Saturday 21st February 2026
Cheesefare week: abstain only from meat
Today we commemorate:
Righteous Timothy of Symbola in Bithynia (795). St. John Scholasticus of Antioch, patriarch of Constantinople (577). St. Eustathius (Eustace), archbishop of Antioch (c.337). St. Zachariah, patriarch of Jerusalem (633). St. George, bishop of Amastris on the Black Sea (811).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Erkengota, Princess of Kent (660).
Romans 14:19-26; Matthew 6:1-13
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Romans 14:19-26
Brothers and sisters, let us pursue whatever brings peace and whatever builds one another up. Do not overturn God’s work for the sake of food. Everything is indeed clean, but it is harmful to the person who is eating if it gives offence. It is better not to eat meat or to drink wine, or anything that causes your brother or sister to stumble, or to be offended or weakened. Do you have faith? Hold on to it for yourself in the presence of God. Blessed are those who do not reproach themselves for what they discern to be appropriate. But those who are in doubt are condemned if they eat, because it is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin. Now to him who is able to establish you through my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret down the ages but has now been revealed through the writings of the prophets and declared to all nations for faithful obedience on the authority of the eternal God, to the only wise God through Jesus Christ, to him be glory to the ages. Amen.
Matthew 6:1-13
The Lord said, ‘Be careful not to do your almsgiving in front of people for them to see, because then you would have no reward from your Father in heaven. When you give alms, you are not to trumpet it in advance as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that people will honour them. Truly I tell you that they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your almsgiving may be secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray in the synagogues and standing on street corners so that people will see them. Truly I tell you that they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room and shut your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you openly. When you pray, do not say things repeatedly as the Gentiles do, for they think that by saying much they will be heard. Do not imitate them because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. But pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so on the earth. Give us today our bread, sufficient for the day. And forgive us our debts even as we forgive our debtors. Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory into the ages. Amen.’