Church calendar · 2027

20 January Wednesday

Old Style — 7 January

The Synaxis of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

Fast day Tone 8

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This year's detailed calendar has not been published yet — these are calculated dates.

Commemorated — from the synaxarion

Tap a name to open the life

The Synaxis of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

All the lives for this day — 1

The tone and the day's psalms

This week's tone is 8Eight 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:

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 it is possible, let us remember death without ceasing; for from this remembrance is born detachment from the vain cares of this world, and unceasing prayer, dispassion toward the body and hatred of sin — and, to tell the truth, almost every living and active virtue takes its beginning from it. Therefore, if it is possible, let us do this as unceasingly as we breathe.

— Venerable Hesychius of Horeb · #