Saturday 7th March 2026
Lenten Fast: wine and oil allowed
Today we commemorate:
The Holy Seven Hieromartyrs of Cherson: Basil, Ephraim, Capito, Eugene, Aetherius, Elpidius and Agathodorus (4th C). St. Lavrentios of Megara, founder of the monastery of the Mother of God in Salamina (1770). St. Paul the Simple of Egypt, disciple of St. Anthony the Great (4th C). St. Ephraim of Antioch (6th C).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Enodoc (c.520). St. Deifer, founder abbot of Bodfari (6th C). St. Eosterwine, abbot of Wearmouth (686).
Hebrews 3:12-16; Mark 1:35-44
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Hebrews 3:12-16
Brothers and sisters, watch out that there will never be in any of you an evil faithless heart from falling away from the living God, but encourage one another each day, until the Day is called, so that you may not be hardened by the treachery of sin, for we have become partners with Christ if we hold fast our first confidence to the end. As it says, ‘Today, if you should hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’ Who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt through Moses?
Mark 1:35-44
At that time Jesus set off for a deserted place where he began to pray. Simon and those with him went after him. When they found him they told him, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ He said to them, ‘Let us go on to further towns and villages so that I may preach there as well, for this is why I have come.’ And throughout the whole of Galilee he preached in their synagogues and cast out demons. Then a leper came to him, appealing to him, kneeling before him and saying, ‘If you want to, you can make me clean.’ Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and told him, ‘I want to. Be made clean.’ As he spoke, the leprosy left him and he was instantly made clean. He sternly cautioned him and promptly dismissed him. He told him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and take for your cleansing what Moses instructed as a testimony to them.’