Wednesday
December 30, 2026
17 December (Old Style) · 31st week after Pentecost
Russian Orthodox Church (Old Calendar)
Events of the day
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Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths Ananias, Azarias and Misael
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
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Epistle
James 1:1–18
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Gospel
Mark 8:30–34
Show the text
30He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.
31He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”
34He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Source: Orthocal: lectionary data — Slavic tradition, Julian calendar. Text: World English Bible.
Saints and icons
- Prayer of the day: The Trisagion