Wednesday 4th February 2026
Fast free week
Afterfeast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
Today we commemorate:
St. Isidore of Pelusium (440). St. Nicholas the Confessor, abbot of the Studion (868). Holy New Martyr Joseph of Aleppo (1686). Hieromartyr Abramius, bishop of Arbela in Assyria (c.347). St. John, bishop of Hirenopolis (4th C). St. George, Prince of Vladimir (1238). St. Cyril, abbot & Wonderworker of Novgorod (1532).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Aldate of Gloucester, hieromartyr (577). St. Modan of Dunbarton, hermit (6th C). St. Liephard, hieromartyr and companion to King Cadwall (690).
2 Peter 3:1-18; Mark 13:24-31
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
2 Peter 3:1-18
Beloved, this letter that I am now writing to you is the second, and in both I stir up your honest minds with a reminder to reflect on what was foretold by the holy prophets, and by your apostles at the command of the Lord and Saviour. First of all understand that in the last days scoffers will appear, following their own passions and saying, ‘Where is his promised coming? Since the beginning of creation our ancestors have died, and everything goes on as before.’ And they choose to ignore that long ago it was from water that the heavens and the earth came into being through water coming together at the word of God, by which the then world was deluged with water and destroyed, and that, by the same word, the present heavens and the earth are reserved for fire, kept for the Day of Judgement and for the destruction of the ungodly. One thing you must not ignore, beloved, is that a single day for the Lord is as a thousand years, and that a thousand years are as a single day. The Lord is not slow with the promise as some judge slowness, but he is patient with us, not wanting any to be lost but for all to come to repentance. The day of the Lord will come like a thief in a night when the heavens will pass away with a great roar. The fiercely heated elements will be destroyed, and the earth and its works will be completely consumed. With everything being destroyed, what kind of people must you be but those of holy behaviour and piety, those who expect and eagerly await the coming of the Day of God on which the blazing heavens will be destroyed and the fiercely heated elements will melt? We wait in accordance with his promise for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides. For this reason, as you wait for these things, beloved, make every effort to be found by him to be spotless and blameless and at peace. And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation in the way that our beloved brother Paul has also written to you with the wisdom given to him when he speaks about these things in all his letters. Some of the things in them are hard to understand and the ignorant and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they do with the other Scriptures. You then, beloved, are forewarned. Be on your guard so that you are not led astray by the error of those without conscience and fall from your own firm position, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, both now and to the everlasting Day. Amen.
Mark 13:24-31
The Lord said to his disciples, ‘In the days after that anguish the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven and the powers that are in the heavens will be toppled, and then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. He will then send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from the four winds, from the furthest reaches of earth to the furthest reaches of heaven. From the fig tree learn from the parable. As soon as the branch becomes tender and is putting out leaves, then you know that summer is near. In the same way, as soon as you see these things happening you will know that it is near, at the door. Truly I tell you that this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.’