---
title: "December 31, 2031 — Martyr Sebastian and his companions"
description: "Wednesday, December 31, 2031. 18 December (Old Style). Martyr Sebastian and his companions. Fast day"
url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12-31"
language: "en"
---

Wednesday

# December 31, 2031

18 December (Old Style) · 31st week after Pentecost

Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar)

[Old Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12-31) [New Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2031-12-31)

[Month calendar](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12)

[← December 30](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2031-12-30) [January 1 →](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2032-01-01)

## Events of the day

- Martyr Sebastian and his companions

  Commemoration

## Fasting

Fast day · Nativity Fast

Nativity Fast, 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

  James 1:1–18

- Gospel

  Mark 10:11–16

  **Show the text**

  11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her.

  12 If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.”

  13 They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.

  14 But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

  15 Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

  16 He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

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)