Candles & Incense
Church calendar · 2026
31 December Thursday
Old Style — 18 DecemberToday
St Sebastian and His Companions
The 31st week after Pentecost. Thursday
Commemoration
Tap a name to open the life
4 of 4 names — the rest are in Georgian only
- St Sebastian and His Companions›
St Modestus of Jerusalem›- St Florus of Amisus›
- St Michael the Confessor›
Readings
The tone and the day's psalms
5
This week's tone is 5Eight tones — the Octoechos
What is a tone?
A tone is not a psalm number. It is the mode in which that week's resurrection hymns are sung — the whole week's Vespers, Matins and Liturgy are set in one tone.
There are eight tones, and they change each week. The cycle opens with the first tone on Thomas Sunday after Pascha and returns to the first every eight weeks; Bright Week itself has no tone of its own. A new tone begins on Saturday evening, with the new church week.
The Psalter is divided into twenty kathismata and, by the usual rule, is read through once a week. Appointed for this day:
- At Matins · kathisma 13Psalms 91–100›
- At Matins · kathisma 14Psalms 101–104›
- At Vespers · kathisma 15Psalms 105–108›
This is the usual rule. In Great Lent the Psalter is read twice a week, and the kathismata are divided differently.
Word of the day
If out of urgent need you are obliged to go into the city, do not set out alone, but take someone with you from among the brethren or the novices.
