In Orthodoxy, each year has a certain number of significant dates. Christian holidays in 2017 by month are divided into non-transient and transferable. Events that occur in the same period from year to subsequent year are called non-transient, that is, constant. Moving celebrations change the date of their celebration depending on what date Easter falls on. As you know, in Orthodoxy, all calculations of the most important moving events of the year are based on the date of the celebration of Easter, since this event is dominant in the entire Christian religion. Easter means the holy resurrection of Christ after his execution-crucifixion. The holy resurrection of the Savior itself strengthened the faith of the believing people in the strength and might of the Lord.
Orthodox holidays are also divided according to their meaning. It has been determined that the main events of the religious year are usually divided into those of the Lord and those of the Mother of God. Since the Lord's celebrations directly relate to the life and existence of Christ, the Mother of God celebrations are entirely dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.
During each month there is a fairly large number of Orthodox events. Many of them are generally known, but such a celebration as the Nativity of Christ is even included in calendar events as an official state holiday. But the religious calendar consists not only of solemn and significant dates for Orthodoxy; it also necessarily includes the foundations of Christian fasts, which are obligatory for believers to fulfill.
Orthodox fasting is a mandatory and important basis of the faith of any Christian. During the duration of such a restriction, the believer must abstain from the delights and passions of ordinary human life. Fulfillment of fasting is given as a sign of strength and confident will. Believers adhere to the principles of fasting in honor of respect and veneration of religious traditions.
What religious holidays in 2017 are listed by month in the Christian calendar?
January
6 – Christmas Eve. A festive event in honor of which believers adhere to strict fasting and completely exclude all food from the diet.
7 – the great Nativity of Christ. An important date that refers to non-transitionable, that is, permanent holidays.
14 – Christian holidays include an event of important significance – the Circumcision of the Lord.
18 – Epiphany Eve – the eve of the meeting of the Epiphany of the Lord.
19 – meeting of the celebration of the Baptism of Christ. A great holiday, which is equipped with various religious rituals.
25 is a date that is completely dedicated to the great martyr Tatiana, the servant of Jesus.
February
15 – celebration of the Presentation of the Lord. The meaning of this significant date for believers lies in the coming of the infant Christ to the holy temple, when this visit was made for the first time.
20 - the beginning of Maslenitsa week - a glorious holiday that lasts 7 days before the start of Lent.
26 – meeting of Forgiveness Sunday. An important date for all believers and ordinary people. On this day, it is customary to sincerely ask for forgiveness from all relatives and friends.
27 – Church holidays in 2017 include the tradition of observing Lent by month. Strict restrictions in life as usual for many people will last for 40 days, until Easter.
March
In the first month of spring there are no dates important for Orthodoxy. During this period, believers adhere to the principles of Lent, which personifies the torment of Christ before his crucifixion. In March, every Saturday, believers must honor deceased relatives, in particular, parents, therefore, throughout the entire month there are 3 parental memorial Saturdays, which are designated by the calendar on the 11th, 18th and 25th.
April
7 - meeting of the most important holiday for Christians - the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. The celebration is symbolized by the coming of an angel to the Virgin Mary, who brought her the news that she would soon give birth to a baby, the Savior of the world and human destinies.
9 – Christianity celebrates the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. This celebration is popularly known as Palm Sunday.
16 –Bright and joyful Easter is a significant and important day for religion.
25 – memorial Radonitsa. At this moment, cemeteries are visited and deceased relatives are remembered by believers.
May
6 is a date dedicated to the honor and respect of St. George the Victorious.
9 - an event significant for all of Christianity - Voinov, among the common people this is the period of celebration of Victory Day.
25 – Holy Ascension of the Lord. The celebration personifies the miraculous ascension of Christ to Heaven in the form of a white cloud.
June
3 – memorial Trinity Saturday. Memorial Day for relatives, as well as all familiar people.
4 –meeting of the Holy Trinity. Celebration of the great day when praise and honor are given to the Triune God.
12 – during this period, the rules for maintaining Peter’s Fast begin. This restriction in the usual human benefits will last until Peter's Day.
July
7 - a glorious and joyful day - the holiday of Ivan Kupala. An event equipped with good traditions and rituals.
7 – The birth of John the Baptist is celebrated.
8 – day of religious lovers Peter and Fevronia. In common parlance, the date is called the day of family, fidelity and love.
12 – monthly Christian holidays indicate the end of Peter’s Fast. During the same period, the celebrations of the day of Saints Paul and Peter occur.
August
2 – believers celebrate Elijah’s Day.
14 – the beginning of the Assumption Holy Fast is scheduled for this day.
19 – holy day – Transfiguration of Christ. The date when Christ took on the guise of the Holy Spirit and appeared in it to his disciples.
28 – the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated – the date is not sad, on the contrary, it is a period of joy.
September
11 - meeting of the holiday dedicated to the Beheading of John the Baptist, when the holy prophet suffered a terrible and painful death.
21 – The birth of the Virgin Mary is a great religious event.
27 – Christian holiday – Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. The day of the establishment of the cross on which Christ was crucified.
October
14 – Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
November
28 - the beginning of the holy Nativity fast - a strict restriction of believers in their usual way of life.
December
4 – meeting of the celebration dedicated to the Entry of the Mother of God into the holy temple of the Lord. This event refers to non-transitional dates.
19 – Orthodox holidays in 2017 by month include an event that relates to the tribute of respect and honor to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker- a saint who, with his skills and the power of faith, saved the lives of believers from misfortunes and terrible illnesses.
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Designation of calendar background colors No post
Fish, hot food with vegetable oil Hot food with vegetable oil Hot food without vegetable oil Cold food without vegetable oil, unheated drinks Abstinence from food Big holidays |
Great Church holidays in 2017
| January 14 | |
| January 19 | |
| February, 15 | |
| April 7 | |
| April 9 | |
| May 25 | |
| July 7 | |
| July, 12 | |
| August 19 | |
| August 28 | |
| September 21 | |
| September 27 | |
| October 14 | |
| December 4 |
Lent
(in 2017 falls on February 27 - April 15)
Lent is designated for the repentance and humility of Christians before the holiday of Easter, on which the Holy Resurrection of Christ from the dead is celebrated. This is the most significant of all Christian holidays.
The start and end times of Lent depend on the date of Easter, which does not have a fixed calendar date. The duration of Lent is 7 weeks. It consists of 2 fasts - Lent and Holy Week.
Lent lasts 40 days in memory of the forty-day fast of Jesus Christ in the desert. Thus, the fast is called Lent. The last seventh week of Great Lent - Holy Week - is defined in memory of the last days of earthly life, the suffering and death of Christ.
During Lent, you are allowed to eat only once a day, in the evening. During the entire fast, including weekends, it is prohibited to consume meat, milk, cheese and eggs. Fasting must be observed with particular strictness in the first and last weeks. On the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, April 7, it is allowed to relax the fast and add vegetable oil and fish to the diet. In addition to abstaining from food during Lent, one must diligently pray that the Lord God will grant repentance, regret for sins and love for the Almighty.
Apostolic Fast - Petrov Fast
(in 2017 falls on June 12 - July 11)
This post does not have a specific date. The apostolic fast is dedicated to the memory of the apostles Peter and Paul. Its beginning depends on the day of Easter and the Holy Trinity, which falls on the current year. Lent begins exactly seven days after the feast of Trinity, which is also called Pentecost, because it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. The week before Lent is called All Saints' Week.
The duration of the Apostolic Fast can be from 8 days to 6 weeks (depending on the day of Easter celebration). The Apostolic Fast ends on July 12, the day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This is where the post got its name. It is also called the Fast of the Holy Apostles or the Fast of Peter.
The apostolic fast is not very strict. On Wednesday and Friday, dry eating is allowed, on Monday the consumption of hot food without oil is allowed, on Tuesday and Thursday mushrooms, vegetable foods with vegetable oil and a little wine are allowed, and on Saturday and Sunday fish is also allowed.
Fish is still allowed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, if these days fall on a holiday with great praise. It is permissible to eat fish on Wednesday and Friday only when these days fall on a vigil holiday or a temple festival.
Dormition post
(in 2017 falls from August 14 to August 27)
The Dormition Fast begins exactly one month after the end of the Apostolic Fast on August 14 and lasts 2 weeks, until August 27. This post prepares for the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is celebrated on August 28. Through the Dormition Fast we follow the example of the Mother of God, who was constantly in fasting and prayer.
According to the severity, the Assumption Fast is close to Great Lent. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is dry food, Tuesday and Thursday - hot food without oil, on Saturday and Sunday vegetable food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), it is allowed to consume fish, as well as oil and wine.
On the day of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 28), if the devil falls on Wednesday or Friday, only fish is allowed. Meat, milk and eggs are prohibited. On other days, fasting is canceled.
There is also a rule not to eat fruit until August 19th. As a result, the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord is also called the Apple Savior, because at this time garden fruits (in particular, apples) are brought to the church, blessed and given away.
Christmas post
(from November 28 to January 6)
The period of Advent Lent lasts from November 28 to January 6. If the first day of fasting falls on Sunday, the fast is softened, but not canceled. The Nativity Fast precedes the Nativity of Christ, January 7 (December 25), on which the birth of the Savior is celebrated. Fasting begins 40 days before the celebration and is therefore also called Lent. People call the Nativity Fast Filippov, because it begins immediately after the day of remembrance of the Apostle Philip - November 27. Conventionally, the Nativity Fast shows the state of the world before the coming of the Savior. By abstinence in food, Christians express respect for the holiday of the Birth of Christ. In accordance with the rules of abstinence, the Nativity Fast is similar to the Apostolic Fast until the day of St. Nicholas - December 19. From December 20 until Christmas, fasting is observed with particular strictness.
According to the charter, it is allowed to eat fish on the feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the week before December 20.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of the Nativity Fast, dry eating is accepted.
If there is a temple holiday or vigil on these days, it is allowed to eat fish; If the day of a great saint falls, the consumption of wine and vegetable oil is allowed.
After St. Nicholas Memorial Day and before Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. You cannot eat fish on the eve of the holiday. If these days fall on Saturday or Sunday, meals with butter are allowed.
On Christmas Eve, January 6, on the eve of Christmas, food is not allowed until the appearance of the first star. This rule was adopted in memory of the star that shone at the moment of the birth of the Rescuer. After the appearance of the first star (it is customary to eat sochivo - wheat seeds boiled in honey or dried fruits softened in water, and kutya - boiled cereal with raisins. The Christmas period lasts from January 7 to January 13. From the morning of January 7, all food restrictions are lifted. Fasting is canceled for 11 days.
One-day posts
There are many one-day posts. According to the strictness of observance, they vary and are in no way associated with a specific date. The most common of them are posts on Wednesdays and Fridays of any week. Also, the most famous one-day fasts are on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, on the day before the Baptism of the Lord, on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist.
There are also one-day fasts associated with the dates of commemoration of famous saints.
These fasts are not considered strict if they do not fall on Wednesday and Friday. During these one-day fasts, it is prohibited to eat fish, but food with vegetable oil is acceptable.
Individual fasts can be taken in the event of some kind of misfortune or social misfortune - an epidemic, war, terrorist attack, etc. One-day fasts precede the sacrament of communion.
Posts on Wednesday and Friday
On Wednesday, according to the Gospel, Judas betrayed Jesus Christ, and on Friday Jesus suffered on the cross and died. In memory of these events, Orthodoxy has adopted fasts on Wednesday and Friday of each week. Exceptions occur only in continuous weeks or weeks, during which there are no existing restrictions for these days. Such weeks are considered to be Christmastide (January 7–18), Publican and Pharisee, Cheese, Easter and Trinity (the first week after Trinity).
On Wednesday and Friday it is forbidden to eat meat, dairy foods, and eggs. Some of the most pious Christians do not allow themselves to consume, including fish and vegetable oil, that is, they observe dry eating.
Relaxation of fasting on Wednesday and Friday is possible only if this day coincides with the feast of a particularly revered saint, to whose memory a special church service is dedicated.
In the period between All Saints' Week and before the Nativity of Christ, it is necessary to give up fish and vegetable oil. If Wednesday or Friday coincides with the feast of the saints, then it is allowed to use vegetable oil.
On major holidays, such as Intercession, it is allowed to eat fish.
On the eve of the feast of the Epiphany
The Epiphany of the Lord takes place on January 18th. According to the Gospel, Christ was baptized in the Jordan River, at that moment the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. John was a witness that Christ is the Savior, that is, Jesus is the Messiah of the Lord. During baptism, he heard the voice of the Most High, proclaiming: “This is My beloved Son, with Him I am well pleased.”
Before the Epiphany of the Lord, a vigil is celebrated in churches, at which point the ceremony of consecrating holy water takes place. In connection with this holiday, fasting has been adopted. At the time of this fast, food intake is allowed once a day and only juice and kutya with honey. Therefore, among Orthodox believers, the eve of Epiphany is usually called Christmas Eve. If the evening meal falls on Saturday or Sunday, the fast on that day is not canceled, but is relaxed. In this case, you can eat food twice a day - after the liturgy and after the rite of blessing of water.
Fasting on the Day of the Beheading of John the Baptist
The day of the Beheading of John the Baptist is commemorated on September 11. It was introduced in memory of the death of the prophet - John the Baptist, who was the Forerunner of the Messiah. According to the Gospel, John was thrown into prison by Herod Antipas because of his exposure in connection with Herodias, the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother.
During the celebration of his birthday, the King organized a holiday, the daughter of Herodias, Salome, presented a skillful dance to Herod. He was delighted with the beauty of the dance, and promised the girl everything she wanted for it. Herodias persuaded her daughter to beg for the head of John the Baptist. Herod fulfilled the girl’s wish by sending a warrior to the prisoner to bring him John’s head.
In memory of John the Baptist and his pious life, during which he continuously fasted, a fast was established. On this day it is forbidden to consume meat, dairy, eggs and fish. Vegetable foods and vegetable oil are acceptable.
Fasting on the Day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
This holiday falls on September 27th. This day was established in memory of the discovery of the Lord's Cross. This happened in the 4th century. According to legend, the emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Constantine the Great, won many victories thanks to the Cross of the Lord and therefore revered this symbol. Showing gratitude to the Almighty for the consent of the church at the First Ecumenical Council, he decided to erect a temple on Calvary. Helen, the emperor's mother, went to Jerusalem in 326 to find the Cross of the Lord.
According to the then custom, crosses, as instruments of execution, were buried next to the place of execution. Three crosses were found on Calvary. It was impossible to understand which one was Christ, since the bar with the inscription “Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews” was discovered separately from all the crosses. Subsequently, the Cross of the Lord was installed according to its power, which was expressed in the healing of the sick and the resurrection of a person through touching this cross. The glory of the amazing miracles of the Cross of the Lord attracted a lot of people, and because of the crowds, many did not have the opportunity to see and bow to it. Then Patriarch Macarius raised the cross, showing it to everyone around him in the distance. Thus, the holiday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross appeared.
The holiday was adopted on the day of the consecration of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, September 26, 335, and began to be celebrated the next day, September 27. In 614, the Persian king Khozroes took possession of Jerusalem and took out the Cross. In 328, Chozroes' heir, Syroes, returned the stolen Cross of the Lord to Jerusalem. This happened on September 27, so this day is considered a double holiday - the Exaltation and the Finding of the Cross of the Lord. On this day it is forbidden to eat cheese, eggs and fish. In this way, Christian believers express their reverence for the Cross.
Holy Resurrection of Christ - Easter
(in 2017 falls on April 16)
The most key Christian holiday is Easter - the Holy Resurrection of Christ from the dead. Easter is considered the main one between the transitory twelve holidays, since the Easter story contains everything on which Christian knowledge is based. For all Christians, the Resurrection of Christ means salvation and trampling on death.
The suffering of Christ, torture on the cross and death, washed away original sin, and therefore gave salvation to humanity. That is why Christians call Easter the Solemnity of Solemnities and the Feast of Feasts.
The Christian holiday is based on the following story. On the first day of the week, the myrrh-bearing women came to the tomb of Christ to anoint the body with incense. However, the large block that blocked the entrance to the tomb was moved, and an angel sat on the stone, who told the women that the Savior had risen. Some time later, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and sent her to the apostles to inform them that the prophecy had come true.
She ran to the apostles and told them the good news and told them the message of Christ that they would meet in Galilee. Before His death, Jesus told the disciples about future events, but Mary's news plunged them into confusion. Faith in the Kingdom of Heaven, promised by Jesus, came to life again in their hearts. However, not everyone was happy about the Resurrection of Jesus: the high priests and Pharisees started rumors about the disappearance of the body.
However, despite the lies and painful trials that fell on the first Christians, the New Testament Easter became the foundation of the Christian faith. The blood of Christ atoned for the sins of people and opened the way to salvation for them. From the first days of Christianity, the apostles established the celebration of Easter, which was preceded by Holy Week in memory of the suffering of the Savior. Today they are preceded by Lent, which lasts forty days.
For a long time, discussions continued about the true date of the celebration of the memory of the events described, until at the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (325) they agreed to celebrate Easter on the 1st Sunday following the first spring full moon and the vernal equinox. In various years, Easter can be celebrated from March 21 to April 24 (old style).
On the eve of Easter, the service begins at eleven o'clock in the evening. First, the Midnight Office of Holy Saturday is served, then the bell sounds and a procession of the cross takes place, which is led by clergy; believers leave the church with lighted candles, and the bell is replaced by the festive ringing of bells. When the procession returns to the closed doors of the church, which symbolize the tomb of Christ, the ringing is interrupted. The holiday prayer sounds and the church door opens. At this time, the priest exclaims: “Christ is Risen!”, and the believers together answer: “Truly He is Risen!” This is how Easter Matins begins.
At the time of the Easter liturgy, the Gospel of John is read as usual. At the end of the Easter liturgy, artos - large prosphora similar to Easter cakes - are blessed. During Easter week, the artos is located close to the royal doors. After the liturgy, on the following Saturday, a special rite of breaking the artos is served, and pieces of it are distributed to the believers.
At the end of the Easter liturgy, the fast ends and the Orthodox can treat themselves to a piece of blessed Easter cake or Easter cake, a colored egg, a meat pie, etc. In the first week of Easter (Bright Week) it is supposed to give food to the hungry and help the needy. Christians go to visit their relatives and exchange exclamations: “Christ is risen!” - “Truly he is risen!” On Easter, people are supposed to give colored eggs. This tradition was adopted in memory of the visit of Mary Magdalene to the Emperor of Rome Tiberius. According to legend, Mary was the first to tell Tiberius the news of the Resurrection of the Savior and brought him an egg as a gift - as a symbol of life. But Tiberius did not believe the news of the Resurrection and said that he would believe it if the egg he brought turned red. And at that moment the egg turned red. In memory of what happened, believers began to paint eggs, which became a symbol of Easter.
Palm Sunday. Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
(in 2017 falls on April 9)
The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, or simply Palm Sunday, is one of the most key twelve holidays celebrated by the Orthodox. The first mentions of this holiday are found in manuscripts of the 3rd century. This event is of great importance for Christians, since the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, whose authorities were hostile to Him, means that Christ voluntarily accepted the suffering of the cross. The entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is described by all four evangelists, which also testifies to the significance of this day.
The date of Palm Sunday depends on the date of Easter: The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is celebrated a week before Easter. In order to confirm the people in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Messiah predicted by the prophets, a week before the Resurrection, the Savior and the apostles went to the city. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus sent John and Peter to a village, indicating the place where they would find the colt. The apostles brought a colt to the Teacher, on which He sat and went to Jerusalem.
At the entrance to the city, some people laid out their own clothes, the rest accompanied Him with cut palm branches, and greeted the Savior with the words: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” because they believed that Jesus was the Messiah and King of the people of Israel.
When Jesus entered the Jerusalem temple, he drove out the merchants with the words: “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). People listened with admiration to the teachings of Christ. The sick began to come to Him, He healed them, and at that moment the children sang His praises. Then Christ left the temple and went with his disciples to Bethany.
In ancient times, it was customary to greet winners with fronds, or palm branches; this is where another name for the holiday came from: Vaiya Week. In Russia, where palm trees do not grow, the holiday received its third name - Palm Sunday - in honor of the only plant that blooms during this harsh time. Palm Sunday ends Lent and begins Holy Week.
As for the festive table, Palm Sunday allows fish and vegetable dishes with vegetable oil. And the day before, on Lazarus Saturday, after Vespers, you can taste a little fish caviar.
Ascension of the Lord
(in 2017 it falls on May 25)
The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter. Traditionally, this holiday falls on Thursday of the sixth week of Easter. The events associated with the Ascension signify the end of the Savior’s earthly sojourn and the beginning of His life in the bosom of the Church. After the Resurrection, the Teacher came to his disciples for forty days, teaching them the true faith and the way of salvation. The Savior instructed the apostles what to do after His Ascension.
Then Christ promised the disciples to release the Holy Spirit on them, which they should wait for in Jerusalem. Christ said: “And I will send the promise of My Father upon you; But you remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Then, together with the apostles, they went outside the city, where He blessed the disciples and began to ascend into heaven. The apostles bowed to Him and returned to Jerusalem.
As for fasting, on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord it is allowed to eat any food, both fasting and fasting.
Trinity Day - Pentecost
(in 2017 falls on June 4)
On the Day of the Holy Trinity, we commemorate the story that tells about the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Christ. The Holy Spirit appeared to the Apostles of the Savior in the form of tongues of flame on the day of Pentecost, that is, on the fiftieth day after Easter, hence the name of this holiday. The second, most famous name of the day is dedicated to the discovery by the apostles of the third hypostasis of the Holy Trinity - the Holy Spirit, after which the Christian concept of the Triune Godhead received a perfect interpretation.
On the day of the Holy Trinity, the apostles intended to meet in their home in order to pray together. Suddenly they heard a roar, and then tongues of fire began to appear in the air, which, dividing, descended on Christ’s disciples.
After the flame descended on the apostles, the prophecy “...were filled... with the Holy Spirit...” (Acts 2:4) came true and they offered a prayer. With the descent of the Holy Spirit, the disciples of Christ acquired the gift of speaking in different languages in order to carry the Word of the Lord throughout the world.
The noise coming from the house attracted a large crowd of curious people. The assembled people were amazed that the apostles could speak different languages. Among the people there were people from other nations; they heard the apostles offering prayers in their native language. Most people were surprised and filled with awe, at the same time, among those gathered there were also people who were skeptical about what had happened, “they got drunk on sweet wine” (Acts 2:13).
On this day, the Apostle Peter preached his first sermon, which said that the event that happened on this day was predicted by the prophets and marks the last mission of the Savior in the earthly world. The Apostle Peter's sermon was short and simple, but the Holy Spirit spoke through him, and his speech reached the souls of many people. At the end of Peter's speech, many accepted the faith and were baptized. “So those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added” (Acts 2:41). Since ancient times, Trinity Day has been revered as the birthday of the Christian Church, created by Holy grace.
On Trinity Day, it is customary to decorate houses and churches with flowers and grass. Regarding the festive table, on this day it is allowed to eat any food. There is no fasting on this day.
Twelfth Enduring Holidays
Christmas (January 7)
According to legend, the Lord God promised sinner Adam the coming of the Savior back in paradise. Many prophets foreshadowed the coming of the Savior - Christ, in particular the prophet Isaiah, prophesied about the birth of the Messiah to the Jews who had forgotten the Lord and worshiped pagan idols. Shortly before the birth of Jesus, the ruler Herod proclaimed a decree on a population census, for this the Jews had to appear in the cities in which they were born. Joseph and the Virgin Mary also went to the cities where they were born.
They did not get to Bethlehem quickly: the Virgin Mary was pregnant, and when they arrived in the city, it was time to give birth. But in Bethlehem, due to the crowd of people, all the places were occupied, and Joseph and Mary had to stay in a stable. At night, Mary gave birth to a boy, named Him Jesus, swaddled him and put him in a manger - a feeding trough for livestock. Not far from their overnight stay, there were shepherds grazing cattle, an angel appeared to them, who told them: ... I bring you great joy that will be to all people: for today a Savior has been born to you in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord; and here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12). When the angel disappeared, the shepherds went to Bethlehem, where they found the Holy Family, worshiped Jesus, and told about the appearance of the angel and his sign, after which they went back to their flocks.
In these same days, wise men came to Jerusalem and asked people about the born king of the Jews, since a new bright star was shining in the heavens. Having learned about the Magi, King Herod called them to him in order to find out the place where the Messiah was born. He ordered the wise men to find out the place where the new king of the Jews was born.
The Magi followed the star, which led them to the stable where the Savior was born. Entering the stable, the wise men bowed to Jesus and presented him with gifts: incense, gold and myrrh. “And having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another route” (Matthew 2:12). That same night, Joseph received a sign: an angel appeared in his dream and said: “Get up, take the Child and His Mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod wants to look for the Child in order to destroy Him” (Matt. 2, 13). Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Egypt, where they stayed until the death of Herod.
For the first time, the holiday of the Nativity of Christ began to be celebrated in the 4th century in Constantinople. The holiday is preceded by a forty-day fast and Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, it is customary to drink only water, and when the first star appears in the sky, they break their fast with sochi - boiled wheat or rice with honey and dried fruits. After Christmas and before Epiphany, Christmastide is celebrated, during which all fasts are canceled.
Epiphany - Epiphany (January 19)
Christ began serving people at the age of thirty. John the Baptist was supposed to anticipate the coming of the Messiah, who prophesied the coming of the Messiah and baptized people in the Jordan for the cleansing of sins. When the Savior appeared to John for baptism, John recognized the Messiah in Him and told Him that he himself must be baptized by the Savior. But Christ answered: “...leave it now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15), that is, to fulfill what the prophets said.
Christians call the feast of the Baptism of the Lord the Epiphany; at the baptism of Christ, three hypostases of the Trinity appeared to people for the first time: the Lord Son, Jesus himself, the Holy Spirit, who descended in the form of a dove on Christ, and the Lord Father, who said: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” "(Matthew 3:17).
The first to celebrate the feast of Epiphany were the disciples of Christ, as evidenced by the set of apostolic rules. The day before the feast day of Epiphany, Christmas Eve begins. On this day, as on Christmas Eve, Orthodox Christians eat sochiv, and only after the blessing of the water. Epiphany water is considered healing, it is sprinkled at home, and it is drunk on an empty stomach for various diseases.
On the feast of Epiphany itself, the rite of the great hagiasma is also served. On this day, the tradition of making a religious procession to reservoirs with the Gospel, banners and lamps has been preserved. The religious procession is accompanied by the ringing of bells and the singing of the troparion of the holiday.
Presentation of the Lord (February 15)
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord describes the events that happened in the Jerusalem Temple during the meeting of the Infant Jesus with the elder Simeon. According to the law, on the fortieth day after her birth, the Virgin Mary brought Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem. According to legend, Elder Simeon lived at the temple where he translated the Holy Scriptures into Greek. In one of the prophecies of Isaiah, which describes the coming of the Savior, in the place where His birth is described, it is said that the Messiah will be born not from a woman, but from a Virgin. The elder suggested that there was an error in the original text, at that same moment an angel appeared to him and said that Simeon would not die until he saw the Blessed Virgin and Her Son with his own eyes.
When the Virgin Mary entered the temple with Jesus in her arms, Simeon immediately saw Them and recognized the Messiah in the Baby. He took Him in his arms and uttered the following words: “Now You are releasing Your servant, O Master, according to Your word in peace, because My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation of tongues and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2, 29). From now on, the old man could die peacefully, because he had just seen with his own eyes both the Virgin Mother and Her Son-Savior.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7)
Since ancient times, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary has been called both the Beginning of Redemption and the Conception of Christ. This lasted for the 7th century until it acquired the name it currently has. In terms of its significance for Christians, the Feast of the Annunciation is comparable only to the Nativity of Christ. That is why there is a proverb among people to this day that on a given day “the bird does not build a nest, the maiden does not braid her hair.”
The history of the holiday is as follows. When the Virgin Mary reached the age of fifteen, She had to leave the walls of the Jerusalem Temple: in accordance with the laws that existed in those times, only men had the opportunity to serve the Almighty throughout their lives. However, by this time Mary's parents had already died, and the priests decided to betroth Mary to Joseph of Nazareth.
One day an angel appeared to the Virgin Mary, who was the Archangel Gabriel. He greeted Her with the following words: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Mary was confused because she did not know what the angel's words meant. The Archangel explained to Mary that She was the chosen one of the Lord for the birth of the Savior, about whom the prophets spoke: “... and you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:31-33).
Having heard the revelation of the Archangel Gavria, the Virgin Mary asked: “... how will this happen if I don’t know my husband?” (Luke 1:34), to which the archangel replied that the Holy Spirit would descend on the Virgin, therefore the Child born from her would be holy. And Mary humbly answered: “...behold the handmaid of the Lord; Let it be done to me according to Your word” (Luke 1:37).
Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19)
The Savior often told the apostles that in order to save people, He would have to endure suffering and death. And in order to strengthen the faith of the disciples, he showed them His Divine glory, which awaits Him and the other righteous of Christ at the end of their earthly existence.
One day Christ took three disciples - Peter, James and John - to Mount Tabor to pray to the Almighty. But the apostles, tired during the day, fell asleep, and when they woke up, they saw how the Savior had been transformed: His clothes were snow-white, and His face shone like the sun.
Next to the Teacher were the prophets Moses and Elijah, with whom Christ spoke about his own sufferings that He would have to endure. At that same moment, the apostles were overwhelmed by such grace that Peter randomly suggested: “Mentor! It's good for us to be here; We will make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah, not knowing what he said” (Luke 9:33).
At that moment, everyone was enveloped in a cloud, from which the voice of God was heard: “This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him” (Luke 9:35). As soon as the words of the Most High were heard, the disciples again saw Christ alone in His ordinary appearance.
When Christ and the apostles were returning from Mount Tabor, He ordered them not to testify before the time of what they had seen.
In Rus', the Transfiguration of the Lord was popularly called the “Apple Savior”, since on this day honey and apples are blessed in churches.
Dormition of the Mother of God (August 28)
The Gospel of John says that before his death, Christ commanded the Apostle John to take care of his Mother (John 19:26–27). From that time on, the Virgin Mary lived with John in Jerusalem. Here the apostles recorded the stories of the Mother of God about the earthly existence of Jesus Christ. The Mother of God often went to Golgotha to venerate and pray, and on one of these visits, the Archangel Gabriel informed Her of Her imminent dormition.
By this time, the apostles of Christ began to come to the city for the last earthly service of the Virgin Mary. Before the death of the Mother of God, Christ and the angels appeared at Her bedside, causing those present to be gripped by fear. The Mother of God gave glory to God and, as if falling asleep, accepted a peaceful death.
The apostles took the bed on which the Mother of God was and carried it to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Jewish priests, who hated Christ and did not believe in His resurrection, learned about the death of the Mother of God. The high priest Athos overtook the funeral procession and grabbed the bed, trying to turn it over in order to desecrate the body. However, the moment he touched the stock, his hands were cut off by an invisible force. Only after this did Afonia repent and believe, and immediately found healing. The body of the Mother of God was placed in a coffin and covered with a large stone.
However, among those present in the procession was not one of Christ’s disciples, the Apostle Thomas. He arrived in Jerusalem only three days after the funeral and cried for a long time at the tomb of the Virgin Mary. Then the apostles decided to open the Tomb so that Thomas could venerate the body of the deceased.
When they rolled away the stone, they found only the funeral shrouds of the Mother of God inside; the body itself was not inside the tomb: Christ took the Mother of God to heaven in Her earthly nature.
A temple was subsequently built on that spot, where the funeral shrouds of the Mother of God were preserved until the 4th century. After this, the shrine was transported to Byzantium, to the Blachernae Church, and in 582, Emperor Mauritius issued a decree on the general celebration of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
This holiday among the Orthodox is considered one of the most revered, like other holidays dedicated to the memory of the Virgin Mary.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 21)
The righteous parents of the Virgin Mary, Joachim and Anna, could not have children for a long time, and were very sad about their own childlessness, since among the Jews the absence of children was considered as God's punishment for secret sins. But Joachim and Anna did not lose faith in their child and prayed to God to send them a child. So they made an oath: if they have a child, they will give him to the service of the Almighty.
And God heard their requests, but before that, he subjected them to a test: when Joachim came to the temple to make a sacrifice, the priest did not take it, reproaching the old man for being childless. After this incident, Joachim went into the desert, where he fasted and begged for forgiveness from the Lord.
At this time, Anna also underwent a test: her maid reproached her for childlessness. After that, Anna went into the garden and, noticing a bird’s nest with chicks on a tree, began to think about the fact that even birds have children, and burst into tears. In the garden, an angel appeared before Anna and began to calm her down, promising that they would soon have a child. An angel also appeared before Joachim and said that the Lord had heard him.
After this, Joachim and Anna met and told each other about the good news that the angels told them, and a year later they had a girl, whom they named Mary.
Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord (September 27)
In 325, the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great, Queen Lena, went to Jerusalem to visit holy places. She visited Golgotha and the burial place of Christ, but most of all she wanted to find the Cross on which the Messiah was crucified. The search yielded results: three crosses were found on Calvary, and in order to find the one on which Christ suffered, they decided to conduct tests. Each of them was applied to the deceased, and one of the crosses resurrected the deceased. This was the same Cross of the Lord.
When the people learned that they had found the Cross on which Christ was crucified, a very large crowd gathered at Golgotha. There were so many Christians gathered that most of them could not approach the Cross to bow to the shrine. Patriarch Macarius proposed erecting the Cross so that everyone could see it. So, in honor of these events, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross was founded.
Among Christians, the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord is considered the only holiday that is celebrated from the first day of its existence, that is, the day when the Cross was found.
The Exaltation received general Christian significance after the war between Persia and Byzantium. In 614, Jerusalem was sacked by the Persians. Moreover, among the shrines they took away was the Cross of the Lord. And only in 628 the shrine was returned to the Church of the Resurrection, built on Calvary by Constantine the Great. Since then, the Feast of the Exaltation has been celebrated by all Christians in the world.
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple (December 4)
Christians celebrate the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple in memory of the dedication of the Virgin Mary to God. When Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anna fulfilled their vow: they brought their daughter to the Jerusalem Temple and placed her on the stairs. To the amazement of her parents and other people, little Mary walked up the stairs herself to meet the high priest, after which he led Her into the altar. From that time on, the Blessed Virgin Mary lived at the temple until the time came for her betrothal to righteous Joseph.
Great Holidays
Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord (January 14)
Circumcision of the Lord as a holiday was established in the 4th century. On this day, they commemorate an event associated with the Covenant made with God on Mount Zion by the prophet Moses: according to which all boys on the eighth day after birth were to accept circumcision as a symbol of unity with the Jewish patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
After completing this ritual, the Savior was named Jesus, as Archangel Gabriel commanded when he brought the good news to the Virgin Mary. According to the interpretation, the Lord accepted circumcision as a strict fulfillment of the laws of God. But in the Christian Church there is no ritual of circumcision, since according to the New Testament it gave way to the sacrament of baptism.
Nativity of John the Baptist, Forerunner of the Lord (July 7)
The celebration of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the prophet of the Lord, was established by the Church in the 4th century. Among all the most revered saints, John the Baptist occupies a special place, since he was supposed to prepare the Jewish people to accept the preaching of the Messiah.
During the reign of Herod, the priest Zechariah lived in Jerusalem with his wife Elizabeth. They did everything with zeal, as indicated by the Law of Moses, but God still did not give them a child. But one day, when Zechariah entered the altar for incense, he saw an angel who told the priest the good news that very soon his wife would give birth to a long-awaited child, who should be named John: “...and you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord; He will not drink wine or strong drink, and will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb...” (Luke 1:14-15).
However, in response to this revelation, Zechariah smiled mournfully: both he himself and his wife Elizabeth were advanced in years. When he told the angel about his own doubts, he introduced himself as the Archangel Gabriel and, as punishment for disbelief, imposed a ban: because Zechariah did not believe the good news, he would not be able to talk until Elizabeth gave birth to a child.
Soon Elizabeth was pregnant, but she could not believe her own happiness, so she hid her situation for up to five months. In the end, she had a son, and when the baby was brought to the temple on the eighth day, the priest was greatly surprised to learn that he was named John: neither in the family of Zechariah nor in the family of Elizabeth was there anyone with that name. But Zacharias nodded his head and confirmed his wife’s wishes, after which he was able to talk again. And the first words that left his lips were the words of a heartfelt prayer of gratitude.
Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (July 12)
On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates the apostles Peter and Paul, who suffered martyrdom in the year 67 for preaching the Gospel. This holiday precedes the multi-day apostolic (Petrov) fast.
In ancient times, church rules were adopted by the Council of the Apostles, and Peter and Paul occupied the highest places in it. In other words, the lives of these apostles were of great importance for the development of the Christian Church.
However, the first apostles followed slightly different paths to faith, which, realizing them, one can involuntarily think about the inscrutability of the Lord’s ways.
Apostle Peter
Before Peter began his apostolic ministry, he bore a different name - Simon, which he received at birth. Simon lived as a fisherman on Lake Gennesaret until his brother Andrew led the young man to Christ. The radical and strong Simon was immediately able to occupy a special place among the disciples of Jesus. For example, he was the first to recognize the Savior in Jesus and for this acquired a new name from Christ - Cephas (Hebrew stone). In Greek, this name sounds like Peter, and it was on this “flint” that Jesus was going to erect the building of his own Church, which “the gates of hell will not prevail.” However, weaknesses are inherent in man, and Peter’s weakness was his threefold denial of Christ. Nevertheless, Peter repented and was forgiven by Jesus, who confirmed his destiny three times over.
After the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, Peter was the first to preach a sermon in the history of the Christian Church. After this sermon, more than three thousand Jews joined the true faith. In the Acts of the Apostles, in almost every chapter there is evidence of Peter’s active work: he preached the Gospel in various towns and states located on the shores of the Mediterranean. And it is believed that the Apostle Mark, who accompanied Peter, wrote the Gospel, taking the sermons of Cephas as a basis. Apart from this, in the New Testament there is a book written personally by the apostle.
In 67, the apostle went to Rome, but was caught by the authorities and suffered on the cross, like Christ. But Peter considered that he was unworthy of exactly the same execution as the Teacher, so he asked the executioners to crucify him upside down on the cross.
Apostle Paul
Apostle Paul was born in the city of Tarsus (Asia Minor). Like Peter, he had a different name from birth - Saul. He was a gifted young man and acquired a good education, but he grew up and was brought up in pagan customs. In addition, Saul was a noble Roman citizen, and his position allowed the future apostle to openly admire the pagan Hellenistic culture.
With all this, Paul was a persecutor of Christianity both in Palestine and beyond its borders. These opportunities were gifted to him by the Pharisees, who hated Christian teaching and waged a fierce struggle against it.
One day, when Saul was traveling to Damascus with permission for the local synagogues to arrest Christians, he was struck by a bright light. The future apostle fell to the ground and heard a voice saying: “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? He said: Who are you, Lord? The Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is difficult for you to go against the pricks” (Acts 9:4-5). After this, Christ ordered Saul to go to Damascus and rely on providence.
When the blind Saul arrived in the city, where he found Ananias the priest. After a conversation with a Christian pastor, he believed in Christ and was baptized. During the baptismal ceremony, his sight returned again. From this day Paul's activity as an apostle began. Like the Apostle Peter, Paul traveled widely: he visited Arabia, Antioch, Cyprus, Asia Minor and Macedonia. In the places where Paul visited, Christian communities seemed to form on their own, and the supreme apostle himself became famous for his messages to the heads of the churches founded with his help: among the New Testament books there are 14 letters of Paul. Thanks to these messages, Christian dogmas acquired a coherent system and became understandable to every believer.
At the end of 66, the Apostle Paul arrived in Rome, where a year later, as a citizen of the Roman Empire, he was executed by the sword.
Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11)
In the 32nd year from the birth of Jesus, King Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee, imprisoned John the Baptist for talking about his close relationship with Herodias, his brother’s wife.
At the same time, the king was afraid to execute John, since this could cause the anger of his people, who loved and revered John.
One day, during the celebration of Herod's birthday, a feast was held. The daughter of Herodias, Salome, gave the king an exquisite tanya. For this, Herod promised in front of everyone that he would fulfill any desire of the girl. Herodias persuaded her daughter to ask the king for the head of John the Baptist.
The girl’s request embarrassed the king, as he was afraid of John’s death, but at the same time he could not refuse the request, because he was afraid of the ridicule of the guests because of the unfulfilled promise.
The king sent a warrior to prison, who beheaded John and brought his head to Salome on a platter. The girl accepted the terrible gift and gave it to her own mother. The apostles, having learned about the execution of John the Baptist, buried his headless body.
Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (October 14)
The holiday was based on a story that happened in 910 in Constantinople. The city was besieged by a countless army of Saracens, and the townspeople hid in the Blachernae Temple - in the place where the omophorion of the Virgin Mary was kept. Frightened residents fervently prayed to the Mother of God for protection. And then one day during prayer, the holy fool Andrei noticed the Mother of God above those praying.
The Mother of God walked accompanied by an army of angels, with John the Theologian and John the Baptist. She reverently extended her hands to the Son, while her omophorion covered the praying inhabitants of the city, as if protecting people from future disasters. In addition to the holy fool Andrei, his disciple Epiphanius saw the amazing procession. The miraculous vision soon disappeared, but Her grace remained in the temple, and soon the Saracen army left Constantinople.
The Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary came to Rus' under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1164. And a little later, in 1165, on the Nerl River, the first temple was consecrated in honor of this holiday.
Orthodox church calendar of fasts and meals for 2019 with an indication and brief description of multi-day and one-day fasts and continuous weeks.
Church Orthodox calendar of fasts and meals for 2019
Fasting is not in the belly, but in the spirit
Popular proverb
Nothing in life comes without difficulty. And in order to celebrate the holiday, you need to prepare for it.
In the Russian Orthodox Church there are four multi-day fasts, fasting on Wednesday and Friday throughout the year (except for a few weeks), and three one-day fasts.
In the first four days of the first week of Great Lent (from Monday to Thursday), the Great (Repentant) Canon, the work of the brilliant Byzantine hymnographer St. Andrew of Crete (8th century), is read during the evening service.
ATTENTION! Below you will find information about dry eating, food without oil and days of complete abstinence from food. All this is a long-standing monastic tradition, which even in monasteries cannot always be observed in our time. Such strictness of fasting is not for the laity, and the usual practice is abstaining from eggs, dairy and meat foods during fasting and during strict fasting also abstaining from fish. For all possible questions and about your individual measure of fasting, you need to consult your confessor.
Dates are indicated according to the new style.
Calendar of fasts and meals for 2019
| Periods | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|
from March 11 to April 27 |
xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter | |
| Spring meat eater | fish | fish | ||||||
|
from June 24 to July 11 |
hot without oil | fish | xerophagy | fish | xerophagy | fish | fish | |
| Summer meat eater | xerophagy | xerophagy | ||||||
|
from 14 to 27 August |
xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter | |
| Autumn meat eater | xerophagy | xerophagy | ||||||
| from November 28, 2019 to January 6, 2020 | until December 19 | hot without oil | fish | xerophagy | fish | xerophagy | fish | fish |
| December 20 - January 1 | hot without oil | hot with butter | xerophagy | hot with butter | xerophagy | fish | fish | |
| January 2-6 | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter | |
| Winter meat eater | fish | fish | ||||||
in 2019
The Savior himself was led by spirit into the desert, was tempted by the devil for forty days and did not eat anything during these days. The Savior began the work of our salvation with fasting. Great Lent is a fast in honor of the Savior Himself, and the last, Holy Week of this forty-eight-day fast is established in honor of the memory of the last days of earthly life, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Fasting is observed with particular strictness during the first and Holy weeks.
On Clean Monday, complete abstinence from food is customary. The rest of the time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry food (water, bread, fruits, vegetables, compotes); Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil; Saturday, Sunday – food with vegetable oil.
Fish is allowed on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on Palm Sunday. Fish caviar is allowed on Lazarus Saturday. On Good Friday you cannot eat food until the Shroud is taken out.
in 2019
On Monday of the Week of All Saints, the Fast of the Holy Apostles begins, established before the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. This post is called summer. The continuation of fasting varies depending on how early or late Easter occurs.
It always starts on All Saints Monday and ends on July 12th. The longest Petrov fast consists of six weeks, and the shortest one is a week and a day. This fast was established in honor of the Holy Apostles, who, through fasting and prayer, prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel and prepared their successors in the work of saving service.
Strict fasting (dry eating) on Wednesday and Friday. On Monday you can have hot food without oil. On other days - fish, mushrooms, cereals with vegetable oil.
in 2019
From August 14 to August 27, 2019.
A month after the Apostolic Fast, the multi-day Dormition Fast begins. It lasts two weeks - from August 14 to 27. With this fast, the Church calls us to imitate the Mother of God, who, before Her relocation to heaven, constantly remained in fasting and prayer.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – dry eating. Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil. On Saturday and Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.
On the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), fish is allowed. Fish day in Assumption, if it falls on Wednesday or Friday.
in 2019
Christmas (Filippov) fast. At the end of autumn, 40 days before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church calls us to winter fasting. It is called both Filippov, because it begins after the day dedicated to the memory of the Apostle Philip, and Rozhdestvensky, because it occurs before the feast of the Nativity of Christ.
This fast was established in order for us to offer a grateful sacrifice to the Lord for the collected earthly fruits and to prepare for a gracious union with the born Savior.
The charter about food coincides with the charter of Peter's Fast, until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19).
If the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. After the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas and before the forefeast of Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. On the eve of the feast, you cannot eat fish on all days; on Saturday and Sunday - food with oil.
On Christmas Eve you cannot eat food until the first star appears, after which it is customary to eat sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.
Solid weeks in 2019
Week– week from Monday to Sunday. These days there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday.
There are five continuous weeks:
Christmastide– from January 7 to January 17,
Publican and Pharisee– 2 weeks before
Cheese (Maslenitsa)– week before (no meat)
Easter (Light)– week after Easter
- week after Trinity.
Fasting on Wednesday and Friday
Weekly fast days are Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday, fasting was established in memory of the betrayal of Christ by Judas, on Friday - in memory of the suffering on the cross and death of the Savior. On these days of the week, the Holy Church prohibits the consumption of meat and dairy foods, and during the week of All Saints before the Nativity of Christ, one should also abstain from fish and vegetable oil. Only when the days of celebrated saints fall on Wednesday and Friday is vegetable oil allowed, and on the biggest holidays, such as Intercession, fish.
Those who are sick and engaged in hard work are allowed some relief, so that Christians have the strength to pray and do the necessary work, but eating fish on the wrong days, and especially the full permission of fasting, is rejected by the rules.
One-day posts
Epiphany Christmas Eve– January 18, on the eve of the Epiphany. On this day, Christians prepare for cleansing and consecration with holy water on the feast of Epiphany.
Beheading of John the Baptist- 11 September. This is the day of remembrance and death of the great prophet John.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross- September 27. The memory of the Savior's suffering on the cross for the salvation of the human race. This day is spent in prayer, fasting, and contrition for sins.
One-day posts– days of strict fasting (except Wednesday and Friday). Fish is prohibited, but food with vegetable oil is allowed.
Orthodox holidays. About meals on holidays
According to the Church Charter, there is no fasting on the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany, which happened on Wednesday and Friday. On Christmas and Epiphany Eves and on the holidays of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the Beheading of John the Baptist, food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the feasts of the Presentation, Transfiguration of the Lord, Dormition, Nativity and Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, Her Entry into the Temple, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which occurred on Wednesday and Friday, as well as in the period from Easter to Trinity on Wednesday and Friday Fish allowed.
When marriage is not performed
On the eve of Wednesday and Friday of the whole year (Tuesday and Thursday), Sundays (Saturday), twelve days, temple and great holidays; in continuation of the posts: Veliky, Petrov, Uspensky, Rozhdestvensky; in continuation of Christmastide, on Meat Week, during Cheese Week (Maslenitsa) and on Cheese Week; during Easter (Bright) week and on the days of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27.
- You just read the article Church Orthodox calendar for 2019. If you want to know more about Orthodox posts, then pay attention to the article.
There is no doubt that the 2017 church calendar of Orthodox holidays and fasts, posted on this page, will be useful for every believer, since it contains all, without exception, the most important church dates of 2017, including only important Orthodox holidays and fasts.
Twelfth permanent holidays in 2017
The Nativity of Christ is January 7, 2017, a permanent holiday. In honor of Christmas, festive feasts are held, and it is customary for people to sing carols and tell fortunes.
Epiphany of the Lord - January 19, 2017. The third impermanent Feast of the Lord. Otherwise called Holy Epiphany. On this day, all water is considered holy due to the fact that the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River once took place on this date.
Presentation of the Lord - February 15, 2017. The day on which the baby Jesus was first brought into the Temple.
Annunciation of the Most Holy. Theotokos - April 7, 2017. The day on which the Blessed Virgin Mary learned the good news that she would become the mother of the Son of God.
Transfiguration of the Lord - August 19, 2017. The last of the permanent twelve holidays dedicated to the life of Jesus Christ. Popularly called Apple Savior.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - August 28, 2017. The holiday is dedicated to the events that ended the earthly life of the Virgin Mary, her death, resurrection and ascension to heaven.
Nativity of the Virgin Mary - September 21, 2017. This holiday is permanent, like all church feasts of the Virgin Mary (see. orthodox calendar below).
Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27, 2017 (permanent). The day is considered a fast day; only vegetable products flavored with vegetable oil are allowed to be eaten.
Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos - December 4, 2017. The day on which, according to legend, Mary’s parents gave their daughter to serve in the Temple.
Moving church holidays
The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is one of the most important church Orthodox holidays; it is celebrated on April 9, 2017. It occurs during fasting, but on this day a relaxation in diet is allowed (you can eat fish). Otherwise, this last Sunday before Orthodox Easter is called Palm Sunday.
Ascension - May 25, 2017. It falls on the fortieth day after Easter. On this holiday, it is common among people to bake ritual cookies in the form of a ladder, personifying the stairway to heaven along which Jesus ascended to heaven.
Pentecost or - June 4, 2017. Celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. Otherwise, this holiday is called Green Sunday because of the tradition of decorating houses and churches with birch branches.
Calendar of church Orthodox holidays and fasts for 2017
Church Orthodox fasts in 2017
Multi-day posts
– from February 27 to April 15, 2017. One of the strictest church fasts in the Christian tradition.
Petrov - from June 12 to July 11, 2017. This post is classified as non-strict.
Uspensky - from August 14 to August 27, 2017. Strict fasting, which begins with the Honey Savior and lasts until the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Rozhdestvensky - from November 28, 2017 to January 6, 2018 is considered non-strict from the very first day to January 1. The last week of fasting involves following a strict diet.
One-day posts
Wednesday and Friday throughout 2017, excl. Christmastide and continuous weeks.
January 18, 2017 - Epiphany Christmas Eve.
September 11, 2017 - Beheading of John the Baptist.
September 27, 2017 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Solid weeks in 2017
Solid weeks (omnivorous weeks) - this is the name of the church week (often seven days), in which it is allowed to eat any non-lenten foods, even on days of one-day fasts.
In 2017, five continuous weeks are expected:
From January 7 to January 17 – Christmas Holidays.
From February 6 to 12, 2017 – Week about the Publican and the Pharisee.
From February 20 to 26 – Cheese, preparation before Lent.
From April 16 to April 22 - Easter or Easter, follows Easter.
From June 5 to June 11, 2017 – Trinity Week.
Parents' Saturdays in 2017 (All Souls' Day)
In 2017, All Souls Days fall on the following dates:
February 18 – parents' Saturday.
March 11, 18 and 25 are Saturdays during Lent.
April 25 – Radonitsa – spring Slavic holiday.
May 9 – in honor of the remembrance of soldiers.
June 3 – Trinity Saturday.
November 4 – Dimitrievskaya Saturday.
If you consider yourself a believer and try to observe the rituals and customs prescribed by the church, then you need to know the exact dates of all Christian holidays that will take place in 2017. For these purposes, a church calendar is calculated every year, which can give a person the necessary guidelines.
In this article you can find detailed Orthodox calendar for 2017, which indicates the days of celebration of the main twelve dates that the church honors, not counting Great Easter.
When discussing the appropriateness of the church calendar, all holidays should be divided into the Lord's holidays (dedicated to Jesus Christ) and the Theotokos. The long-awaited and beloved holiday, which all Orthodox people look forward to, is considered Great Easter - the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
However, not all holidays fall on the same day every year. They are called transferable. Depending on what date Easter is, the date of such holidays is set. Those celebrations that have a constant date are called permanent. This is the main feature of the church calendar, which a believer should know about first of all.
In addition to church holidays, it is customary to mark fasting dates in the Orthodox calendar. Most celebrations celebrated by the church involve overcoming a special ritual - fasting. It helps to cleanse the soul, mind and let the Lord our God into the heart.
Anyone who wishes to fast must voluntarily refuse inappropriate food and all kinds of entertainment. This is a mandatory condition of fasting. As practice shows, it is not difficult to adhere to such simple rules, and every year the ranks of fasting people are replenished with new “participants.”
The most important fast is Great Lent. It comes immediately before Holy Week, that is, before Great Easter. Based on , the beginning and end of Lent changes every year.
Twelfth fixed (immovable) holidays
- 01/19/2017 — Epiphany (Epiphany)
- 09.21.2017 — Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 12/04/2017 — Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple
Twelfth movable (movable) holidays
- 04/09/2017 — Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem
- 25.05.2017 — Ascension of the Lord
- 06/04/2017 - Holy Trinity Day. Pentecost
List of non-twelfth holidays
- 01/14/2017 — Circumcision of the Lord
- 07/12/2017 — Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
- 10.14.2017 — Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 02/18/2017 — Meat Saturday (Ecumenical Parent)
- 03/11/2017 — Saturday of the second week of Great Lent
- 03/18/217 - Saturday of the third week of Great Lent
- 03.25.2017 — Saturday of the fourth week of Great Lent
- 04/25/2017 — Radonitsa
- 05/09/2017 — Commemoration of deceased soldiers
- 06/03/2017 — Saturday Trinity
Church posts
Multi-day:
- from 02/27/2017 to 04/15/2017 - Lent
- from 06/12/2017 to 07/11/2017 - (Apostolic)
- from 08/14/2017 to 08/27/2017 - Assumption post
- from 28.11.2017 - 06.01.2018 - Christmas post
One-day:
- 01/18/2017 — Epiphany Christmas Eve
- 09.11.2017 — Beheading of John the Baptist
- 09.27.2017 — Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Continuous weeks (in these weeks there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday)
- from 02/06/217 to 02/11/2017 - Publican and Pharisee
- from 02/20/2017 to 02/26/2017 - Maslenitsa
- from 04/17/2017 to 04/22/2017 - Easter week
What are Great Holidays
These holidays are extremely valued by the church, and they are all distinguished by a special solemn service. The most significant and brightest day of the year for Orthodox people is Easter. It always stands out in bright color in the church calendar.
This holiday has a special status and is accompanied by the most solemn service. The date of celebration is unique for each year and is calculated according to the solar-lunar calendar. It often falls between April 4 and May 8.
Other holidays can be divided into twelfth and non-twelfth.
The twelve church celebrations include 12 especially significant events for the church related to the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. In turn, these holidays are divided into:
- Transitory or mobile. For them, a unique date is calculated annually, which depends on the day of celebration of Easter and moves with it. There are 3 such twelfth holidays in total.
- Intransient or immovable. These church holidays have a fixed date - they fall on the same date every year. There are 9 known such Orthodox celebrations.
The non-twelfth holidays include 5 dates that are of great importance for the entire Orthodox people. They are dedicated to the birth and death of John the Baptist (baptized Jesus Christ), the appearance of the Mother of God, the circumcision of the Lord, the two apostles Peter and Paul, as well as the memory of St. Basil.
Orthodox fasts and continuous weeks
Now let's talk about posts. Fasting is a special form of religious asceticism, calming the soul, body and mind for the sake of salvation within the framework of a religious view. Fasting people voluntarily limit themselves in food, food and entertainment. Conventionally, fasting can be divided into several types:
- Mental fasting is when a person limits himself from external pleasures and impressions. These include silence, humility, tranquility, solitude and prayerful concentration.
- Corporal fasting - observing it, a person refuses a wide variety of food.
- Spiritual fasting - the fasting person struggles with his “inner bodily desires.” Spiritual fasting involves periods of particularly intense prayer.
It is worth noting that physical fasting without spiritual fasting is impossible. Without observing at least one of the above types, a person will not achieve the desired result. Some learned minds believe that by adhering to one fast and ignoring another, we only harm ourselves. Fasting is not only abstaining from food.
John Chrysostom (the saint) teaches that real fasting is a period when a person renounces evil, watches his tongue, suppresses anger, pacifies lust, stops slandering, lying and stops committing swearing crimes.
Fasting cannot be considered a goal, to achieve something, because it is a means of distraction from the desires of one’s body and helps to concentrate on the future and spiritual state. If you forget about all this, fasting will become the simplest diet!
In the church calendar there are 4 multi-day fasts:
- Lent- the most important and longest fast for Christians. Its main purpose is to cleanse and prepare the body for Easter. Lent is divided into four parts - Lent, Lazarus Saturday, Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem and Holy Week.
- Petrov Fast or Apostolic- summer fast, which was previously called Pentecost. Following the example of the holy apostles, who received the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, people begin to fast. The post can be either long or short. It all depends on what date Easter falls on.
- Dormition post- is considered the shortest fast, because it lasts only two weeks. Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Christmas post- also called Filippovsky. Its duration is 40 days.
There are also 3 one-day posts:
- Epiphany Christmas Eve
- Beheading of John the Baptist
- Exaltation of the Holy Cross
In addition, it is customary to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Continuous weeks are weeks during which fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays is canceled. There are 5 such weeks in the church calendar - Christmastide, Cheese (meat is prohibited), Trinity, Easter, Publican and Pharisee.
Days of special remembrance of the dead
These days, it is customary to remember all deceased Christians, come to the graves of deceased relatives, and pray for them. These are days such as Ecumenical Parental Saturday, 2-4 Saturday of Great Lent, Radonitsa, Commemoration of the Deceased Soldiers, Demetrius and Trinity Saturdays.
January
from 12/28/2016 to 01/06/2017 Nativity Fast
01/06/2017 — Christmas Eve or Christmas Eve
01/07/2017 — Christmas
from 01/07/2017 to 01/17/2017 — Christmastide
01/14/2017 - Circumcision of the Lord. New Year's holiday according to the old style.
01/18/2017 — Epiphany Eve or the Eve of the Epiphany of the Lord
01/19/2017 — Baptism of the Lord or Holy Epiphany
01/25/2017 - Memorial Day of the Great Martyr Tatiana or Tatyana’s Day
February
02/15/2017 — Meeting of the Lord
from 02/05/2017 to 02/26/2017 - Triodes. Preparing for Lent
from 02/06/217 to 02/12/2017 - Week of the Publican and the Pharisee
02/12/2017 — Week of the Prodigal Son
from 02/13/2017 to 02/19/2017 - Meat week
02/18/2017 — Ecumenical Meat and Meat Parents Saturday
from 02/20/2017 to 02/26/2017 - Maslenitsa or Cheese Week
02/26/2017 — Forgiveness Sunday
From 02/27/2017 to 04/15/2017 - Lent
March
03/09/217 — Finding the Head of Ion the Baptist
03/22/2017 - Forty Sevaistian Martyrs or Larks
03/11/2017 — Parental Ecumenical Saturday of the 2nd week of Lent
03/18/2017 — Parental Ecumenical Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent
03/25/2017 — Parental Ecumenical Saturday of the 4th week of Lent
April
04/07/2017 — Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
08.08.2017 — Lazareva Saturday
04/09/2017 — Entry of God into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)
04/16/2017 — Easter (Bright Resurrection of Christ)
from 04/16/2017 to 04/22/2017 - Continuous Bright Easter Week
From 04/23/2017 to 06/11/2017 - Spring meat eater
from 04/23/2017 to 04/29/2017 - Radonitskaya Week or Red Hill
04/23/2017 — Anti-Easter
04/25/2017 — Radonitsa or Parents' Day
May
05/09/2017 — All Souls Day
05/23/2017 — Simon Zelot
05.25.2017 — Ascension of the Lord
June
06/01/2017 - Semik (seventh Thursday after Easter)
06/03/2017 — Trinity Saturday
06/04/2017 — Holy Trinity Day
from 06/05/2017 to 06/11/2017 - Trinity Week
06/07/2017 — Finding the head of John the Baptist
06/08/2017 — Trinity Week
From 06/12/2017 to 07/11/2017 - Petrov post
July
Night from 07/06/2017 to 07/07/2017 - Ivan Kupala Holiday
07.07.2017 — Christmas of John the Baptist
07/08/2017 — Day of Peter and Fevronia
07/12/2017 - Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul
From 07/12/2017 to 08/13/2017 - Summer meat eater
August
02.08.2017 — Elijah’s day
08/14/2017 — Honey saved
From 08/14/2017 to 08/27/2017 - Assumption Fast
08/19/2017 — Transfiguration of the Lord. Apple saved
08.28.2017 — Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
From 08/28/2017 to 11/27/2017 - Autumn Meat Eater
08/29/2017 — Orekhoviy Spas
September
09.11.2017 — Beheading of John the Baptist