Thursday 12th February 2026
Today we commemorate:
St. Meletius, archbishop of Antioch (381). St. Alexis, metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia (1378). St. Anthony, patriarch of Constantinople (895).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Ethelwold, monk and bishop of Lindisfarne (740). St. Siadhal (Sedulius) (5th C).
1 John 4:20-5:21; Mark 15:1-15
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
1 John 4:20-5:21
Beloved, those who say, ‘I love God’ while hating a brother or a sister are liars, for how can they love God whom they have not seen, when they do not love the brother or sister whom they have seen? And we have this commandment from him, that those who love God should also love their brothers and sisters. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves those who are born of him. It is when we love God and keep his commandments that we know that we love the children of God. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not onerous, because everyone who is born of God conquers the world; and the victory that conquers the world is this, our faith. Who are the conquerors of the world if not those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus Christ is the one who came through water and blood; not in water only, but in water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth. For there are three bearing witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are One. And there are three bearing witness on earth: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are one. If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is the testimony God has given concerning his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in them, but those who do not believe God have made him a liar because they have not believed the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And the testimony is this. God gave us everlasting life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have everlasting life, and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God. The confidence that we have in his presence is this. If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we may ask, then we know that we have what we have asked of him. Anyone who sees a brother or sister committing a sin that does not lead to death will pray, and he will grant life to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death, and about that I am not saying that one should pray. All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone who is born of God does not sin, and those who are born of God guard themselves, and the evil one does not touch them. We know that we are of God, but the whole world lies under the evil one. We know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we may know the True One. And we are in the True One, in his Son Jesus Christ, he who is True God and Life Everlasting. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Mark 15:1-15
At that time the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Sanhedrin held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ And he replied, ‘Those are your words.’ The chief priests were accusing him of many things, but he said nothing. Pilate questioned him again. He said, ‘Have you no answer at all? See how many charges they are bringing against you.’ But Jesus made no further response, and that astonished Pilate. Now at each festival he would release for them one prisoner, whomever they requested. There was one called Barabbas, captured with the insurgents; he had committed murder in the uprising. And so the crowd began to shout out, asking for what he would always do for them. Pilate responded by asking them, ‘Is it your wish that I release for you the King of the Jews?’ For he knew that it was from malice that the chief priests had given him up. But the chief priests roused the crowd so that he should release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate addressed them once more. He said, ‘What then do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?’ They roared out the answer, ‘Crucify him!’ And Pilate asked them, ‘Why? What evil has he done?’ They roared ever louder, ‘Crucify him!’ Pilate, minded to appease the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and when he had flogged Jesus he handed him over to be crucified.