From the calendar, 2026.
Sunday, February 1
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
Fast-free
Appointed to be read.
Epistle.
2 Timothy 3:10–15
1 min read
10But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
11persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Gospel.
Luke 18:10–14
1 min read
10'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
13And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'
Matins Gospel.
Matthew 28:16–20
1 min read
16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen.
What this is.
The Scripture the Orthodox Church reads each day, the saints it remembers, and a study aid that answers from Scripture and the Fathers and shows its sources.
Divine Liturgy. The Church's main service, at which Holy Communion is given. Its Epistle and Gospel are what most people mean by the day's readings.
Matins. The morning service of praise. On Sundays and feasts it has a Gospel of its own.
Vespers. The evening service. The Church's day begins at sunset, so a feast's Vespers is served the evening before.
Hours. Short services of psalms and prayer at set times of the day: the First, Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours.
Tone. The hymns of the week are sung in one of eight tones, or melodies, which follow each other week by week.
New Calendar. Fixed feasts are kept on the civil date, as in the OCA and the Antiochian Archdiocese. Churches on the Old Calendar keep them 13 days later. Pascha is the same for both.