Sunday 15th March 2026
Lenten Fast: wine and oil allowed
Tone 7 - Eothinon 7
Liturgy of St Basil
3rd of Great Lent, Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross
Today we commemorate:
Holy Martyrs Agapius, Publius, Timolaus, Romulus, two named Dionysius, and two named Alexander at Caesarea in Palestine (303). New Martyr Manuel of Crete (1792).
British Isles and Ireland:
Hieromartyr Aristobulus of the Seventy, bishop of Britain (1st C).
Hebrews 4:14-5:6; Mark 8:34-9:1
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Hebrews 4:14-5:6
Brothers and sisters, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in the same way in every respect, though without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace for support at the proper time. Every High Priest taken from among mortals is appointed on behalf of the people in matters relating to God so that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to bear with those who are ignorant and wayward since he himself is also beset by weakness, and because of this he is obliged to make offerings for sins on his own behalf as well as on behalf of the people. No one takes the honour for himself but is called by God, just as Aaron was. And in this manner it was not Christ who glorified himself to become High Priest, but the one who said to him, ‘You are my Son. Today I have begotten you.’ And as he says elsewhere, ‘You are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.’
Mark 8:34-9:1
The Lord said, ‘If any want to follow me, let them disown themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, but those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the Gospel, will save it. For how will they benefit if they gain the whole world but lose their life? Indeed, what will they give in exchange for their life? As for those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of them when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ He went on to say to them, ‘Truly I tell you that there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the Kingdom of God has come with power.’