The church calendar is full of important dates and some of them are celebrated every year in different time. To avoid confusion, we suggest that you refer to the Orthodox calendar of holidays and not miss a single Christian holiday.
The calendar of Orthodox holidays is divided into months. Important Christian events are celebrated in each of them, about which you will find information here: you will find out when the holidays are celebrated and what they are connected with. Holidays are divided into twelfth and non-twelfth (great).
The Twelve Feasts include:
- Christmas - January 7
- The Baptism of the Lord (Theophany) - January 19
- Meeting of the Lord - February 15
- Annunciation Holy Mother of God— March 7
- Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem - April 9
- Ascension of the Lord - May 25
- Holy Trinity Day - June 4
- Transfiguration of the Lord - August 19, among the people - Apple Savior
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin - August 28
- Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos - December 4
According to the Orthodox calendar Easter in 2017 will be celebrated on April 16th. This holiday is considered the most important of the year, so it is placed separately. In addition to these holidays, there are others called great. Including believers celebrate parental Saturdays, or days of commemoration of the dead, and observe fasts, which you can learn about below.
January
In the first month civil year holidays dedicated to the infancy of Jesus Christ are celebrated: Nativity and the Circumcision of the Lord. Also in January, believers celebrate baptism, traditionally bathing in an ice hole and collecting baptismal water, which is considered consecrated on this day.
Christmas - January 7
New Year - September 14
On this day the church begins New Year and the whole cycle of holidays is repeated from the very beginning. The tradition of celebrating the New Year in autumn came with the adoption of Christianity from Byzantium. If we consider this date according to the old style, then the New Year holiday is celebrated on September 1.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin - September 21
In September they celebrate twelfth holiday Nativity of the Virgin. The very birth of the Virgin Mary is an omen of the coming of the Messiah to earth. Moreover, the Virgin Mary is believed to have been born without original sin. It was from him that Jesus Christ saved mankind, accepting death on the cross.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27
We are talking about the Life-Giving Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The twelfth holiday of the Exaltation has several interpretations. Firstly, believing people celebrate in itself the acquisition of the Life-Giving Cross. On the other hand, on this day the return of the Cross to Byzantium from Persia is celebrated.
October
In October, the soldiers who fell on the Kulikovo Field are commemorated. Thus, this month, the last commemoration of the deceased relatives of the year takes place. In addition to Parental Saturday, believers celebrate the Feast of the Intercession.
Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos – October 14
The feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos is associated with the event of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to St. Andrew. The event took place in Constantinople, during the war. The Mother of God, together with the saints who surrounded her, appeared in the temple during prayer. Her robe was kept in this temple. Andrew the Holy Fool describes in his life that the Virgin Mary covered the worshipers with her omophorion (a scarf covering her shoulders). Her defense made it possible to drive away enemy troops.
Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday - October 28
Parental Saturday October 28 is the last day of commemoration of the dead in the year. It falls on the Saturday before the day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. Like many saints, he accepted death for the Christian faith, not wanting to renounce God. Also, this day is associated with the commemoration of the soldiers who fell during the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.
November: Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other incorporeal Heavenly Forces - November 21
On this day, the event is remembered that put an end to the heresy, which did not correctly honor the angels. This incorrect teaching called angels the creators and rulers of the world. Nine angelic ranks were established, which are still considered traditional for the church. Actually, the word "Forces" refers to the angels, who are considered the heavenly army.
December: Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos - December 4
According to legend, at the age of three, the Virgin Mary was transferred to the temple, because her parents promised to give the child in the service of God. According to the biblical description, she herself ran the stairs without crying and without turning around to her parents, without calling them. It is believed that the Virgin Mary lived in the temple, eating food brought to her by angels.
Calendar of Solid Weeks and Fast days in 2017
Solid weeks in the calendar of Orthodox holidays are days (there are no more than seven of them) in which there are no restrictions on food on Wednesday and Friday. These include:
- Christmas time: from January 7 to January 17
- Week of the Publican and the Pharisee: from February 6th to February 11th.
- Cheese Week (Shrovetide): from February 20 to February 26. Since that time, believers have already refused meat on the eve of Great Lent.
- Easter week: April 17 to April 22
- Trinity week: from July 05 to July 11
One day posts
In addition to the fact that believers fast every week on Wednesday and Friday, there are one-day fasts dedicated to special events or holidays.
- Eve of the Epiphany (Epiphany Christmas Eve) - January 18
- The Beheading of John the Baptist - September 11
- Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27
Also church calendar includes four multi-day fasts before important celebrations. Depending on the year, each post may have different start and end dates.
- Great Lent– from February 27 to April 15
- Petrov Post - from 06/12/2017 to July 11
- Assumption Fast - from August 14 to August 27
- Christmas Post - from November 28 - January 06
In addition to these holidays, there are also local ones associated with miraculous icons or saints, which are widely celebrated in each individual region. Also, each temple can have its own special holiday, which only local parishioners know about. In order not to miss them, visit the church closest to you more often.
The fixed part of the church calendar is the Julian calendar, which is 13 days apart from the Gregorian. These holidays fall every year on the same date of the same month.
The movable part of the church calendar moves along with the date of Easter, which changes from year to year. The very date of the celebration of Easter is determined according to lunar calendar and a number of additional dogmatic factors (do not celebrate Easter with the Jews, celebrate Easter only after the spring equinox, celebrate Easter only after the first spring full moon). All holidays with variable dates are counted from Easter and move in the time of the "secular" calendar along with it.
Thus, both parts of the Easter calendar (movable and fixed) together determine the calendar of Orthodox holidays.
The following are the most significant events for an Orthodox Christian - the so-called Twelfth Feasts and Great Feasts. Although the Orthodox Church celebrates holidays according to the "old style", which differs by 13 days, the dates in the Calendar for convenience are indicated according to the generally accepted secular calendar of the new style.
Orthodox calendar for 2017:
Permanent Holidays:07.01 - Christmas (twelfth)
14.01 - Circumcision of the Lord (great)
19.01 - The baptism of the Lord (twelfth)
02.15 - Meeting of the Lord (twelfth)
07.04 - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
May 21 - Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
May 22 - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, Wonderworker
07.07 - Nativity of John the Baptist (great)
12.07 - Holy First. Apostles Peter and Paul (great)
19.08 - Transfiguration of the Lord (twelfth)
28.08 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
11.09 - Beheading of John the Baptist (great)
21.09 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
September 27 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross (twelfth)
09.10 - Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
14.10 - Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (great)
04.12 - Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos (twelfth)
December 19 - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, miracle worker
days special commemoration deceased
02/18/2017 - Ecumenical parental Saturday (Saturday before the week of the Last Judgment)
03/11/2017 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent
03/18/2017 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent
03/25/2017 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent
04/25/2017 - Radonitsa (Tuesday of the 2nd week of Easter)
05/09/2017 - Commemoration of the deceased soldiers
06/03/2017 - Trinity Parental Saturday (Saturday before Trinity)
10/28/2017 - Dmitrievskaya parent Saturday (Saturday before November 8)
ABOUT ORTHODOX HOLIDAYS:
TWENTH HOLIDAYS
In worship Orthodox Church twelve great feasts of the annual liturgical cycle (except for the feast of Pascha). Subdivided into Lord's, dedicated to Jesus Christ, and Theotokos, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos.
According to the time of celebration, the Twelfth Feasts divided into motionless(non-passing) and mobile(passing). The former are constantly celebrated on the same dates of the month, the latter fall on different numbers every year, depending on the date of the celebration. Easter.
ABOUT MEAL ON HOLIDAYS:
According to the church charter on holidays Christmas and Epiphany that happened on Wednesday and Friday, there is no post.
V Christmas and Epiphany Christmas Eve and on holidays Exaltation of the Holy Cross and The Beheading of John the Baptist food with vegetable oil is allowed.
On the feasts of the Presentation, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Assumption, the Nativity and Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which happened on Wednesday and Friday, as well as in the period from Easter before Trinity fish is allowed on Wednesday and Friday.
ABOUT LOSTS IN ORTHODOXY:
Fast- a form of religious asceticism, an exercise of the spirit, soul and body on the path to salvation within the framework of a religious outlook; voluntary self-restraint in food, entertainment, communication with the world. bodily fasting- restriction in food; spiritual post- restriction of external impressions and pleasures (solitude, silence, prayerful concentration); spiritual post- the struggle with their "corporal lusts", a period of especially intense prayer.
Most importantly, you need to be aware that bodily fasting without spiritual fasting brings nothing to save the soul. On the contrary, it can be spiritually harmful if a person, abstaining from food, becomes imbued with the consciousness of his own superiority and righteousness. “The one who thinks that fasting is only abstaining from food is mistaken. true post, - teaches St. John Chrysostom, - there is a removal from evil, curbing the tongue, putting off anger, taming lusts, ending slander, lies and perjury. Fast- not a goal, but a means to distract from the pleasure of your body, to concentrate and think about your soul; without all this, it becomes just a diet.
Great Lent, Holy Forty Day(Greek Tessarakoste; Lat. Quadragesima) - the period of the liturgical year preceding Holy Week and Easter, the most important of multi-day posts. Due to Easter may fall on different numbers of the calendar, great post also each year starts on a different day. It includes 6 weeks, or 40 days, therefore it is also called St. Forty-cost.
Fast for an Orthodox person is a set of good deeds, sincere prayer, abstinence in everything, including food. A bodily fast is necessary to perform a spiritual and spiritual fast, all of them in their union form post true, contributing to the spiritual reunion of fasting with God. V days of fasting(days of fasting) the Church Charter prohibits modest food - meat and dairy products; fish is allowed only on some fast days. V days of strict fasting not only fish is not allowed, but any hot food and food cooked in vegetable oil, only cold food without oil and unheated drink (sometimes called dry eating). The Russian Orthodox Church has four multi-day fasts, three one-day fasts, and, in addition, a fast on Wednesday and Friday (excluding special weeks) throughout the year.
Wednesday and Friday established as a sign that on Wednesday Christ was betrayed by Judas, and on Friday he was crucified. Saint Athanasius the Great said: "Allowing me to eat fast food on Wednesday and Friday, this person crucifies the Lord." In the summer and autumn meat-eaters (periods between the Petrov and Assumption fasts and between the Assumption and Rozhdestvensky fasts), Wednesday and Friday are days of strict fasting. In winter and spring meat-eaters (from Christmas to Great Lent and from Easter to Trinity), the Charter allows fish on Wednesday and Friday. Fish on Wednesday and Friday is also allowed when the feasts of the Meeting of the Lord, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Nativity of the Virgin, the Entrance of the Virgin into the Temple, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostle John the Theologian. If the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and the Baptism of the Lord fall on Wednesday and Friday, then fasting on these days is canceled. On the eve (eve, Christmas Eve) of the Nativity of Christ (usually the day of strict fasting), which happened on Saturday or Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.
Solid weeks(in Church Slavonic a week is called a week - the days from Monday to Sunday) mean the absence of fasting on Wednesday and Friday. They were established by the Church as an indulgence before a multi-day fast or as a rest after it. Solid weeks are as follows:
1. Christmas time - from January 7 to 18 (11 days), from Christmas to Epiphany.
2. Publican and Pharisee - two weeks before Lent.
3. Cheese - a week before Lent (allowed the whole week of eggs, fish and dairy, but without meat).
4. Easter (Bright) - a week after Easter.
5. Trinity - a week after the Trinity (week before Peter's fast).
One day posts, except Wednesday and Friday (days of strict fasting, without fish, but food with vegetable oil is allowed):
1. Epiphany Christmas Eve (Eve of Theophany) January 18, the day before the feast of the Epiphany. On this day, believers prepare themselves for the acceptance of the great shrine - Agiasma - baptismal Holy water, for purification and consecration by it at the upcoming holiday.
2. The beheading of John the Baptist - September 11. On this day, a fast is established in memory of the abstemious life of the great prophet John and his lawless murder by Herod.
3. Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27. This day reminds us of the sad event on Golgotha, when the Savior of the human race suffered on the Cross "for our salvation". And therefore this day must be spent in prayer, fasting, contrition for sins, in a feeling of repentance.
MULTI-DAY POSTS:
1. Great Lent or Holy Forty Day.
It begins seven weeks before the feast of Holy Pascha and consists of Forty days (forty days) and Holy Week (the week leading up to Pascha). Forty days was established in honor of the forty-day fast of the Savior Himself, and Holy Week - in remembrance of the last days of earthly life, suffering, death and burial of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The total continuation of Great Lent along with Holy Week is 48 days.
The days from the Nativity of Christ to Great Lent (until Shrovetide) are called the Christmas or winter meat-eater. This period contains three continuous weeks - Christmas time, Publican and Pharisee, Shrove Tuesday. After Christmas time on Wednesdays and Fridays, fish is allowed, up to a continuous week (when you can eat meat on all days of the week), coming after the "Week of the publican and the Pharisee" ("week" in Church Slavonic means "Sunday"). In the next, after a continuous week, fish is no longer allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but vegetable oil is still allowed. Monday - food with oil, Wednesday, Friday - cold without oil. This establishment has the goal of gradual preparation for Great Lent. The last time before fasting, meat is allowed on the "Meat Week" - the Sunday before Shrovetide.
In the next week - cheese (Shrovetide) eggs, fish, dairy products are allowed all week, but meat is no longer eaten. They head for Great Lent (the last time they eat fast, with the exception of meat, food) on the last day of Shrovetide - Forgiveness Sunday. This day is also called "Cheesefare Week".
It is accepted with special strictness to observe the first and Holy Weeks of Great Lent. On Monday of the first week of fasting (Clean Monday), the highest degree of fasting is established - complete abstinence from food (pious lay people who have ascetic experience abstain from food on Tuesday as well). On the remaining weeks of fasting: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - cold food without oil, Tuesday, Thursday - hot food without oil (vegetable, cereal, mushroom), on Saturday and Sunday vegetable oil is allowed and, if necessary for health, a little pure grape wine (but in no case vodka). If a memory of a great saint happens (with an all-night vigil or a polyeleos service the day before), then on Tuesday and Thursday - food with vegetable oil, Monday, Wednesday, Friday - hot food without oil. You can inquire about the holidays in the Typicon or the Followed Psalter. Fish is allowed twice for the entire fast: on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos (if the holiday did not fall on Holy Week) and on Palm Sunday, on Lazarus Saturday (the Saturday before Palm Sunday) fish caviar is allowed, on Friday of Holy Week it is customary not to eat any food before taking out shrouds (our ancestors did not eat at all on Good Friday).
Bright Week (the week after Easter) - solid - modest is allowed on all days of the week. Starting from the next week after the solid up to the Trinity (spring meat-eater), fish is allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The week between Trinity and Peter's Lent is continuous.
2. Petrov or Apostolic post.
Fasting begins a week after the feast of the Holy Trinity and ends on July 12, on the day of the celebration of the memory of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, established in honor of the holy apostles and in remembrance of the fact that the holy apostles, after the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them, dispersed to all countries with the good news, always abiding in the feat of fasting and prayer. The duration of this fast in different years is different and depends on the day of the celebration of Easter. The shortest post lasts 8 days, the longest - 6 weeks. Fish in this post is allowed, except Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Monday - hot food without oil, Wednesday and Friday - strict fast (cold food without oil). On other days - fish, cereals, mushroom dishes with vegetable oil. If the memory of a great saint happens on Monday, Wednesday or Friday - hot food with butter. On the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist (July 7), according to the Charter, fish is allowed.
In the period from the end of the Petrov fast to the beginning of the Assumption fast (summer meat-eater), Wednesday and Friday are days of strict fasting. But if the holidays of a great saint fall on these days with an all-night vigil or a polyeleos service the day before, then food with vegetable oil is allowed. If temple holidays occur on Wednesday and Friday, then fish is also allowed.
3. Assumption fast (from August 14 to 27).
Established in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mother of God herself, preparing to depart for eternal life constantly fasting and praying. We, the spiritually weak and weak, all the more should resort to fasting as often as possible, turning to the Blessed Virgin for help in every need and sorrow. This fast lasts only two weeks, but in severity it is consistent with the Great. Fish is allowed only on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), and if the end of the fast (Assumption) falls on Wednesday or Friday, then this day is also fish. Monday, Wednesday, Friday - cold food without oil, Tuesday and Thursday - hot food without oil, Saturday and Sunday - food with vegetable oil. Wine is prohibited on all days. If the memory of a great saint happens, then on Tuesday and Thursday - hot food with butter, Monday, Wednesday, Friday - hot food without butter.
The charter about food on Wednesdays and Fridays in the period from the end of the Dormition Fast to the beginning of the Christmas (autumn meat-eater) is the same as in the summer meat-eater, i.e. on Wednesdays and Fridays, fish is allowed only on the days of the Twelfth and Temple holidays. Food with vegetable oil on Wednesday and Friday is allowed only if these days fall in memory of the great saint with an all-night vigil or with a polyeleos service the day before.
4. Christmas (Filippov) fast (from November 28 to January 6).
This fast is set for the day of the Nativity of Christ, so that we cleanse ourselves at this time with repentance, prayer and fasting, and with with a pure heart met the Savior who appeared in the world. Sometimes this fast is called Filippov, as a sign that it begins after the day of celebration of the memory of the Apostle Philip (November 27). The charter on food during this fast coincides with the charter of Peter's fast until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19). If the feasts of the Entrance into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 4) and St. Nicholas fall on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. From the day of memory of St. Nicholas to the pre-feast of Christmas, which begins on January 2, fish is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, fasting is observed in the same way as on the days of Great Lent: fish is forbidden on all days, food with butter is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. On Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve), January 6, a pious custom requires not to eat food until the first evening star appears, after which it is customary to eat kolivo or sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins, in some areas boiled dry fruits with sugar. From the word "sochivo" comes the name of this day - Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is also before the feast of the Epiphany. On this day (January 18) it is also customary not to eat food until the adoption of Agiasma - baptismal holy water, which they begin to consecrate on the very day of Christmas Eve.
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Fish, hot food with vegetable oil Hot food with vegetable oil hot food without vegetable oil Cold food without vegetable oil, unheated drink Refraining 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 |
Great Lent
(in 2017 falls on February 27 - April 15)
Great Lent is determined for the repentance and humility of Christians before the feast day of Easter, on which the Bright Resurrection of Christ from the dead is celebrated. This is the most significant of all Christian holidays.
The time of the beginning and end of Great Lent depends on the date of the celebration 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.
Forty days lasts 40 days in memory of the forty-day fast of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. Thus, fasting is called the Forty Day. The last seventh week of Great Lent - Holy Week is determined in memory of last days earthly life, suffering and death of Christ.
During Lent, it is allowed to take food only once a day, in the evening. During the entire fast, including weekends, it is forbidden to eat meat, milk, cheese and eggs. With special strictness it is necessary to adhere to fasting in the first and last weeks. On the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, April 7, it is allowed to relax the fast and add vegetable oil and fish to the diet. In addition to abstinence in food during Great Lent, one must diligently pray that the Lord God would give repentance, regret for sins and love for the Almighty.
Apostolic Fast - Petrov Post
(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 the feast of Easter and the Holy Trinity, which falls on this year. Lent comes exactly seven days after the feast of the Trinity, which is also called Pentecost, since it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. The week before fasting is called All Saints Week.
The duration of the Apostolic Fast can be from 8 days to 6 weeks (depending on the day of the celebration of Easter). The Apostolic Fast ends on July 12, the day of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. From this post and got its name. It is also called the fast of the Holy Apostles or Peter's fast.
Apostolic fasting is not very strict. Dry food is allowed on Wednesday and Friday, hot food without oil is allowed on Monday, mushrooms, vegetable food with vegetable oil and a little wine are allowed on Tuesday and Thursday, and fish is also allowed on Saturday and Sunday.
Fish is still allowed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, if these days fall on a holiday with great doxology. On Wednesday and Friday, it is allowed to eat fish only when these days fall on a feast with a vigil or a temple feast.
Assumption post
(in 2017 falls on August 14 - August 27)
The Assumption 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 Assumption 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 Lent is close to Great Lent. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, dry food is supposed, 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 eat fish, as well as oil and wine.
On the day of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos (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 cancelled.
There is also a rule until August 19 not to eat fruit. As a result of this, the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord is also called the Apple Savior, since at this time garden fruits (in particular, apples) are brought to the church, consecrated and given away.
Christmas post
(from November 28 to January 6)
The Advent period lasts from November 28 to January 6. If the first day of the fast falls on a Sunday, the fast is softened, but not cancelled. The Nativity Fast precedes the Nativity of Christ, January 7 (December 25), which celebrates the birth of the Savior. Fasting begins 40 days before the celebration and therefore is also called the Forty Day. The people call the Nativity Fast Filippov, because it comes immediately after the day of memory of the Apostle Philip - November 27th. Conventionally, the Nativity Fast shows the state of the world before the advent of the Savior. By abstinence in food, Christians express reverence for the feast of the birth of Christ. According to the rules of abstinence, the Nativity Fast is similar to the Apostolic Fast until the day of St. Nicholas - December 19th. 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 Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, and the week until December 20th.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of Advent, dry food is taken.
If there is a temple holiday or a vigil on these days, it is allowed to eat fish; if the day of a great saint falls, the use of wine and vegetable oil is allowed.
After the day of memory of St. Nicholas and before Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. Fish is not to be eaten on the eve. If these days fall on Saturday or Sunday, meals with butter are allowed.
On Christmas Eve, January 6, on the eve of Christmas, it is not allowed to take food until the appearance of the first star. This rule was adopted in memory of the star that shone at the time of the birth of the Savior. 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 13. From the morning of January 7, all food restrictions are removed. Fasting is canceled for 11 days.
One day posts
There are many one-day posts. According to the strictness of compliance, they are different and in no way associated with a specific date. The most frequent 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 connected with the dates of commemoration of famous saints.
These posts are not considered strict if they do not fall on Wednesday and Friday. It is forbidden to eat fish during these one-day fasts, but food with vegetable oil is permissible.
Separate fasts can be accepted in case of some kind of misfortune or social misfortune - an epidemic, war, terrorist action, 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 torment and death on the cross. In memory of these events, Orthodoxy adopted fasts on Wednesday and Friday of each week. Exceptions are only in continuous weeks, or weeks, during which there are no existing restrictions for these days. Such weeks are Christmas time (January 7-18), Publican and Pharisee, Cheese, Easter and Trinity (the first week after the Trinity).
On Wednesday and Friday it is forbidden to eat meat, dairy food, and eggs. Some of the most pious Christians do not allow themselves to consume, including fish and vegetable oil, that is, they observe a dry diet.
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 the Week of All Saints and before the Nativity of Christ, it is necessary to abandon fish and vegetable oil. If Wednesday or Friday coincides with the feast of the saints, then vegetable oil is allowed.
On major holidays, such as Pokrov, it is allowed to eat fish.
On the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany
The Baptism of the Lord is 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, on Him I am well pleased."
Before the Baptism of the Lord in the temples, the eve is performed, at this moment the rite of consecration of holy water takes place. In connection with this holiday, a post was adopted. At the time of this post, food is allowed once a day and only juicy and kutya with honey. Therefore, among Orthodox believers, the eve of Epiphany is usually called Christmas Eve. If the evening falls on Saturday or Sunday, fasting on that day is not canceled, but relaxed. In this case, you can eat twice a day - after the liturgy and after the rite of consecration 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 11th. 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 arranged 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 him. 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 the head of John.
In memory of John the Baptist and his pious life, during which he continuously fasted, fasting was defined. On this day, it is forbidden to eat 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 acquisition of the Cross of the Lord. 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 Golgotha. Elena, the mother of the emperor, went to Jerusalem in 326 to find the Cross of the Lord.
According to the custom then, crosses, as instruments of execution, were buried near the place of execution. Three crosses were found on Golgotha. It was impossible to understand which of them was Christ, since the plank with the inscription "Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews" was found separately from all the crosses. Subsequently, the Cross of the Lord was established by the power, which was expressed in the healing of the sick and the resurrection of a person through touching this cross. The fame of the amazing miracles of the Cross of the Lord attracted a lot of people, and because of the pandemonium, many did not have the opportunity to see and bow to him. Then Patriarch Macarius raised the cross, revealing it to everyone around him in the distance. Thus, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord 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 Khosra took possession of Jerusalem and took out the Cross. In 328, the heir of Khozroy, Syroes, returned the stolen Cross of the Lord to Jerusalem. It 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. Thus, believing Christians 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 Bright Resurrection of Christ from the dead. Easter is considered the main one between the passing twelfth holidays, since the Easter story contains everything on which Christian knowledge is based. For all Christians, the Resurrection of Christ means salvation and the trampling of death.
Christ's suffering, suffering on the cross and death washed away original sin, and consequently, gave salvation to mankind. That is why Christians call Easter the Triumph of Triumphs and the Feast of Holidays.
The following story formed the basis of the Christian holiday. On the first day of the week, the myrrh-bearing women came to the tomb of Christ to anoint the body with incense. However, a large block that blocked the entrance to the tomb was moved, an angel sat on the stone, who told the women that the Savior had risen. After some time, 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 joyful news and told them the message of Christ that they would meet in Galilee. Before His death, Jesus told the disciples about the coming events, but the news of Mary plunged them into confusion. Faith in the Kingdom of Heaven promised by Jesus revived in their hearts again. However, the Resurrection of Jesus did not bring joy to everyone: the chief priests and Pharisees started a rumor about the loss 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, in memory of the sufferings of the Savior, was preceded by Holy Week. Today they are preceded by Great Lent, which lasts forty days.
For a long time, discussions about the true date of the celebration of the memory of the events described did not subside, until at the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (325) they agreed on the celebration of Easter on the 1st Sunday, following the first spring full moon and spring equinox. In different years, Easter has the opportunity to be celebrated from March 21 to April 24 (old style).
On the eve of the Easter holiday, the service begins at eleven o'clock in the evening. Midnight Office First Great Saturday, then the blagovest sounds and the procession takes place, which is led by the clergy, the believers leave the church with lit candles, and the blagovest is replaced by a festive chime of bells. When the procession returns to the closed doors of the church, which symbolize the tomb of Christ, the ringing is interrupted. A festive prayer sounds, and the door of the church opens. At this time, the priest proclaims: “Christ is risen!”, And the believers together answer: “Truly He is risen!”. This is how Easter comes.
At the time of the Paschal liturgy, as usual, the Gospel of John is read. At the end of the Paschal liturgy, the artos is consecrated - large prosphora, similar to Easter cake. During the Easter week, the artos is located near the royal gates. After the liturgy, on the following Saturday, a special rite of crushing the artos is served, and pieces of it are distributed to the faithful.
At the end of the Easter liturgy, the fast ends and the Orthodox can treat themselves to a piece of consecrated Easter cake or Easter, a painted egg, a meat pie, etc. On the first week of Easter (Bright Week), it is supposed to give food to the hungry and help those in need. Christians go to visit relatives, exchange exclamations: “Christ is risen!” “Truly Risen!” Easter is supposed to give colored eggs. This tradition is 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 in the news of the Resurrection and said that he would believe it if the brought egg 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 twelfth holidays celebrated by the Orthodox. The first mention of this holiday is found in manuscripts of the 3rd century. This event has great importance for Christians, since the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, whose authorities were hostile to Him, means that Christ voluntarily accepted the suffering on 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. To confirm the people in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Messiah predicted by the prophets, a week before the Resurrection, the Savior went to the city with the apostles. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus sent John and Peter to the village, indicating the place where they would find the colt. The apostles drove to the Teacher a colt, on which He sat down and went to Jerusalem.
At the entrance to the city, some people spread their own clothes, the rest accompanied Him with cut branches of palm trees, 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 the King of the people of Israel.
When Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem, he drove the merchants out of it 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 teaching of Christ. The sick began to come to Him, He healed them, and the children at that moment sang His praise. Then Christ left the temple and went with the disciples to Bethany.
With vayami, or palm branches, in ancient times it was customary to meet the winners, from this came another name for the holiday: Vay Week. In Russia, where palm trees do not grow, the holiday got 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, on Palm Sunday, fish and vegetable dishes with vegetable oil are allowed. And the day before, on Lazarus Saturday, after Vespers, you can taste some fish caviar.
Ascension of the Lord
(in 2017 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 descend upon them the Holy Spirit, which they should wait for in Jerusalem. Christ said, “And I will send the promise of my Father upon you; but remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed 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 lean and fast.
Holy Trinity - Pentecost
(in 2017 falls on June 4)
On the Day of the Holy Trinity, we commemorate the story that tells of 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 Pascha, hence the name of this holiday. The second, most famous name of the day is timed to coincide with the acquisition 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 the dwelling in order to pray together. Suddenly they heard a roar, and then fiery tongues began to appear in the air, which, separating, descended on the disciples of Christ.
After the flame descended on the apostles, the prophecy "...were filled...with the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:4) came true, and they offered up a prayer. With the descent of the Holy Spirit, the disciples of Christ had the gift to speak in different languages in order to carry the Word of the Lord throughout the world.
The noise coming from the house gathered a large crowd of curious people. The assembled people were amazed that the apostles could speak in different languages. Among the people there were also people from other nations, they heard how the apostles offered up a prayer in their native language. Most of the people were surprised and were filled with reverent awe, at the same time, among those gathered there were also people who skeptically spoke about what had happened, “drank sweet wine” (Acts 2, 13).
On this day, the Apostle Peter delivered his first sermon, which told that the event that happened that day was predicted by the prophets and marks the last mission of the Savior in the earthly world. The sermon of the Apostle Peter was short and simple, but the Holy Spirit spoke through him, then 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 willingly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added” (Acts 2:41). Since ancient times, the Day of the Holy Trinity has been revered as the birthday of the Christian Church, created by Holy Grace.
On the Day of the Holy Trinity, it is customary to decorate houses and temples with flowers and grass. Regarding the festive table, on this day it is allowed to eat any food. There is no post on this day.
The Twelfth Everlasting Holidays
Christmas (January 7)
According to legend, the Lord God, even in Paradise, promised the sinner Adam the coming of the Savior. 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 forgot the Lord and worshiped pagan idols. Shortly before the birth of Jesus, the ruler Herod proclaimed a decree on the census, for this the Jews had to come to 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, because of the multitude of people, all the places were occupied, and Joseph and Mary had to stop in the barn. At night, Mary gave birth to a boy, named him Jesus, swaddled him and put him in a manger - a feeder for cattle. Not far from their lodging, there were shepherds grazing cattle, an angel appeared to them, who told them: ... I proclaim to you a great joy that will be for all people: for now 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 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, bowed to Jesus, and told about the appearance of the angel and his sign, after which they went back to their flocks.
In the same days, the magi came to Jerusalem, who asked people about the born Jewish king, as a new one shone in the heavens. bright Star. Learning about the Magi, King Herod called them to him in order to find out the place where the Messiah was born. He ordered the magi to find out the place where the new Jewish king was born.
The Magi followed the star, which led them to the barn where the Savior was born. Entering the barn, the wise men bowed to Jesus and presented him with gifts: incense, gold and myrrh. “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed by another way to their own country” (Matthew 2:12). That same night, Joseph received a sign: an angel appeared to him in a dream and said: “Get up, take the Baby and His Mother and run to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod wants to look for the baby 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 feast 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 with the appearance of the first star in the sky, they break the fast with juicy - boiled wheat or rice with honey and dried fruits. After Christmas and before Epiphany, Christmas time is celebrated, during which all fasts are cancelled.
The Baptism of the Lord - Epiphany (January 19)
Christ began to minister to people at the age of thirty. John the Baptist had to anticipate the coming of the Messiah, prophesying the coming of the Messiah and baptizing people in the Jordan for the atonement of sins. When the Savior appeared to John for baptism, John recognized Him as the Messiah and told Him that he himself must be baptized by the Savior. But Christ answered: "...leave it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 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 the Son, Jesus himself, the Holy Spirit, who descended in the form of a dove on Christ, and the Lord the Father, who said: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased » (Mt. 3, 17).
The disciples of Christ were the first to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, as evidenced by the set of apostolic canons. The day before the feast of the Epiphany, Christmas Eve begins. On this day, as on Christmas Eve, the Orthodox eat succulent, and only after the blessing of the water. Epiphany water is considered healing, it is sprinkled at home, it is drunk on an empty stomach for various diseases.
On the feast of the Epiphany itself, the rite of the great hagiasma is also served. On this day, the tradition has been preserved to make a procession to the reservoirs with the Gospel, banners and lamps. The procession accompanies bell ringing and singing the troparion of the feast.
Meeting of the Lord (February 15)
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord describes the events that took place in the Jerusalem temple at the meeting of the Infant Jesus with the elder Simeon. According to the law, on the fortieth day after the birth, the Virgin Mary brought Jesus to Jerusalem temple. According to legend, the elder Simeon lived at the temple where he translated the Holy Scripture into Greek language. In one of the prophecies of Isaiah, where the coming of the Savior is told, 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 a mistake in the original text, at the same moment an angel appeared to him and said that Simeon would not die until he saw the Most Holy 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 them as the Messiah. He took Him in his arms and spoke the following words: “Now, release Your servant, Master, according to Your word in peace, as if my eyes have seen Your salvation Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation of tongues and the glory of Your people Israel” (Lk .2, 29). From now on, the elder could die in peace, because he had just seen with his own eyes both the Virgin Mother and Her Savior Son.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7)
Since ancient times, the Annunciation of the Mother of God was called both the Beginning of Redemption and the Conception of Christ. This lasted for the 7th century, until it acquired the name under which it is at the moment. In its significance for Christians, the feast of the Annunciation is comparable only to the Nativity of Christ. Therefore, there is a proverb among the people to this day that on this day “a bird does not nest, a girl does not weave a braid.”
This is the history of the holiday. 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 were at that time, only men had the opportunity to serve the Almighty for a lifetime. However, by this time Mary's parents had already died, and the priests decided to betroth Mary to Joseph of Nazareth.
Once an angel appeared to the Virgin Mary, who was the archangel Gabriel. He greeted her with the following words: "Rejoice, gracious one, the Lord is with you!" Mary was confused because she didn't 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: He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father; 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 Arlachangel Gavria, the Virgin Mary asked: “... how will it be if I don’t know my husband?” (Luke 1, 34), to which the archangel replied that the Holy Spirit would descend on the Virgin, and therefore the Infant born from her would be holy. And Mary humbly answered: “... behold the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to thy 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 earthly existence.
Once 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 was 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 suffering, which He would have to endure. At that very moment, such grace seized the apostles that Peter inadvertently suggested: “Master! It's good for us to be here; Let us 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 resounded, the disciples again saw Christ alone in His ordinary form.
When Christ with the apostles was returning from Mount Tabor, He ordered them not to testify until the time that they had seen.
In Russia, the Transfiguration of the Lord was popularly called the "Apple Savior", since on this day honey and apples are consecrated in churches.
Assumption 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 the Mother (John 19:26-27). Since that time, the Virgin Mary lived with John in Jerusalem. Here the apostles wrote down the stories of the Mother of God about the earthly existence of Jesus Christ. The Mother of God often went to Golgotha to worship and pray, and on one of these visits the Archangel Gabriel informed Her of Her imminent Assumption.
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 appeared to Her bed with angels, which caused fear to seize those present. 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 Theotokos. The high priest Athos overtook the funeral procession, and grabbed the couch, trying to turn it over in order to desecrate the body. However, the moment he touched the bed, his hands were cut off by an invisible force. Only after this Athos repented and believed, 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 the disciples of Christ - the Apostle Thomas. He arrived in Jerusalem only three days after the funeral and wept for a long time at the tomb of the Virgin. 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 site, where the burial shrouds of the Virgin Mary were preserved until the 4th century. After that, the shrine was transferred to Byzantium, to the Blachernae Church, and in 582 Emperor Mauritius issued a decree on the general celebration of the Assumption 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.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (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 the Jews considered the absence of children as God's punishment for secret sins. But Joachim and Anna did not lose faith in the child and prayed to God to send them a child. So they took an oath: in the event that they have a child, they will give it to the service of the Almighty.
And God heard their requests, but before that, he put them to the test: when Joachim came to the temple to offer a sacrifice, the priest did not take it, reproaching the old man for childlessness. After this incident, Joachim went to the desert, where he fasted and begged for forgiveness from the Lord.
At this time, Anna also underwent a test: she was reproached for childlessness by her own maid. After that, Anna went into the garden and, noticing a bird's nest with chicks on a tree, she began to think 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. Before Joachim, an angel also appeared and said that the Lord had heard him.
After that, 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 Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord (September 27)
In 325, the mother of the emperor of Byzantium, Constantine the Great, Queen Lena went to Jerusalem to visit the holy places. She visited Calvary 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 a result: three crosses were found on Golgotha, and in order to find the one on which Christ accepted suffering, 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 on Golgotha. There were so many Christians gathered that most of them could not come to the Cross to bow to the shrine. Patriarch Macarius proposed to erect the Cross so that everyone could see it. So in honor of these events, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross was laid.
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 gained general Christian significance after the war between Persia and Byzantium. In 614, Jerusalem was sacked by the Persians. At the same time, 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 Golgotha by Constantine the Great. Since that time, the Feast of the Exaltation has been celebrated by all Christians of the world.
Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 4)
The Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated by Christians in memory of the consecration of the Virgin Mary to God. When Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anna fulfilled their oath: they brought their daughter to the Jerusalem temple and placed it on the stairs. To the amazement of her parents and other people, little Mary herself went up the stairs to meet the high priest, after which he led her into the altar. From that time on, the Most Holy Virgin Mary lived at the temple until the time came for Her betrothal to the righteous Joseph.
Great holidays
Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord (January 14)
Circumcision of the Lord as a holiday was approved in the IV century. On this day, they commemorate the event associated with the Covenant concluded with God on Mount Zion by the prophet Moses: according to which all boys on the eighth day after birth were to be circumcised as a symbol of unity with the Jewish patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Upon completion of this ritual, the Savior was called Jesus, as the archangel Gabriel commanded when he brought the Virgin Mary good news. According to the interpretation, the Lord accepted circumcision as a strict observance of the laws of God. But in the Christian Church there is no circumcision ritual, since according to the New Testament it has given 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 had 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, the Law of Moses pointed out, 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 called 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 and strong drink, and the Holy Spirit will be filled even from his mother's womb...” (Luke 1:14-15).
However, in response to this revelation, Zechariah smiled mournfully: both he and his wife Elisaveta were in advanced years. When he told the angel about his own doubts, he introduced himself as the archangel Gabriel and, as a punishment for unbelief, 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 became pregnant, but she could not believe her own happiness, so she hid her position for up to five months. In the end, a son was born to her, and when the baby was brought to the temple on the eighth day, the priest was very surprised to learn that he was called John: neither in the family of Zacharias, nor in the family of Elizabeth there was anyone with that name. But Zakharia confirmed his wife's desire with a nod of his head, after which he again managed to talk. And the first words that escaped his lips were the words of a heartfelt thanksgiving prayer.
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 feast is preceded by a multi-day apostolic (Petrov) fast.
In ancient times, the Council of the Apostles adopted church rules, and Peter and Paul occupied the highest places in it. In other words, the life of these apostles was of great importance for the development of the Christian Church.
However, the first apostles went to faith in somewhat different ways, that, realizing them, one can involuntarily think about the inscrutable ways of the Lord.
Apostle Peter
Before Peter began the apostolic ministry, he had a different name - Simon, which he received at birth. Simon fished on Lake Gennesaret until his brother Andrew led the young man to Christ. The radical and strong Simon was immediately able to take a special place among the disciples of Jesus. For example, he was the first to recognize the Savior in Jesus and for this he acquired a new name from Christ - Cephas (Heb. stone). In Greek, such a name sounds like Peter, and actually on this “flint” Jesus was going to erect the building of His own Church, which “the gates of hell will not prevail against.” However, weaknesses are inherent in man, and Peter's weakness was the threefold denial of Christ. Nevertheless, Peter repented and was forgiven by Jesus, who confirmed his destiny three times.
After the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, Peter was the first to deliver 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, there is a book in the New Testament written personally by the apostle.
In the year 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 not worthy of exactly the same execution as the Teacher, so he asked the executioners to crucify him upside down on the cross.
Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul was born in the city of Tarsus (Asia Minor). Like Peter, from birth he had a different name - Saul. He was a gifted young man and received a good education, but 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 freely admire the pagan Hellenistic culture.
With all this, Paul was the persecutor of Christianity both in Palestine and beyond. These opportunities were given to him by the Pharisees, who hated the Christian doctrine 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 chasing me? He said: who are you Lord? The Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It's hard for you to go against the pricks” (Acts 9:4-5). After this, Christ instructed Saul to go to Damascus and rely on providence.
When the blind Saul arrived in the city, where he found the priest Ananias. After a conversation with a Christian pastor, he believed in Christ and was baptized. During the rite of baptism, his sight returned again. From that day began the work of Paul as an apostle. Like the apostle Peter, Paul traveled widely: he visited Arabia, Antioch, Cyprus, Asia Minor and Macedonia. In those places where Paul visited, Christian communities seemed to form by themselves, and the supreme apostle himself became famous for his epistles to the heads of the churches founded with his help: among the New Testament books there are 14 epistles of Paul. Thanks to these epistles, Christian dogmas acquired a coherent system and became understandable to every believer.
At the end of the year 66, the Apostle Paul arrived in Rome, where a year later, as a citizen of the Roman Empire, he was executed by the sword.
The Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11)
In the year 32 from the birth of Jesus, King Herod Antipas, the 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, as 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 presented the king with an exquisite tanya. For this, Herod promised to 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 request of the girl embarrassed the king, as he was afraid of the death of John, 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 soldier to prison, who beheaded John, and brought his head on a platter to Salome. 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.
Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (October 14)
The basis of the holiday was a story that happened in 910 in Constantinople. The city was besieged by an uncountable army of Saracens, and the townspeople hid in the Blachernae Church - in the place where the omophorion of the Virgin was saved. Frightened residents prayed fervently Mother of God about protection. And then one day during a prayer, the holy fool Andrei noticed the Mother of God above those who were praying.
The Mother of God was accompanied by an army of angels, with John the Theologian and John the Baptist. She reverently stretched out her hands to the Son, at this time 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 an 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 Most Holy Theotokos came to Russia under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1164. And a little later, in 1165, on the Nerl River, in honor of this holiday, the first church was consecrated.
The most important Orthodox holidays are distinguished by especially solemn divine services. The biggest and brightest event in the Christian church calendar is Easter. It has a special status and the most solemn service. The date of the celebration is determined by the solar-lunar calendar and is unique for each year (falls between April 4 and May 8).
The rest of the great feasts are divided into Twelve and Non-twelfth.
Twelfth- These are the 12 most important holidays of the Orthodox calendar, dedicated to the events of the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Virgin. They are divided into two categories:
- non-passing
They have a fixed date and fall on the same date every year. These include 9 twelfth holidays. - Transitional
They have a unique date for each year, which depends on the date of the celebration of Easter and moves along with it. These include 3 twelfth holidays.
Non-Twelfth- these are 5 great holidays of the Orthodox Church dedicated to the birth and death of John the Baptist - the baptist of Jesus Christ, the apostles Peter and Paul, the appearance of the Virgin, the circumcision of the Lord and the memory of St. Basil.
Orthodox fasts and continuous weeks
Fast- a period of restriction in food, in which one should refrain from eating food of animal origin.
There are 4 multi-day fasts: Great, Petrov (Apostolic), Assumption, Christmas and 3 one-day fasts: Epiphany Christmas Eve, the Beheading of John the Baptist and the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. There is also a post on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Solid weeks are the weeks during which fasting is canceled on Wednesdays and Fridays. There are 5 such weeks in a year: Christmas time, Publican and Pharisee, Cheese (meat is forbidden), Easter, Trinity.
Days of Special Remembrance for the Dead
On days of general commemoration of all dead Christians, it is customary to visit the graves of deceased relatives and pray for them. In the circle of the liturgical year, such dates are: Ecumenical Parental Saturday, 2-4 Saturdays of Great Lent, Radonitsa, Commemoration of the Dead Soldiers, Trinity and Dimitrievskaya Parental Saturdays.
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 be in 2017. For these purposes, every year a church calendar is calculated that can give a person the necessary guidelines.
In this article you will find detailed Orthodox calendar for 2017, where the days of celebrating the main twelve dates that the church honors, not counting Great Easter, are indicated.
Arguing about the expediency of the church calendar, all holidays should be divided into the Lord's (timed to Jesus Christ) and the Mother of God. The long-awaited and beloved holiday, which all Orthodox people are looking forward to, is considered to be Great Easter - the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
However, not all holidays fall on the same day every year. They are called transitional. Depending on the number of Easter, the date of such holidays is set. Those celebrations that have a permanent date are called non-transferable. Here main feature church calendar, which a believer should know first of all.
In addition to church holidays, it is customary to mark the dates of fasting in the Orthodox calendar. Most of the celebrations celebrated by the church involve overcoming a special ritual - fasting. It helps to cleanse the soul, mind and let the Lord our God in from the heart.
Anyone who wishes to fast must voluntarily renounce unsuitable food and all kinds of entertainment. This is a prerequisite for the post. As practice shows, it is not difficult to adhere to such simple rules, and every year the ranks of those who fast are replenished with new “participants”.
The most important post is Great Lent. It comes immediately before Holy Week, tobish, before Great Pascha. Based on, the beginning and end of Lent changes every year.
Twelfth fixed (non-transitory) holidays
- 01/19/2017 - Baptism of the Lord (Theophany)
- 12/04/2017 - Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos
Twelfth movable (movable) holidays
- 04/09/2017 - Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem
- May 25, 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 - Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos
- 02/18/2017 - Saturday meat and meat (Universal parental)
- 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 the deceased warriors
- 06/03/2017 - Saturday Trinity
Church posts
Multi-day:
- from 02/27/2017 to 04/15/2017 - Great Lent
- from 06/12/2017 to 07/11/2017 - (Apostolic)
- from 08/14/2017 to 08/27/2017 - Assumption post
- from 11/28/2017 - 01/06/2018 - Christmas post
One-day:
- 01/18/2017 - Epiphany Christmas Eve
- 09/11/2017 - Beheading of John the Baptist
- 09/27/2017 - Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord
Continuous weeks (there are no fasts on Wednesday and Friday in these weeks)
- from 02/06/217 to 02/11/2017 - Publican and Pharisee
- from 20.02.2017 to 26.02.2017 – Maslenitsa
- from 04/17/2017 to 04/22/2017 - Easter week
What are Great Holidays
These holidays are highly valued by the church, and all of them are distinguished by a special solemn service. The most significant and brightest day of the year for the Orthodox people is Easter. She 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 the celebration is unique for each year and is calculated according to the solar-lunar calendar. Often it falls on the period from April 4 to May 8.
Other holidays can be divided into Twelfth and Non-Twelfth.
The twelve church celebrations include 12 events of particular significance for the church, connected with the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. In turn, these holidays are divided into:
- Passing or mobile. For them, a unique date is calculated annually, which depends on the day Easter is celebrated and moves along with it. In total there are 3 such twelfth holidays.
- Intransient or immovable. These church holidays have a fixed date - every year they fall on the same date. 9 such Orthodox celebrations are known.
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, and 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 outlook. Fasting people voluntarily restrict themselves in food, food and entertainment. Conventionally, the post can be divided into several types:
- Mental fast - when a person limits himself from external pleasures and impressions. These include silence, humility, tranquility, solitude and prayerful concentration.
- Bodily fasting - observing it, a person refuses great variety in food.
- Spiritual fasting - a fasting person struggles with his "inner bodily whims." Spiritual fasting involves periods of especially intense prayer.
It is worth noting that a bodily fast without a spiritual one 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 (prelate) teaches that this fast is a period when a person renounces evil, watches his tongue, suppresses anger, pacifies lust, stops slandering, lying, and stops committing perjury.
You can’t consider fasting as a goal, to achieve something, because it is a means of distracting from the desires of your body and helps to concentrate on the future and spiritual state. If you forget about all this, fasting will become the easiest diet!
In the church calendar, 4 multi-day fasts can be distinguished:
- Great Lent- the most important and longest post among Christians. Its main purpose is to cleanse and prepare the body for Easter. The fast is divided into four parts - Fortecost, Lazarus Saturday, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem and Holy Week.
- Petrov Fast or Apostolic- summer fast, which was formerly 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.
- Assumption post- is considered the shortest post, because it lasts only two weeks. Dedicated to the Holy Mother of God.
- Christmas post- also called Filippovsky. Its duration is 40 days.
There are also 3 one-day fasts:
- Epiphany Christmas Eve
- Beheading of John the Baptist
- Exaltation of the Holy Cross
In addition, it is customary to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Solid weeks are the weeks during which fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays is cancelled. In the church calendar, there are 5 such weeks - Christmas time, Cheese (meat is prohibited), Trinity, Easter, Publican and Pharisee.
Days of Special Remembrance for the Dead
These days it is customary to remember all the departed Christians, to come to the graves of deceased relatives, to pray for them. These are days such as Ecumenical Parental Saturday, Saturday 2-4 of Great Lent, Radonitsa, Commemoration of the Dead Soldiers, Dmitrievskaya and Trinity Saturdays.
January
from 28.12.2016 to 06.01.2017 Christmas post
01/06/2017 - Christmas Eve or Eve of the Nativity of Christ
01/07/2017 - Christmas
from 01/07/2017 to 01/17/2017 - Christmas time
01/14/2017 - Circumcision of the Lord. New Year's Eve in the old style.
01/18/2017 - Epiphany Christmas Eve or Eve of the Epiphany of the Lord
01/19/2017 - Baptism of the Lord or Holy Theophany
01/25/2017 - Memorial Day of the Great Martyr Tatyana or Tatyana's Day
February
02/15/2017 - The aspiration of the Lord
from 02/05/2017 to 02/26/2017 - Triodes. Preparing for Great Lent
from 02/06/217 to 02/12/2017 - Week about 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 February 27, 2017 to April 15, 2017 - Great Lent
March
03/09/217 - Finding the Head of John the Baptist
03/22/2017 - Forty Martyrs of Sebaiste or Larks
03/11/2017 - Parental ecumenical Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent
03/18/2017 - Parental ecumenical Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent
03/25/2017 - Parental ecumenical Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent
April
04/07/2017 - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
08/08/2017 – Lazarus Saturday
04/09/2017 - Entry of the Lord 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 Krasnaya Gorka
04/23/2017 - Antipascha
04/25/2017 - Radonitsa or Parents' Day
May
05/09/2017 - Day of Remembrance of the Dead
05/23/2017 — Simon the Zealot
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 Apostles Peter and Paul
From 07/12/2017 to 08/13/2017 - Summer Meat Eater
August
08/02/2017 - Ilyin's day
08/14/2017 - Honey Spas
From 08/14/2017 to 08/27/2017 - Assumption post
08/19/2017 - Transfiguration of the Lord. Apple Spas
08/28/2017 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
From 08/28/2017 to 11/27/2017 - Autumn Meat Eater
08/29/2017 - Walnut Spas
September
09/11/2017 - Beheading of John the Baptist
09/21/2017 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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