Friday 13th February 2026
Fast day: strict fast
Today we commemorate:
The Holy Apostles & Martyrs Aquila and Priscilla (1st C). St. Martinian, monk, of Caesarea in Palestine (422). The Holy Woman Zoë of Bethlehem and Virgin Photinia (5th C). St. Eulogius, archbishop of Alexandria (608). St. Stephen (in monasticism Simeon), the Myrrh-streaming, Prince of Serbia and founder of Hilandar monastery on Athos (1199).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Modomnoc, bishop of Ossory (550). St. Huna of Ely, priest and hermit (690). St. Dyfnog of Clwyd (7th C). St. Ermenhild, abbess of Ely (c.700).
2 John 1:1-13; Mark 15:20,22,25,33-41
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
2 John 1:1-13
The presbyter to the chosen lady and her children whom I truly love, and not I alone, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that lives in us and will be with us for ever. Grace, mercy, peace be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I greatly rejoice that I have found some of your children walking in the truth according to the commandment we received from the Father. And now I appeal to you, lady, not as someone writing a new commandment to you, but one we had from the beginning: that we should love one another. And love is this, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment as you heard it from the beginning in order that you should walk in it, because many deceivers have come into the world who do not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. They are the Deceiver and the Antichrist. Look to yourselves so that we do not lose that for which we worked, but may receive a full reward. All who transgress and do not keep to the teaching of Christ do not have God; those who continue in the teaching of Christ have both the Father and the Son. If any should come to you and not bring this teaching, do not invite them into the house and do not greet them, because those who welcome them associate themselves with their evil deeds. I have many things to write to you. I do not intend to use paper and ink, but I am hoping to come to you and speak face to face so that our joy may be complete. The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.
Mark 15:20,22,25,33-41
At that time the soldiers led Jesus out to crucify him. … They brought him to a place called Golgotha, meaning Place of the Skull, … It was the third hour when they crucified him. … When the sixth hour came, darkness fell upon the whole land until the ninth hour, and at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lima sabachthani?’ It means, ‘My God, my God, why did you forsake me?’ On hearing this, some of the bystanders said, ‘Listen, he is calling Elijah.’ One person ran and filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see if Elijah is coming to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a great cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw the way he cried out and breathed his last, he said, ‘In truth, this man was God’s Son.’ There were women there as well, looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Little and of Joses, and Salome. They followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him, and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.