Wednesday 7th January 2026
Fast day: wine and oil allowed
Synaxis of the Forerunner and Baptist John
Afterfeast of The Theophany
Today we commemorate:
New Martyr Athanasius of Attalia and Smyrna (1700)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Brannock of Braunton (6th C). St. Cedd of Lastingham, bishop of the East Saxons (664). St. Cronan Beg, bishop of Aendrum (7th C). St. Kentigerna, mother of St. Foellan (734).
James 1:1-18; Mark 12:28-37
For the Commemoration: Acts 19:1-8; John 1:29-34
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
James 1:1-18
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Twelve Tribes in the Diaspora, greeting. Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you find you are surrounded by all kinds of temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith results in perseverance. Let perseverance take full effect so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. But if any of you lack wisdom, they are to ask God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given them. But ask in faith, doubting nothing, for those who doubt are like a sea wave being driven by the wind and tossed about, and such people should not presume that they will receive anything from the Lord. A man in two minds is unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother or sister rejoice in being lifted high, and the wealthy in being brought low because they will pass away like a meadow flower. For the sun rises with blazing heat and dries up the pasture; its flowers fall and the beauty of its appearance is lost. In this way the wealthy with their occupations will also wither away. Blessed is the man who withstands temptation, for after being proved he will receive the crown of life that the Lord promised to those who love him. Let no one who is tempted say, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God is not tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one, but each of us is tempted by being enticed and beguiled by our own desire. Then the desire, once conceived, gives birth to sin; and the sin, once fully formed, gives birth to death. Do not be led astray, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every benefit bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. It was his purpose to bring us into being by the word of truth, for us to be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.
Mark 12:28-37
At that time one of the scribes came up and heard them debating. He observed that Jesus was answering them well, and he asked him, ‘Which commandment is first of all?’ And to him Jesus replied, ‘The first of all the commandments is “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” That is the first commandment, and this second one is similar: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ And the scribe said to him, ‘That is good, Teacher; you have spoken the truth. He is one, and there is none other but he. And to love him with one’s whole heart and whole mind and whole soul and whole strength and to love one’s neighbour as oneself are more important than all the burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he spoke with understanding, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ And no one dared to question him further. While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, ‘How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit, “The Lord says to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.’” Therefore David himself calls him Lord. How then is he his son?’ And the large crowd listened to him with delight.
Acts 19:1-8
In those days while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul travelled overland to reach Ephesus. He found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No. We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ He asked them, ‘Into what then were you baptised?’ And they replied, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John did indeed baptise with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus Christ.’ On hearing this they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when Paul laid his hands on them the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were in all about twelve men. Then he went into the synagogue and for three months he spoke openly, reasoning with them and persuading them of matters concerning the Kingdom of God.
John 1:29-34
At that time John saw Jesus approaching him and said, ‘You see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, “After me a man is coming who existed before me, because he was before me.” Although I did not know him, the reason I came baptising with water was to reveal him to Israel.’ Then John testified, saying, ‘I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it rested upon him. I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptise with water told me, “The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting, this is he who baptises with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and I have testified that this is the Son of God.’