Orthodox Daily Devotional — Sunday, March 1, 2026
- Orthodox Daily Devotional — Sunday, March 1, 2026
Orthodox Daily Devotional — Sunday, March 1, 2026
First Sunday of the Great Lent — The Sunday of Orthodoxy | Tone 5
Commemorations
- First Sunday of Lent — Sunday of Orthodoxy (Restoration of the Holy Icons, 843 AD)
- Martyr Eudokia of Heliopolis (ca. 160–170)
- Venerable Martyrius (Martyrii) of Zelenétsk, Pskov (†1603)
- Martyrs Nestor, Tribimius, and companions (3rd c.)
- Martyr Antonina of Nicæa in Bithynia (3rd–4th c.)
- Martyrs Marcellus and Anthony
- Saint Domnina the Younger of Syria (ca. 450–460)
- Venerable Agapius of Vatopedi, Holy Mountain of Athos
Today’s Scripture Readings
Reading 1 — Hebrews 11:24–26, 32–12:2
Faith from Moses to the Cloud of Witnesses
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Reading 2 — John 1:43–51
The Calling of Philip and Nathanael
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Reading 3 — Luke 24:12–35
The Resurrection and the Road to Emmaus
12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
19 And He said to them, “What things?”
So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.”
22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.“
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Orthodox Study Bible Commentary
On Hebrews 11:24–26
Moses chose suffering with the people of God over the comforts of Pharaoh’s palace — esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. The Apostle sees in Moses’ suffering a foreshadowing of Christ’s own suffering. Faith is not passive; it makes costly choices. Moses’ eyes were fixed not on the visible but on the invisible reward.
On Hebrews 11:37–38
“Sawn in two” — Tradition holds that Isaiah was martyred in this manner under King Manasseh. The world judged these saints as failures, wanderers, and outcasts — of whom the world was not worthy. The Church’s judgment is the opposite. Their very poverty and homelessness in this age marks them as citizens of the age to come.
On Hebrews 11:40 — The Saints Are Not Complete Without Us
Christ’s Incarnation and all that He accomplished for us in the flesh redeems the OT saints, who by faith participate in His Resurrection and His Kingdom. We are not spectators of their faith — they are made perfect with us, together in the Body of Christ.
On Hebrews 12:1–2
“The cloud of witnesses” includes not only the OT saints of chapter 11, but also the saints and martyrs of the Lord in every age. If they made it, so can we. We persevere by setting as our destination the heavenly city, running the race of faith, and keeping attention focused on Jesus Christ. This race is not a sprint but a marathon of endurance — it does not end until we fully enter the age to come.
Christ is both the author (initiator) and the finisher (perfecter) of faith. His joy was to do God’s will. He endured the cross voluntarily, accepting humiliation and death. We are to imitate His determination and perseverance.
On John 1:47–50
“No deceit” — Nathanael had a pure heart and was straightforward. St. John Chrysostom teaches that Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree as a place of diligent study and searching for the Messiah, and was praising him for it. Christ’s foreknowledge and ability to see into the heart stirs Nathanael to his confession: “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
On John 1:51
“The Son of Man” is a Messianic title indicating a man of heavenly origin who would usher in the Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:13–14). Jesus is the ladder of Jacob’s dream (Genesis 28:12–15) — the one who unites earth to heaven. All who approach Him find the way opened between the human and the divine.
On Luke 24:16 — Eyes Restrained
The nature of the resurrected body is so different from its previous state that it is not immediately recognizable. Christ intentionally prevents the disciples on the road from recognizing Him, in order to expose their doubting thoughts and then cure them by means of the Old Testament Scriptures (v. 27). It is partial faith to believe in a Messiah who only suffered or one who would only reign in glory. Complete faith sees both, for all of this was foretold in the Law and the Prophets.
On Luke 24:30–35 — Known in the Breaking of Bread
The Lord breaks bread in the same manner as at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19), imaging the Eucharist of the New Testament Church. All who commune with the Lord in His risen Body in faith have their eyes opened to know Him, for the Lord is known most perfectly in the breaking of bread (v. 35).
On Luke 24:32 — Hearts Burning
“Did not our heart burn within us?” — The inescapable effect of hearing the Holy Scriptures taught correctly and with faith. This burning is the conviction that the words and promises are true.
Reflection: The Sunday of Orthodoxy
On this First Sunday of the Great Lent, the Church celebrates the Sunday of Orthodoxy — the Triumph of Orthodoxy, commemorating the final restoration of the Holy Icons in 843 AD after the long struggle against Iconoclasm. The Church sings:
“Your most pure image we venerate, O Good One, asking forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God.”
All three readings today form a single thread: faith sees what the eyes of the flesh cannot. Moses saw the invisible reward and chose reproach. Nathanael, whose heart was pure, was seen by Christ before he was found. The disciples at Emmaus had their eyes opened — not through argument, but through the breaking of bread.
Today as we begin the Lenten fast, we do not fast from bread alone. We fast from whatever blinds us — from the passing pleasures that look like riches but are reproach, from the worldly hopes that crucify our deeper longing. We enter the race, surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Did not our heart burn within us? Let that burning be our compass in these forty days.
Glory to God for all things.
Source: OCA Daily Readings — oca.org | Scripture text: Orthodox Study Bible (NKJV) | Commentary: Orthodox Study Bible notes Generated: March 1, 2026
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