ZACHALO (Sl.) - (pericope) A section of a chapter of the Bible, which is designated for reading as a lesson on Sundays and every day of the year. The Gospel of Matthew (28 chapters) is divided into 116 sections: Mark, 16 chapters, 71 sections; Luke, 24 chapters, 114 sections; John, 21 chapters and 67 sections.

The Gospel  book  (Greek: Evangelion; Slavonic: Evangelie) that normally rests on the Holy Table, is arranged in readings called pericopes (or zachalo in Russian). Book of Epistles (Apostol) that is used for liturgical reading, may also be divided into pericopes (and includes the Prokeimena and Alleluia verses which precede and follow the Epistle readings).