Monday 19th January 2026
Holy and Venerable Macarius the Great of Egypt
Today we commemorate:
Holy and Venerable Mark Eugenikos, metropolitan of Ephesus, Pillar of Orthodoxy (1445). St. Sulpice, bishop of Bourges (c.647). St. Meletius, Confessor of Mt. Galesion, monk (1286)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Branwalader (Breward) bishop of Jersey (6th C). St. Nathalan, bishop of Tullicht (c.678).
1 Peter 2:21-3:9; Mark 5:24-34
For the Commemoration: Galatians 5:22-6:2; Matthew 19:16-26
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
1 Peter 2:21-3:9
Beloved, Christ suffered for us and has left you an example so that you may follow in his footsteps. He did not commit sin, ‘neither was deceit found in his mouth.’ When he was abused, he did not return the abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he surrendered himself to the one who judges righteously. He carried our sins in his body on the tree so that having died to sins we may live for righteousness. ‘By his bruises you were healed.’ For you were wandering like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. In a similar way, wives are to be obedient to their husbands so that if there are some who refuse to believe the word, they may be won over by their wives’ conduct without anything being said when they observe your pure and reverent behaviour. Let your adornment not be on the outside with braided hair and being decked out in gold or finery, but inward, of the heart, in the incorruptibility of a gentle and quiet spirit that is very precious in the sight of God. For this is also how the holy women who trusted in God in the past adorned themselves, by being obedient to their husbands, as Sarah was obedient to Abraham and called him ‘Lord’. You are now her daughters, doing good and not being afraid of anything. In a similar way, husbands are to live considerately with their wives as towards those who are physically weaker but with shared honour as joint heirs of the gift of life, so that your prayers may not be impeded. Finally, always be of like mind, sympathetic, with brotherly and sisterly love, tender-hearted, courteous, not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary giving a blessing so that you may receive a blessing, for you know that you were called to this.
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.’
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.
Matthew 19:16-26
At that time a man approached Jesus and asked, ‘Good teacher, what good shall I do so that I may have everlasting life?’ He said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except one, and he is God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He asked him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus replied, ‘You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honour father and mother, and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘All these I have kept from my youth. What am I still missing?’ Jesus told him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard these words he went away sorrowful because he had many possessions. Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you that the rich will enter the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. What is more, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.’ When his disciples heard this, they were utterly astounded and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked straight at them and said, ‘For people this is impossible, but for God everything is possible.’