Monday, 12 January 2026

St Sava, Archbishop of Serbia

Monday of the 32nd week after Pentecost

267 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Tatiana

c. 230

She was the daughter of a wealthy Roman consul. She became a deaconess in Rome, and was seized as a Christian during the reign of Alexander Severus. Before the tribunal she fearlessly confessed Christ and, when she was taken to the temple in an effort to force her to make sacrifice, she cast down the idols by the power of her prayer. At this, the soldiers seized her and subjected her to many indignities and tortures, finally throwing her into a raging furnace. When this did not harm her, she was thrown to the wild beasts, but they refused to harm her. At last she was beheaded and thus gained her crown.

Martyr Mertios

Martyr Mertios was an early Christian saint of the patristic period who suffered martyrdom for the faith during the era of imperial persecutions against Christians. Little is known of his specific biographical details, though he is commemorated in the Orthodox Church as a witness to Christ who refused to renounce his faith despite torture and imprisonment. His steadfast devotion and ultimate sacrifice for the Gospel stand as a testimony to the courage of the early Christian martyrs. His feast day is celebrated on 12 January in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where he is venerated alongside other witnesses of the faith who demonstrated unwavering commitment to Christ during times of persecution.

Martyr Peter Apselamus

Martyr Peter Apselamus was an early Christian martyr of the first centuries of the Church who endured persecution and imprisonment for his faith in Christ. His life reflects the courage and constancy of the early martyrs who stood firm against the demands to renounce Christianity and participate in pagan worship. Though details of his specific trials and martyrdom are limited in surviving historical sources, his name is preserved in the Orthodox synaxarion as a faithful witness to the Gospel. He is commemorated on 12 January in the Eastern Orthodox Church calendar, where he is honoured amongst those who gave their lives as a testimony to Christ and the faith of the Apostles.

Virgin Martyr Tatiana of Rome

Virgin Martyr Tatiana of Rome was born into an illustrious Roman family around the third century. Her father was elected consul three times and was a secret believer in Christ. He raised his daughter in the Christian faith and she devoted herself entirely to God, vowing virginity and betrothing herself to Christ. Appointed a deaconess in one of the Roman churches, Tatiana devoted herself to a life of fasting, prayer, and service to the poor and sick, tending to those in need with apostolic charity. During the persecutions of Christians, she was arrested for her faith and endured torture for refusing to renounce Christ and offer worship to pagan idols. Through her steadfast confession and endurance under torture, she became a martyr for Christ, numbered amongst the holy witnesses of the early Church. She is commemorated on 12 January in the Orthodox Church calendar as a virgin martyr and faithful servant of the Lord.

Venerable Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth

c. 690

He came from a noble Northumbrian family in Britain, and was tonsured a monk in 653 at Lerins in Gaul. In 669 he was made Abbot of the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury. He traveled to Rome in 671 to be instructed in monastic practice according to the Rule of Saint Benedict (of Nursia). Returning to Northumbria he established two new monasteries, the first to follow St Benedict’s Rule in the British Isles. He went to Rome once again in 678-679, this time bringing back the archcantor of St Peter’s, who taught the monks of St Benedict’s monasteries the chant and liturgical practices used in Rome. Under the holy abbot’s guidance, these monasteries became flourishing centers of Christian worship, scholarship and art. The Venerable Bede (May 26) was one of his disciples. Saint Benedict reposed in peace in 689 or 690, having greatly strengthened the Church and the Christian faith in Britain.

Also commemorated: St Sava, Archbishop of Serbia

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

James — James 2.14-26

¹⁴What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? ¹⁷Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ¹⁸Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. ¹⁹Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. ²⁰But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? ²²Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ²³And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. ²⁴Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. ²⁵Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? ²⁶For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 9.42-10.1

⁴²And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. ⁴³And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: ⁴⁴Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. ⁴⁵And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: ⁴⁶Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. ⁴⁷And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: ⁴⁸Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. ⁴⁹For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. ⁵⁰Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

¹And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judæa by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.