Monday 26th January 2026
Today we commemorate:
St. Xenophon, his wife, Mary, and their two sons, Arcadius and John, of Constantinople (6th C). St. Symeon ‘the Ancient’, Hermit at Amanus Mons, Cilicia (390). Translation of the relics of St. Theodore, abbot of the Studion (845). St. Joseph, bishop of Thessalonica, brother of St. Theodore of the Studion (830)
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Conan, bishop of Sodor and Man (648).
1 Peter 2:21-3:9; Mark 12:13-17
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 manner 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 arrayed in gold, or in the clothes you wear, 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 afraid of anything. In a similar manner 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 12:13-17
At that time the chief priests and scribes and elders sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him out in what he said. They came up to him and said, ‘Teacher, we know that you are truthful and defer to no one, for you do not go by appearances but truly teach the way of God. Tell us then, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? Do we give, or do we not give?’ But he was aware of their hypocrisy and said to them, ‘Why are you testing me? Fetch me a coin so that I may see it.’ They brought it, and he asked them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ And Jesus told them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’ And they marvelled at him.