Daily Orthodox - February 2nd, 2025

Today is the 32nd Sunday after Pentecost — Sunday of Zacchaeus.

[ the triodion looms ]

Fasting Obligations

• OCA, GOARCH, Antioch: No fasting obligations.

Today, we commemorate...

1. The Meeting of Our Lord

The fortieth day after His birth, the All-holy Virgin brought her divine Son into the Temple of Jerusalem, in accordance with the Law, to dedicate Him to God and to purify herself (Leviticus 12:2-7; Exodus 12:2). Even though neither the one nor the other was necessary, the Lawgiver did not want in any way to transgress His own Law, which He had given through Moses, His servant and prophet. At that time, the high-priest Zacharias, the father of John the Forerunner, was serving in the Temple. Zacharias placed the Virgin, not in the temple area reserved for women, but rather in the area reserved for virgins. On this occasion two very special persons appeared in the Temple: the Elder Simeon and Anna, the daughter of Phanuel. The righteous Simeon took the Messiah in his arms and said: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (Luke 2:29-30). Simeon also spoke the following words about the Christ-child: Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel (Luke 2:34). Then Anna, who from her youth had served God in the Temple, having seen and heard all, became angry with Zacharias because he had placed the Virgin Mary in the area reserved for virgins, and they reported this to King Herod. Convinced that this was the new king spoken of by the Magi from the East, Herod immediately sent his soldiers to kill Jesus. In the meantime, the holy family had already left the city and set out for Egypt under the guidance of an angel of God. The Feast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple was celebrated from earliest times, but the solemn celebration of this day was established in the year 544, during the reign of Emperor Justinian.

2. The Holy New Martyr Jordan of Trebizond, at Constantinople (1650)

Born in Trebizond, Jordan was a coppersmith by trade. Because he openly defended his faith in Christ and unmasked Islam, Jordan suffered at the hands of the Turks in 1650 at Galata in Constantinople. The monk Gabriel, a canonarch of the Great Church [Hagia Sophia] in Constantinople, suffered in the same manner in the year 1672.

3. New Hieromartyr Gabriel, hierodeacon, of Constantinople (1676)

4. St. Anthimus of Chios (1960)

5. (Greek cal.: Martyr Agathadorus of Tyana in Cappadocia)

For more information on today's saints or commemorations not provided, see https://www.oca.org/saints/lives (Slavic) and/or https://www.goarch.org/chapel (Greek).

Reflection

Reflections are added when it includes additional stories from the life of a saint commemorated today.

Speaking about the gradual spread of the celebration of Christ's Nativity, St. John Chrysostom said: "Magnificent and noble trees, when planted in the ground, shortly attain great heights and become heavily laden with fruit; so it is with this day." So it is also with the day of the Meeting of our Lord. From the beginning this day was commemorated among Christians, but the solemn celebration began in the time of the great Emperor Justinian. During his reign, a great pestilence afflicted the people in Constantinople and its vicinity, so that five thousand or more people died daily. At the same time a terrible earthquake occurred in Antioch. Seeing man's inability to prevent these misfortunes, the emperor, in consultation with the patriarch, ordered a period of fasting and prayer throughout the entire empire. And, on the day of the Meeting itself, he arranged great processions throughout the towns and villages, that the Lord might show compassion on His people. And truly, the Lord did show compassion, for the epidemic and earthquake ceased at once. This occurred in the year 544. From that time on, the Feast of the Meeting began to be celebrated as a great feast of the Lord. The tree, in time, grew and began to bring forth abundant fruit.

Daily Scriptures

Slavic and Greek

• Epistle (Slavic: for the Meeting): Hebrews 7:7-17

<7> Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. <8> Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. <9> Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, <10> for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. <11> Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? <12> For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. <13> For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. <14> For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. <15> And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest <16> who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. <17> For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

• Gospel (Slavic: for the Meeting): Luke 2:22-40

<22> Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord <23> (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), <24> and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." <25> And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. <26> And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. <27> So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, <28> he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: <29> "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; <30> For my eyes have seen Your salvation <31> Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, <32> A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." <33> And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. <34> Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against <35> (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." <36> Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; <37> and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. <38> And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. <39> So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. <40> And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Slavic

• Epistle (Day): 1 Timothy 4:9-15

<9> This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. <10> For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. <11> These things command and teach. <12> Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. <13> Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. <14> Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. <15> Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

• Gospel (Day): Luke 19:1-10

<1> Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. <2> Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. <3> And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. <4> So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. <5> And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." <6> So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. <7> But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." <8> Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." <9> And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; <10> for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."