Saturday 24th January 2026
Saint Xenia of Rome and her two female slaves (5th C).
Today we commemorate:
St. Xenia, the Fool-for-Christ of St. Petersburg (18th C). Holy martyrs Babylas of Sicily and his two disciples: Timothy and Agapius (3rd C). St. Philotheus, founder of Philotheou Monastery (10th C). St. Neophytos the Anchorite, of Cyprus (1214). St. Philo, bishop of Kalpa in Cyprus (5th C). Hieromartyr Felician, bishop of Foligno (254)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Guasacht, bishop of Granard (5th C). St. Cadoc of Wales (588).
2 Timothy 2:11-19; Luke 18:35-43
For the Commemoration: Galatians 5:22-6:2; Mark 5:24-34
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
2 Timothy 2:11-19
Timothy, my son, this saying is true: ‘If we died with him, we shall also live with him. If we persevere, we shall also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot disown himself.’ Remind them of these things and solemnly warn them in the presence of the Lord not to quibble over words. That serves no purpose except to undermine those listening. Strive to present yourself approved by God, a worker with no cause to be ashamed who correctly discerns the word of truth. But avoid profane babblings because they lead people into yet more irreverence, and their words will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus who turned away from the truth, saying that the resurrection had already happened and overturning the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, and it bears these credentials: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Let every one who professes the name of the Lord turn away from unrighteousness.’
Luke 18:35-43
At that time, as Jesus was nearing Jericho, a blind man was sitting at the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by he asked what this was. When they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he shouted out, saying, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.’ Those at the front cautioned him to be silent, but he roared out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me.’ Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him, and as he approached he asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And he replied, ‘Lord, that I may recover my sight.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.’ He recovered his sight instantly and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people watching offered praise to God.
Galatians 5:22-6:2
Brothers and sisters, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, honesty, goodness, faith, humility and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become arrogant, irritating one another, envious of one another. Brothers and sisters, if someone has been caught unawares by some lapse, you who are of the Spirit should restore such a person in a spirit of humility, having regard for yourself so that you are not tempted as well. Carry one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Mark 5:24-34
At that time a large crowd followed Jesus, and they were pressing against him. There was also a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered much under many physicians and spent all that she had without benefiting at all; rather, she had become worse. Hearing about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she said to herself, ‘If I touch even his clothes, I shall be healed.’ At once her flow of blood was staunched and she knew in her body that she had been healed of the scourge. Jesus realised immediately within himself that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ But his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing against you and you ask, “Who touched me?”’ He was looking around to see who had done it, and the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came forward in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and she told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace, and be healed of your scourge.’