Wednesday, 17 February 2027

74 days before Pascha · Tone 4 · Black squigg (6-stich typikon symbol) · 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

1 Peter — 1 Peter 4.1-11

¹Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

¹Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; ²that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ³For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries: ³For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: ⁴wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁵Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. ⁶For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. ⁶For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer: ⁸above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins: ⁸And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. ⁹using hospitality one to another without murmuring: ⁹Use hospitality one to another without grudging. ¹⁰according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; ¹⁰As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ¹¹If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 12.28-37

²⁸And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

²⁸And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all? ²⁹And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ²⁹Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: ³⁰And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. ³⁰and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. ³¹And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ³¹The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ³²And the scribe said unto him, Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he: ³²And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: ³³and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. ³³And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. ³⁴And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. ³⁴And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

³⁵And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

³⁵And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. ³⁶David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. ³⁷David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

³⁷David himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he his son? And the common people heard him gladly.