Orthodox Calendar

11. децембар 2026.
Friday of the 28th week after Pentecost

Nativity Fast

Commemorations

  • Our Holy Father, Confessor and Martyr Stephen the New (767)

Scripture Readings

Titus 1.15-2.10 (Epistle)

15Èistima je sve èisto; a poganima i nevjernima ništa nije èisto, nego je opoganjen njihov i um i savjest. 16Govore da poznaju Boga, a djelima ga se odrièu; jer su mrski i neposlušni, i ni za kakvo dobro djelo valjani.

1A ti govori što pristoji zdravoj nauci: 2Starcima da budu trijezni, pošteni, èisti, zdravi u vjeri, u ljubavi, u trpljenju; 3Staricama takoðer da žive kao što se pristoji svetima, da ne budu opadljive, da se ne predaju vrlo vinu, da uèe dobru, 4Da uèe mlade da ljube muževe, da ljube djecu, 5Da budu poštene, èiste, dobre kuæanice, blage, pokorne svojijem muževima, da se ne huli na rijeè Božiju. 6Tako i mladiæe svjetuj da budu pošteni. 7A u svemu sam sebe podaji za ugled dobrijeh djela, u nauci cijelost, poštenje, 8Rijeè zdravu, nezazornu: da se posrami onaj koji se protivi, ne imajuæi ništa zlo govoriti za nas. 9Sluge da slušaju svoje gospodare, da budu ugodni u svaèemu, da ne odgovaraju, 10Da ne kradu, nego u svaèemu da pokazuju dobru vjeru, da nauku spasitelja našega Boga ukrašuju u svaèemu.

Luke 19.12-28 (Gospel)

12Reèe dakle: jedan èovjek od dobra roda otide u daljnu zemlju da primi sebi carstvo, i da se vrati. 13Dozvavši pak deset svojijeh sluga dade im deset kesa, i reèe im: trgujte dok se ja vratim. 14I graðani njegovi mržahu na njega, i poslaše za njim poslanike govoreæi: neæemo da on caruje nad nama. 15I kad se on vrati, pošto primi carstvo, reèe da dozovu one sluge kojima dade srebro, da vidi šta je koji dobio. 16Tada doðe prvi govoreæi: gospodaru! kesa tvoja donese deset kesa. 17I reèe mu: dobro, dobri slugo; kad si mi u malom bio vjeran evo ti vlast nad deset gradova. 18I doðe drugi govoreæi: gospodaru! kesa tvoja donese pet kesa. 19A on reèe i onome: i ti budi nad pet gradova. 20I treæi doðe govoreæi: gospodaru! evo tvoja kesa koju sam zavezao u ubrus i èuvao. 21Jer sam se bojao tebe: jer si èovjek tvrd: uzimaš što nijesi ostavio, i žnješ što nijesi sijao. 22A gospodar mu reèe: po tvojijem æu ti rijeèima suditi, zli slugo! znao si da sam ja tvrd èovjek, uzimam što nijesam ostavio, i žnjem što nijesam sijao: 23Pa zašto nijesi dao mojega srebra trgovcima, i ja došavši primio bih ga s dobitkom? 24I reèe onima što stajahu pred njim: uzmite od njega kesu i podajte onome što ima deset kesa. 25I rekoše mu: gospodaru! on ima deset kesa. 26A on im odgovori: jer vam kažem da æe se svakome koji ima dati; a od onoga koji nema uzeæe se od njega i ono što ima. 27A one moje neprijatelje koji nijesu htjeli da ja budem car nad njima, dovedite amo, i isijecite preda mnom. 28I kazavši ovo poðe naprijed, i iðaše gore u Jerusalim.

Commemorations

Our Holy Father, Confessor and Martyr Stephen the New (767)

He was born in Constantinople in 715 to pious parents named John and Anna. His mother had prayed often to the most holy Theotokos to be granted a son, and received a revelation from our Lady that she would conceive the son she desired. When the child was born, she named him Stephen, following a prophecy of the Patriarch St Germanos (commemorated May 12). Stephen entered monastic life as a youth, and so distinguished himself in asceticism and virtue that the hermits of Mt Auxentius appointed him their leader at a young age. ‘During the reign of Constantine V (741-775), Stephen showed his love of Orthodoxy in contending for the Faith… Besides being a fierce Iconoclast, Constantine raised up a ruthless persecution of monasticism. He held a council in 754 that anathematized the holy icons. Because Saint Stephen rejected this council, the Emperor framed false accusations against him and exiled him. But while in exile Saint Stephen performed healings with holy icons and turned many away from Iconoclasm. When he was brought before the Emperor again, he showed him a coin and asked whose image the coin bore. “Mine,” said the tyrant. “If any man trample upon thine image, is he liable to punishment?” asked the Saint. When they that stood by answered yes, the Saint groaned because of their blindness, and said if they thought dishonouring the image of a corruptible king worthy of punishment, what torment would they receive who trampled upon the image of the Master Christ and of the Mother of God? Then he threw the coin to the ground and trampled on it. He was condemned to eleven months in bonds and imprisonment. Later, he was dragged over the earth and was stoned, like Stephen the First Martyr; wherefore he is called Stephen the New. Finally, he was struck with a wooden club on the temple and his head was shattered, and thus he gave up his spirit in the year 767.’ (Great Horologion)