Russian Orthodox

Friday January 9, 2026 / December 27, 2025

31st Week after Pentecost. Tone five.
Sviatki. Fast-free

Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (34).
Venerable Theodore Graptus ("the Branded") of Palestine and Bithynia, confessor (840), brother of St. Theophanes the Confessor and Hymnographer (850).
New Hieromartyrs Tikhon, archbishop of Voronezh and with him 160 martyred priests (1919).
Virgin-Martyr Antonina (1937).
Venerable Boniface of Kiev (1871).
St. Theodore, archbishop of Constantinople (686).
Uncovering of Relics (1514) of Venerable Pherapont of Mozhaisk, Luzhetsk.
Venerable Luke, monk, of Tryglia.
St. Maximus, bishop of Alexandria (282).
St. Maurice and the Theban Legion. (Candidus, Innocent, Exuperius and 6,600 others) (302).

The Scripture Readings

James 2:1-13
Mark 12:1-12
Acts 6:8-15; 7:1-5, 47-60 Saint
Matthew 21:33-42 Saint

Troparion

Protomartyr & Archdeacon Stephen, Troparion, Tone IV —
Thou didst fight the good fight, and, didst denounce the impiety of the tyrants,/ O protomartyr and apostle of Christ;/ for, stoned at the hands of the iniquitous,/ thou hast received from on high a crown from the right hand of the Lord,// and didst exclaim to God, crying aloud: O Lord, lay not this sin to their charge!

Kontakion of the Protomartyr, Tone III "Today the Virgin" —
Yesterday the Master came to us in the flesh,/ and today his servant departeth from the flesh./ Yesterday He that reigneth over the flesh was born,/ and today his servant is slain by stoning.// For His sake the godly protomartyr Stephen doth meet his end.

Design Jason Powell.