Sunday 22nd February 2026
Cheesefare week: abstain only from meat
Tone 4 - Eothinon 4
36th after Pentecost, 19th of Luke, Cheesefare or Forgiveness Sunday
Today we commemorate:
Uncovering of the relics of the Holy Martyrs at the Gate of Eugenius in Constantinople (423). Holy Martyrs Maurice and his son, Photinus, and Martyrs Theodore, Philip, and 70 soldiers at Apamea in Syria (c.305). Holy martyr Anthousa and her 12 Servants. SS Baradates, Thalassios and Limnaius, Hermits of Syria (5th C).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Elwin (Elwyn) the Martyr, Missionary to Cornwall (5th C).
Romans 13:11-14:4; Matthew 6:14-21
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Romans 13:11-14:4
Brothers and sisters, our salvation is now nearer than when we believed. Night is almost over and day is at hand, so let us throw off the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Since it is daytime let us walk decently, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and wantonness, not in quarrelling and jealousy; but instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for arguments and disputes. Some believe that they may eat everything, while the weak eat vegetables. Those who eat should not despise those who do not eat, and those who do not eat should not judge those who eat, because God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servants? They stand or fall before their own Lord. And they will stand, because God is able to make them stand.
Matthew 6:14-21
The Lord said, ‘If you forgive people their transgressions, your Father who is in heaven will forgive you too; but if you do not forgive people their transgressions, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. And when you fast, do not behave like the sour-looking hypocrites who disfigure their faces so that they may appear to be fasting. Truly I tell you that they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you may not appear to be fasting except to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you openly. Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up treasures for yourselves in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’