Readings and saints

Saturday, November 15, 2025

November 2 on the Old Calendar

Our Venerable Father Paisius Velichkovsky (1794)

Saturday of the 23rd week after Pentecost

Martyr · Confessor
Guria, Shamuna and Habib
Fasting
Fish, wine and oil are allowed (Nativity Fast): no meat, dairy, or eggs.Your priest can tell you how to keep the fast.
Tone
Tone 5This week’s Resurrection hymns are sung in the fifth of the Church’s eight tones.

The readings

Translation

Traditional: the King James Version (1611) for the New Testament. Underlined words are explained in Words of Prayer.

Modern: the World English Bible for the New Testament. Your choice is remembered on this device.

Epistle

2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Traditional

1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Modern

1Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, 2how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity. 3For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, 4begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. 5This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

Gospel

Luke 9:37-43

Traditional

37And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 38And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. 39And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. 40And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. 41And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. 42And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

43And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

Modern

37On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him. 38Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only born child. 39Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams; and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely. 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn’t.” 41Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

Remembered on this day

Guria, Shamuna and Habib

Guria, Shamuna and Habib are remembered together in Edessa, in what is now southeastern Turkey, although they did not die together. During the Roman persecutions, they refused to abandon Christ. Habib served as a deacon and encouraged other Christians in their faith. Their shared remembrance honors faithfulness across different lives and the courage to support others under pressure.

How they died
The traditional accounts say that Guria and Shamuna were beheaded, and that Habib was burned to death in a later persecution.

Guria, Shamuna and Habib: the full page

Also remembered today: Begin Nativity Fast; Our Venerable Father Paisius Velichkovsky (1794).

Calendar: Orthocal, following the Revised Julian (New) Calendar of the Orthodox Church in America. Parishes on the Old Calendar keep each day 13 days later. Check your own parish calendar.