--- title: "September 21, 2026 — Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos" description: "Monday, September 21, 2026. 8 September (Old Style). Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. No fast" url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-09-21" language: "en" --- Monday # September 21, 2026 8 September (Old Style) · 17th week after Pentecost Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar) [Old Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-09-21) [New Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2026-09-21) [Month calendar](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-09) [← September 20](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-09-20) [September 22 →](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-09-22) ## Events of the day - Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Twelve Great Feast The birth of the Virgin Mary to the righteous Joachim and Anna; the first of the Twelve Great Feasts in the church year. ## Fasting No fast No fast today. 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 - Vespers Genesis 28:10–17 - Vespers Ezekiel 43:27–44:4 - Vespers Proverbs 9:1–11 - Matins Gospel Luke 1:39–49, 56 **Show the text** 39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” 46 Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. 47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. 56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house. - Epistle · Theotokos Philippians 2:5–11 **Show the text** 5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Epistle Ephesians 1:22–2:3 **Show the text** 22 He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. 3 We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. - Gospel · Theotokos Luke 10:38–42, 11:27–28 - 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.