Thursday 5th March 2026
Lenten Fast: strict fast
Today we commemorate:
Holy Martyr Conon of Isauria (2nd C). Holy Martyr Conon the Gardener, of Pamphylia (251). St. Mark the Faster, of Egypt (5th C). Righteous Father Mark of Athens (4th C). New Martyr John the Bulgarian at Constantinople (1784). Virgin-martyr Irais (Rhais) of Antinoë in Egypt and with her Martyr Archelaus and 152 Martyrs in Egypt (3rd C).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Ladoca of Cornwall, virgin and missionary (5th C). St. Ciaran of Saighir (Ossory) (c.530). St. Caron of Tregaron. St. Carthage the Elder, bishop of Ossory (c.540). St. Piran, hermit of Cornwall (c.480). St. Colman of Armagh (5th C).
Isaiah 6:1-12; Genesis 5:1-24; Proverbs 6:3-20
Isaiah 6:1-12
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. The house was filled with his glory, and seraphim stood around him. Each one of them had six wings; with two they covered their face, with two they covered their feet and with two they flew. They called to one another saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ The lintel was lifted up at the sound of their voices and the house was filled with smoke. Then I said, ‘Wretch that I am, I am pierced to the heart because I am a man with unclean lips and I live among a people who have unclean lips, but with my own eyes I have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’ One of the seraphim was sent to me. He held in his hand a coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips and it will take away your transgressions and purge your sins.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go to this people?’ And I said, ‘I am here. Send me.’ And he replied, ‘Go and say to this people, “By listening you will hear but not understand, and by looking you will see but not perceive.” For the heart of this people has grown fat and their ears have become hard of hearing and they have closed their eyes, so that they do not see with their eyes or hear with their ears or understand with their heart, and turn so that I may heal them.’ Then I said, ‘Lord, how long?’ And he said, ‘Until the cities are deserted and the houses are uninhabited because there are no people, and the land is left desolate. After this the Lord will remove the people far away, and those who are left in the land will increase.’
Genesis 5:1-24
This is the book of the genesis of mankind. On the day that God made Adam, he made him in God’s image. He made them male and female, blessed them, and gave them the name Adam on the day that he made them. Adam lived two hundred and thirty years and fathered a son in his own likeness and image, and he gave him the name Seth. The length of Adam’s life after he had fathered Seth was seven hundred years and he fathered sons and daughters. Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years in all, and then he died. Now Seth lived two hundred and five years and fathered Enos. After he had fathered Enos, Seth lived seven hundred and seven years and fathered sons and daughters. Seth lived nine hundred and twelve years in all, and then he died. Enos lived one hundred and ninety years and fathered Cainan. After he had fathered Cainan, Enos lived seven hundred and fifteen years and fathered sons and daughters. Enos lived nine hundred and five years in all, and then he died. Cainan lived one hundred and seventy years and fathered Mahalaleel. After he had fathered Mahalaleel, Cainan lived seven hundred and forty years and fathered sons and daughters. Cainan lived nine hundred and ten years in all, and then he died. Mahalaleel lived one hundred and sixty-five years and fathered Jared. After he had fathered Jared, Mahalaleel lived seven hundred and thirty years and fathered sons and daughters. Mahalaleel lived eight hundred and ninety-five years in all, and then he died. Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years and fathered Enoch. After he had fathered Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years and fathered sons and daughters. Jared lived nine hundred and sixty-two years in all, and then he died. Enoch lived one hundred and sixty-five years and fathered Methuselah. After he had fathered Methuselah, Enoch, who was well-pleasing to God, lived for two hundred years and fathered sons and daughters. Enoch lived three hundred and sixty-five years in all. Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and he could not be found because God had translated him.
Proverbs 6:3-20
My son, do what I tell you and save yourself, for on your friend’s account you have fallen into evil hands. Go, do not falter, and challenge your friend for whom you stood surety. Do not allow your eyes to sleep nor should your eyelids droop in slumber, so that you may be saved like a gazelle from a noose, or like a bird from a snare. Go to the ant, you sluggard, and be eager to understand his ways; and become wiser than he is. For he has no farm nor anyone to spur him and is under no master, but he prepares food in summer and makes abundant provision at the harvest. Or go to the bee and learn what a worker she is, and how nobly she does her work. Her labours are used by kings and common people for their health. She is indeed desired and honoured by all. Though weak in bodily strength, she leads the way in honouring wisdom. How long will you lie in bed, you sluggard? When will you rise from sleep? You sleep a little and rest a little, then snooze for a short time; and for a while you fold your arms. Then poverty will come upon you like an evil visitor, and destitution like a swift runner. But if you are diligent, your harvest will arrive as an outpouring, and destitution will desert you like a bad runner. A foolish man, a transgressor, walks in ways that are not good. He winks an eye, makes a sign with the foot, and teaches by signing with his fingers; with a perverse heart he is always planning evils. Such people cause trouble for a city. His destruction therefore strikes suddenly, trauma and irretrievable ruin, because he rejoices in everything that God hates. He is ruined by the impurity of his soul: an arrogant eye, an unrighteous tongue, hands that shed righteous blood, a heart that devises evil thoughts and feet that are quick to do evil. A false witness kindles injustice and sparks accusations between brothers. My son, keep the laws of your father, and do not reject the rules laid down by your mother.
The text and chapter and verse references of the Old Testament readings are those of the Septuagint