--- title: "February 18, 2026 — Martyr Agatha | Church calendar" description: "Wednesday, February 18, 2026. 5 February (Old Style). Martyr Agatha. No fast" url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-02-18" language: "en" --- Wednesday # February 18, 2026 5 February (Old Style) · Cheesefare Week Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar) [Old Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-02-18) [New Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2026-02-18) [Month calendar](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-02) [← February 17](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-02-17) [February 19 →](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-02-19) ## Events of the day - Martyr Agatha Commemoration - Afterfeast: Meeting of the Lord in the Temple ## Fasting No fast · Cheesefare Week Cheesefare Week: no meat; dairy, eggs and fish are allowed every day. - Meat: not allowed - Dairy & eggs: allowed - Fish: allowed - Oil: allowed - Wine: allowed 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 - 6th Hour Joel 2:12–26 - Vespers Joel 3:12–21 - Vespers Composite reading — Proverbs 10, 3, 8 - Vespers Composite reading — Proverbs 10; Wisdom of Solomon 6, 7, 8, 9 - Vespers Wisdom of Solomon 4:7–15 - Matins Gospel John 10:9–16 **Show the text** 9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. 10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. 13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. - Epistle · St Theodosius Hebrews 13:17–21 **Show the text** 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. 19 I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 21 make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. - Gospel · St Theodosius Luke 6:17–23 **Show the text** 17 He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; 18 as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. 19 All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out of him and healed them all. 20 He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, God’s Kingdom is yours. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets. Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible. ## Saints and icons - Prayer of the day: [The Trisagion](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/prayers/trisagion)