Scripture

 

The New Testament 

The entire New Testament except the Book of Revelation, which is not read liturgically, is read over the course of the liturgical year. The cycle of readings begins on Pascha with John 1:1-17 and Acts 1:1-8.

The other New Testament books are read as follows. Note that a Gospel and Epistle reading are assigned for each day. The Sunday lectionary is the same from year to year. Additional readings may be added for daily saints and feasts.

  • Acts – begins on Pascha
  • Gospel of John - begins on Pascha
  • Romans – begins after Pentecost
  • Gospel of Matthew – begins after Pentecost
  • Gospel of Mark – begins 12th week after Pentecost
  • Gospel of Luke – begins 18th week after Pentecost
  • 1 Corinthians – begins 6th week after Pentecost
  • 2 Corinthians – begins 10th week after Pentecost
  • Galatians – begins 14th week after Pentecost
  • Ephesians – begins 16th week after Pentecost
  • Philippians – begins 19th week after Pentecost
  • Colossians – begins 21st week after Pentecost
  • 1 Thessalonians – begins 23rd week after Pentecost
  • 2 Thessalonians – begins 25th week after Pentecost
  • 1 Timothy – begins 26th week after Pentecost
  • 2 Timothy – begins 27th week after Pentecost
  • Titus – feast of Titus (August 25) or 28th week after Pentecost
  • Philemon – feast of Philemon (November 22)   
  • Hebrews – Saturdays and Sundays of Great Lent and begins 29th after Pentecost
  • James – begins 31st week after Pentecost   
  • 1 Peter – Publican & Pharisee
  • 2 Peter – Prodigal Son
  • 1, 2 John – Meatfare week
  • 3 John and Jude – Cheesefare week

Note: week designations above are approximate, and readings are not strictly consecutive.

The Old Testament

The Old Testament books of Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Job and Proverbs are read liturgically as follows:

  • During Great Lent
    • Genesis
    • Isaiah
    • Proverbs
  • During Holy Week
    • Exodus
    • Job

Other Old Testament books, notably the Psalms, are prayed as a regular part of the daily and weekly Cycle of Prayer (the Hours):

  • Psalms
  • Prayer of Manasseh (Great Compline)
  • Nine Odes

The General Menaion, containing Scripture readings for the feasts of different ranks of saints, draws its selections from the following Old Testament books, as well as from the New Testament:

  • Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy
  • Joshua, Judges
  • Isaiah, Ezekiel, Malachi
  • Wisdom of Solomon, Proverbs

For more information, see http://www.orthodox.net/ustav/lectionary-explained.html

A Possible Reading Plan

A possible plan for reading the rest of the Old Testament and Revelation, to coincide with the regular NT lectionary, with the fasting and festal seasons of the Church, and with saints’ feast days, is as follows:

September – November

Read the rest of the Pentateuch and early history. 

  • Pentateuch (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) – Moses, feast day: Sept 4
  • Joshua, Judges, Ruth – Joshua, feast day: Sept 1
  • Philemon – Nov 22
  • OT Prophets
    • Jonah, feast: Sept 22
    • Hosea, Oct 17
    • Joel, Oct 19
    • Obadiah, Nov 19

December – January

Read the history of the Holy Forefathers of Christ. 

  • 1-4 Kings (1,2 Samuel, 1,2 Kings), 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
  • 1 Esdras?, Tobit, Judith, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon
  • 1-4 Maccabees
  • Daniel, Song of the Three Children
  • OT Prophets
    • Nahum, feast: Dec 1
    • Habakkuk, Dec 2
    • Zephaniah, Dec 3
    • Haggai, Dec 16
    • Malachi, Jan 3
    • Micah, Jan 5

Note: David is commemorated with Joseph and James the Brother of the Lord on the Sunday after Nativity; also on the Sunday of the Forefathers (falls Dec 11-17).

Note: Dec. 17 is the feast of: Daniel, Three Holy Youths (Ananias, Azarias, Misael), Aaron, Benjamin, Deborah, Ezra, Isaac, Jacob, Judith, Miriam, Nathan, Nehemiah, Noah, Rebecca, Sarah, Solomon, and Susannah.

February – May

  • See the Paschal Cycle (below)
  • OT Prophets
    • Zacharias, Feb 8

June – August

  • Apostles (New Testament), especially during June in preparation for the feast of Sts Peter and Paul and the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles. Recommended: the book The Lives of the Holy Apostles published by Holy Apostles Convent.
  • OT Prophets
    • Amos, June 15

Paschal Cycle

  • Revelation (read for the Sunday of the Last Judgment)
  • Genesis, Isaiah, Proverbs (read during Lent)
  • Exodus, Job (read during Holy Week)
  • Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Epistle of Jeremiah
  • Ezekiel
  • New Testament – according to the yearly lectionary of weeks after Pascha

Cycle of Prayer

  • Psalms
  • Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom, Sirach
  • Prayer of Manasseh (Great Compline)
  • Nine Odes
  • New Testament – “kellia” lectionary (all the NT except Revelation in 8 weeks)
  • General Menaion texts