Epistle Reading: 2 Peter 1:1-10
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those
who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our
God and Savior Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God
and of Jesus our Lord,
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain
to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory
and virtue,
by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious
promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to
your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness,
to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness
love.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to
blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your
calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never
stumble;
Gospel Reading: Mark 13:1-8
Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to
Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!"
And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great
buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be
thrown down."
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter,
James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
"Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign
when all these things will be fulfilled?"
And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one
deceives you.
"For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will
deceive many.
"And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be
troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be
famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
Saints and Feasts
Leavetaking of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple; Nicephoros the Martyr of Antioch; Markellos, Philagrios, & Pankratios the Hieromartyrs
