Our Venerable Father Timothy of Symbola (8th c.); Our Holy Father Eustathius, Archbishop of Great Antioch (338)
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Read
Zechariah 8:7-14; Zechariah 8:19-23
Thus says the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, you that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who were there in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
The work of Lent is upon us. He wants to use the ascetical labours of the Fast to tear us down to rebuild us into living temples capable of holding the glory of God. Here in the prophecy of Zachariah, we are encouraged in this labour. Our hands are to be strong. The Lord’s advent on earth begins the foundation of the house of the Lord, rebuilding the human person, a living temple, beginning with his own body.
The reading finishes with a call for this work to be continued throughout all nations:
Thus says the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of every language of the nations, even shall take hold of the robe of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Holding fast to “the robe of him that is a jew” all nations have the possibility to be rebuilt into living temples of the Lord.