diligently for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back
word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star
which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood
over where the young Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great
joy.
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young
Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they
had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense,
and myrrh.
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not
return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
Saints and Feasts
Apodosis of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome; Holy Father Zoticus, the Priest of Orphanotrophus
