Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Greatmartyr Theodore Tyro; Hieromartyr Germogen, Patriarch of Moscow

Cheesefare Tuesday

54 days before Pascha · Tone 3 · Black squigg (6-stich typikon symbol) · Fast (Meat Fast)

Saints commemorated

★ Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit

Saint Theodore the Recruit, known as Theodore Tyro, was a young Roman soldier of the third century who became a martyr for Christ. When ordered to renounce his Orthodox faith, Theodore refused and confessed his unwavering devotion to the Lord Jesus. Rather than submit to idolatrous practices, he endured torture and ultimately martyrdom. His steadfast courage in the face of persecution made him a witness celebrated throughout the Eastern Orthodox Church. Saint Theodore remains a patron protector invoked by the faithful for intercession and aid, and his feast is observed with special reverence in Orthodox tradition.

Saint Marcellus, Pope of Rome

Saint Marcellus served as Pope of Rome during the early centuries of the Church. He laboured to strengthen the Church in Rome and to guide the faithful in Orthodox doctrine and practice. As a successor to Saint Peter, Marcellus wielded pastoral authority with care and wisdom. He maintained communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church and worked to preserve the apostolic faith passed down through the centuries. Saint Marcellus is remembered in the Orthodox Church as a righteous bishop who served Christ and His people with dedication and holiness.

Saint Mariamne, sister of the Apostle Philip

Saint Mariamne was the sister of the Apostle Philip and devoted herself to the service of Christ from the earliest days of the Church. She stood with the apostles in their proclamation of the Gospel and shared in their labours and sufferings. According to Church tradition, she preached the Word of God and brought many to the Orthodox faith. As a woman of great spiritual strength and virtue, Mariamne participated fully in the apostolic ministry and became a faithful witness to the resurrection of Christ. The Orthodox Church venerates her as an example of women saints who laboured alongside the apostles in building the early Church.

Also commemorated: Hieromartyr Germogen, Patriarch of Moscow

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Jude — Jude 1-10

¹Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: ²Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

³Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ⁴For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. ⁶And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. ⁸Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ⁹Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. ¹⁰But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 22.39-42, 45-23.1

³⁹And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴⁵And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

⁴⁷And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? ⁴⁹When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

⁵⁰And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. ⁵²Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? ⁵³When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

⁵⁴Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off. ⁵⁵And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. ⁵⁶But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. ⁵⁷And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. ⁵⁸And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. ⁵⁹And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilæan. ⁶⁰And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. ⁶¹And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. ⁶²And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

⁶³And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. ⁶⁴And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? ⁶⁵And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

⁶⁶And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, ⁶⁷Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: ⁶⁸And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. ⁶⁹Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. ⁷⁰Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. ⁷¹And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

¹And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.