Scripture Readings for Fixed Feast Day Vespers

Scripture Readings for Vespers (Fix Feast days)

At Vespers, after the chanting of the prokeimenon, on the more important feast days of the Church, there are readings. These are selections from the Scriptures in which there is a prophecy or a prototype which relates to the event being celebrated, or in which edifying teachings are set forth, which relate to the saint commemorated that day.

 

January	1	The Circumcision of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our Father among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia.	Genesis 17:1-2, 4, 5-7, 8, 9-10, 11-12, 14 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 8:22-30 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	2	St Seraphim of Sarov, the Wonderworker.	Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	5	Eve of Theophany.	(see: Readings for the Nativity and Theophany)
	11	St Theodosios the Koinoviarch	Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	17	St Antony the Great.	Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	18	Ss Athanasios and Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria	Deuteronomy 1:8-11, 15-17 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Deuteronomy 10:14-21 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	20	Venerable Father Efthymios	Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	25	Gregory the Theologian	Proverbs 10, 3, 8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 10; Wisdom of Solomon 6, 7, 8, 9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	27	Translation of the Relics of Saints John Chrysostom	Proverbs 10, 3, 8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 10; Wisdom of Solomon 6, 7, 8, 9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4, 6, 7, 2 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	30	Great Hierarchs, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.	Deuteronomy 1:8-11, 15-17 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Deuteronomy 10:14-21 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
February	2	Meeting of Our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ	Exodus 12, 13; Numbers 8; Leviticus 12 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Isaiah 6:1-12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Isaiah 19:1, 3, 4-5, 12, 16, 19-21 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	24	First and Second Finding of the Precious Head of Saint John the Baptist	Isaiah 40, 41, 45, 48, 54 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Malachi 3, 4 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4, 5 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
March	9	Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste	Isaiah 43:9-14 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	25	Annunciation	Genesis 28:10-17 Ezekiel 43:27-44:4 Proverbs 9:1-11 Exodus 3:1-8 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Theotokos) Proverbs 8:22-30 (Vespers, 4th Reading, Theotokos)
April	23	Great Martyr George, Victor and Wonderworker	Isaiah 43:9-14 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	25	Apostle and Evangelist Mark	James 1:1-12 (Vespers, 1st Reading) James 1:13-27 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) James 2:1-13 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	30	Apostle James, son of Zebedee	James 1:1-12 (Vespers, 1st Reading) James 1:13-27 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) James 2:1-13 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
May	8	Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian	1 John 3:21-4:6 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. John) 1 John 4:11-16 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. John) 1 John 4:20-5:5 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. John)
	9	Translation of the Relics of St Nicolas the Wonderworker	Proverbs 10, 3, 8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	10	Apostle Simon Zelotes	1 John 3:21-4:6 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. John) 1 John 4:11-16 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. John) 1 John 4:20-5:5 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. John)
	11	Equals of the Apostles Cyril and Methodios, Evangelisers of the Slavs	Proverbs 10, 3, 8 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Saints) Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Saints) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Saints)
	21	Equal of the Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great and his mother Helena	1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Saints) Isaiah 61:10-62:5 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Saints) Isaiah 60:1-16 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Saints)
	25	Third Finding of the Precious Head of St John the Baptist	Isaiah 40, 41, 45, 48, 54 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Malachi 3, 4 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4, 5 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
June	9	Saint Cyril Archbishop of Alexandria	Wisdom of Solomon 4, 5 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	11	Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas	1 Peter 1:3-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Apostles) 1 Peter 1:13-19 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Apostles) 1 Peter 2:11-24 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Apostles)
	19	Apostle Jude, brother of the Lord	Jude 1-10 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Jude 11-16 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Jude 17-25 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	24	Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet Forerunner and Baptist John	Genesis 17:15-17, 19; 18:11-14; 21:1-8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Judges 13:2-8, 13-14, 17-18, 21 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Isaiah 40, 41, 45, 48, 54 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	29	Apostles, Peter and Paul	1 Peter 1:3-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Apostles) 1 Peter 1:13-19 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Apostles) 1 Peter 2:11-24 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Apostles)
July	5	Saint Athanasios, Founder of the Great Lavra on Mt Athos Uncovering of the relics of St Sergius of Radonezh	Proverbs Chs. 10,3,8 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Sergius) Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Sergius) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Sergius) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Athanasius) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Athanasius) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Athanasius)
	10	St. Anthony	Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. Anthony) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. Anthony) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. Anthony)
	13+	Sunday of the Fathers	Genesis 14:14-20 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Fathers) Deuteronomy 1:8-11,15-17 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Fathers) Deuteronomy 10:14-21 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Fathers)
	15	Equal of the Apostles Great Prince Vladimir	1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. Vladimir) Isaiah 61:10-62:5 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. Vladimir) Isaiah 60:1-16 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. Vladimir)
	19	Uncovering of the Relics of St Seraphim of Sarov	Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. Seraphim) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. Seraphim) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. Seraphim)
	20	Prophet Elias	1 Kings 17:1-23 (Vespers, 1st Reading) 1 Kings 18, 19 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) 1 Kings 19:19, 20, 21; 2 Kings 2:1,6-14 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	24	Martyrs and Passionbearers Boris and Gleb	Isaiah 43:9-14 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Passionbearers Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Passionbearers) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Passionbearers)
	26	Repose of St. Jacob, Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska (1864)	Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 1st Reading) 1 John 4:1-6 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) 1 John 4:20-5:5 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
August	6	Transfiguration	Exodus 24:12-18 (Vespers – Transfiguration) Exodus 33:11-23; 34:4-6, 8 (Vespers – Transfiguration) 1 Kings 19:3-9, 11-13, 15, 16 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	13	St Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh, Wonderworker of Zadonsk	Proverbs Chs. 10,3,8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	15	Dormition	Genesis 28:10-17 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Ezekiel 43:27-44:4 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Proverbs 9:1-11 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	28	Uncovering of the Relics of Ven. Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev (1659)	Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. Seraphim) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. Seraphim) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. Seraphim)
	29	Beheading of the Holy Glorious Prophet Forerunner and Baptist John	Isaiah – Composite of 40, 41, 45, 48, 54 (Vespers, Forerunner) Malachi Chs. 3,4 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon Composite of 4, 5 (Vespers, Forerunner)
September	1	Indiction New Years Saint Symeon Stylites	Isaiah 61:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Leviticus – Composite Ch. 26 (Vespers, Indiction) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	8	Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary	Genesis 28:10-17 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Ezekiel 43:27-44:4 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Proverbs 9:1-11 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	13	Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem	1 Kings 8:22-23,27-30 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 3:19-34 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Proverbs 9:1-11 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	14	Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross	Exodus 15:22-16:1 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 3:11-18 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Isaiah 60:11-16 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	24	Holy New Martyrs of Alaska, Hieromonk Juvenaly (ca. 1796) and Peter the Aleut (1815)	Isaiah 43:9-14 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	25	St Sergius Abbot and Wonderworker of Radonezh	Proverbs Chs. 10,3,8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 3rd Reading – saint)
	26	Dormition of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian	1 John 3:21-4:6 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. John) 1 John 4:11-16 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. John) 1 John 4:20-5:5 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. John)
	28	Ven. Chariton the Confessor, Abbot of Palestine (ca. 350)	Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
October	1	Protecting Veil of Our Most Holy Lady Mother of God	Genesis 28:10-17 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Ezekiel 43:27-44:4 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Proverbs 9:1-11 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	6	Apostle Thomas	Proverbs Chs. 10,3,8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon Chs. 4, 5 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon (Prov. 10; Wis. 6, 7, 8, 9) (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	9	Apostle James, son of Alphaios	Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. Seraphim) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. Seraphim) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. Seraphim)
	13+	Sunday of the Fathers	Genesis 14:14-20 (Vespers, 1st Reading, Fathers) Deuteronomy 1:8-11,15-17 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Fathers) Deuteronomy 10:14-21 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Fathers)
	18	Apostle and Evangelist Luke	1 John 1:1-7 (Vespers, 1st Reading) James 1:1-12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Jude 1:1-7; 17-25 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	19	Saint John of Kronstadt	Joel 2:12-26 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Joel 2:28-32 (Vespers, 2nd Readinr) 1 John 4:11-16 (Vespers, 3rdReading, St. John)
	26	Great Martyr Demetrios Myrovlitis of Thessalonika	Isaiah 63:15-64:5, 8-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Jeremiah 2:2-12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
November	8	Assembly of the Archangel Michael and Gabriel and the other Bodiless Powers	Joshua 5:13-15 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Judges 6:2,7,11-24 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Isaiah 14:7-20 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	13	Saints John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople (407)	Proverbs Chs. 10,3,8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Wisdom of Solomon (Prov. 10; Wis. 6, 7, 8, 9) (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon Chs. 4, 6, 7, 2 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	14	Holy and All-praised Apostle Philip	1 Peter 1:1-2:6 (Vespers, 1st Reading) 1 Peter 2:21-3:9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) 1 Peter 4:1-11 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	16	Apostle and Evangelist Matthew	1 Peter 1:1-2:6 (Vespers, 1st Reading) 1 Peter 2:21-3:9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) 1 Peter 4:1-11 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	21	Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God	Exodus Ch. 40 (Vespers, 1st Reading) 1 Kings 7,8 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Ezekiel 43:27-44:4 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	30	Apostle Andrew the First-called	1 Peter 1:1-2:6 (Vespers, 1st Reading) 1 Peter 2:21-3:9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) 1 Peter 4:1-11 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
December	5	Father Savvas the Sanctified	Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading, St. Seraphim) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3 (Vespers, 2nd Reading, St. Seraphim) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading, St. Seraphim)
	6	Saint Nicolas, Archbishop of Myra in Lykia	Proverbs 10, 3, 8 (Vespers, 1st Reading) Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (Vespers, 2nd Reading) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15 (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
	18+	Sunday before the Nativity of Christ	(see: Readings for the Nativity and Theophany)
	24	Eve of the Nativity of Christ	(see: Readings for the Nativity and Theophany)

• see also: Scripture Readings for Weekdays of Great Lent