Editing Lectionary (section)

====Epistle and Gospel====
The Gospel readings are found in what Orthodoxy usually calls a [[Gospel Book]] (''Evangélion''), although in strict English terms the Greek ones are in the form of an [[Evangeliary]], and an [[wikt:epistolary|Epistle Book]] (''Apostól''). There are differences in the precise arrangement of these books between the various national churches. In the [[Greek Orthodox|Byzantine]] practice, the readings are in the form of [[pericope]]s (selections from scripture containing only the portion actually chanted during the service), and are arranged according to the order in which they occur in the church year, beginning with the Sunday of [[Easter|Pascha]] (Easter), and continuing throughout the entire year, concluding with [[Holy Week]]. Then follows a section of readings for the commemorations of [[saints]] and readings for special occasions ([[baptism]]s, [[funeral]]s, etc.). In the [[Russian Orthodox|Slavic]] practice, the biblical books are reproduced in their entirety and arranged in the [[Biblical canon|canonical order]] in which they appear in the [[Bible]].

The annual cycle of the Gospels is composed of four series:

#''The Gospel of St. John''
#:read from Pascha until [[Pentecost]] Sunday
#''The Gospel of St. Matthew''
#:divided over seventeen weeks beginning with the Monday of the Holy Spirit (the day after Pentecost). From the twelfth week, it is read on Saturdays and Sundays while the Gospel of St. Mark is read on the remaining weekdays
#''The Gospel of St. Luke''
#:divided over nineteen weeks beginning on the Monday after the Sunday after the [[Elevation of the Holy Cross]]. From the thirteenth week, it is only read on Saturdays and Sundays, while St. Mark's Gospel is read on the remaining weekdays
#''The Gospel of St. Mark''
#:read during the Lenten period on Saturdays and Sundays — with the exception of the [[Sunday of Orthodoxy]].

The interruption of the reading of the Gospel of Matthew after the Elevation of the Holy Cross is known as the "Lukan Jump".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Lukan Jump - Professor N.D. Uspensky - From the Desk Manual of the Moscow Patriarchate|url=https://www.orthodox.net/ustav/lukan-jump.html|access-date=2023-01-25|website=www.orthodox.net}}</ref> The jump occurs only in the Gospel readings, there is no corresponding jump in the epistles. From this point on the epistle and Gospel readings do not exactly correspond, the epistles continuing to be determined according to the moveable [[Paschal cycle]] and the Gospels being influenced by the fixed cycle.

The Lukan Jump is related to the chronological proximity of the Elevation of the Cross to the Conception of the Forerunner (St. [[John the Baptist]]), celebrated on 23 September. In [[late Antiquity]], this feast marked the beginning of the ecclesiastical New Year.  Thus, beginning the reading of the Lukan Gospel toward the middle of September can be understood. The reasoning is theological and is based on a vision of Salvation History: the Conception of the Forerunner constitutes the first step of the New Economy, as mentioned in the [[sticheron|stikhera]] of the matins of this feast. The [[Luke the Evangelist|Evangelist Luke]] is the only one to mention this Conception ({{bibleverse||Luke|1:5-24|KJV}}).

In Russia, the use of the Lukan Jump vanished; however, in recent decades, the Russian Church has begun the process of returning to the use of the Lukan Jump.

Similarly to the Gospel Cycle, Epistle readings follow this plan although some exceptions vary:

#''Book of the Acts of the Apostles''
#:read from Pascha until Pentecost Sunday
#''Letter to the Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians''
#:From Pentecost to Elevation of the Holy Cross
#''Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Hebrews''
#:From Elevation of the Holy Cross to the Circumcision of Christ, 1st of January
#''James, Hebrews, 1 Peter and 2 Peter''
#:read from the Circumcision of Christ to the Clean Monday, first weekday of Great Lent.