--- title: "January 5, 2026 — The Ten Martyrs of Crete | Church calendar" description: "Monday, January 5, 2026. 23 December (Old Style). The Ten Martyrs of Crete. Fast day" url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-01-05" language: "en" --- Monday # January 5, 2026 23 December (Old Style) · 31st week after Pentecost Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar) [Old Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-01-05) [New Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2026-01-05) [Month calendar](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-01) [← January 4](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-01-04) [January 6 →](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-01-06) ## Events of the day - The Ten Martyrs of Crete Commemoration - Forefeast: Nativity of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ ## Fasting Fast day · Nativity Fast Nativity Fast (from 20 Dec Old Style), Monday, Wednesday and Friday: xerophagy. - Meat: not allowed - Dairy & eggs: not allowed - Fish: not allowed - Oil: not allowed - Wine: not allowed - Xerophagy Food rules are reference church information. Agree your personal measure of fasting with a priest; consult a doctor if you are ill. ## Readings of the day - Epistle Hebrews 11:17–23, 27–31 **Show the text** 17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son, 18 to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” 19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead. 20 By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. 21 By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 27 By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 29 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up. 30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace. - Gospel Mark 10:46–52 **Show the text** 46 They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still, and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!” 50 He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus on the way. Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible. ## Saints and icons - Prayer of the day: [Morning prayer of St Macarius the Great](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/prayers/morning-macarius)