---
title: "December 18, 2026 (New Style) | Church calendar"
description: "Friday, December 18, 2026. 18 December (Revised Julian). Fast day. The Orthodox Church calendar, icons, prayers, lives of saints and Church history on…"
url: "https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2026-12-18"
language: "en"
---

Friday

# December 18, 2026

18 December (Revised Julian) · 29th week after Pentecost

New Calendar (Revised Julian)

[Old Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/2026-12-18) [New Style](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2026-12-18)

[Month calendar](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2026-12)

[← December 17](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2026-12-17) [December 19 →](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/calendar/new-style/2026-12-19)

## Events of the day

No commemorations in the content package for this day yet

## 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

  Hebrews 7:18–25

  **Show the text**

  18 For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

  19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

  20 Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

  21 (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’ ”

  22 By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.

  23 Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

  24 But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.

  25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.

- Gospel

  Mark 9:33–41

  **Show the text**

  33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”

  34 But they were silent, for they had disputed with one another on the way about who was the greatest.

  35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

  36 He took a little child, and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,

  37 “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

  38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”

  39 But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

  40 For whoever is not against us is on our side.

  41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.

Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, New Calendar (OCA practice). Text: World English Bible.

## Saints and icons

- Prayer of the day: [Short penitential prayers](https://spas.life/en/orthodoxy/prayers/penitential-short)