Bible Reading

The Sunday before the Nativity of the Lord (December 18-24) is known as the Sunday of the Holy Fathers. On this day the Church commemorates all those who were well-pleasing to God from all ages, from Adam to St. Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, those who are mentioned in the genealogy of Luke 3:23-38. The holy prophets and prophetesses are also remembered today, especially the Prophet Daniel and the three holy youths (December 17).

Luke 3: 23 - 38
23: Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24: the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jan'na-i, the son of Joseph,
25: the son of Mattathi'as, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Nag'ga-i,
26: the son of Ma'ath, the son of Mattathi'as, the son of Sem'e-in, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27: the son of Jo-an'an, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerub'babel, the son of She-al'ti-el, the son of Neri,
28: the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elma'dam, the son of Er,
29: the son of Joshua, the son of Elie'zer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30: the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eli'akim,
31: the son of Me'le-a, the son of Menna, the son of Mat'tatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32: the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Bo'az, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
33: the son of Ammin'adab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34: the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35: the son of Serug, the son of Re'u, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36: the son of Ca-i'nan, the son of Arphax'ad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37: the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Maha'lale-el, the son of Ca-i'nan,
38: the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
SEE ALSO:
Matthew 1:1 – 17
Jesus’ Family Tree
1: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3: and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
4: and Ram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5: and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
6: and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah,
7: and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa,
8: and Asa the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi'ah,
9: and Uzzi'ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah,
10: and Hezeki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josi'ah,
11: and Josi'ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12: And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of She-al'ti-el, and She-al'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel,
13: and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor,
14: and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli'ud,
15: and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob,
16: and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
17: So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.