Candles & Incense
Church calendar · 2027
17 December Friday
Old Style — 4 DecemberToday
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
Holy Great Martyr Barbara and the Martyr Juliana (+c. 306)›
Venerable John of Damascus (VIII)›- Venerable John, Bishop of Polybotum (VIII)›
The tone and the day's psalms
8
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:
- At Matins · kathisma 19Psalms 134–142›
- At Matins · kathisma 20Psalms 143–150›
- At Vespers · kathisma 18Psalms 119–133›
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
In all your conduct and dealings with others, imitate a poor beggar: do not exalt yourself when speaking with anyone, nor when you sing praise to God; and when you meet the brethren in assembly, let your word be simple, unadorned and filled with humility.
For every day — candles and incense
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Icon: Icon of Christ — Sinai, 6th c. · Public domain