Nativity Fast (Filippov Fast, in common parlance in Filippovka) - established in honor of the Nativity of Christ. Observed from November 15 (28) to December 24 (January 6).
IN Orthodox churches Byzantine tradition, the Nativity fast is one of four multi-day fasts church year and serves as a 40-day preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ.
Observed from November 15 (28) to December 24 (January 6) inclusive and ends with the holiday of the Nativity of Christ. The fast (the eve of fasting) - November 14 (27) - falls on the day of remembrance of the holy Apostle Philip, therefore the fast is also called Philip's fast. If the spell falls on one-day posts, Wednesday or Friday, then it moves to November 13 (26).
Instructions of the Holy Fathers on fasting
“Do not limit the benefits of fasting to abstinence in food, because true fasting is elimination of evil deeds... Forgive your neighbor’s insult, forgive him his debts. You do not eat meat, but you offend your brother... True fasting is the removal of evil, abstinence of the tongue, suppression of anger, excommunication of lusts, slander, lies and perjury. Abstaining from this is true fasting."
“Abstinence from food, observed for show, is hated by the soul of the Lord; but abstinence, used to enslave carnal wisdom, is loved by the Lord, because through exhaustion of the flesh it brings about sanctification.”
“One must fast moderately and provide the body with the most necessary help, but in such a way that it is not voluptuousness that guides the choice of food, but reason with all severity in determining the need. For with such a spiritual disposition, the one who eats food turns out to be in no way inferior in wisdom to the one who does not eat, and by intention he observes not only unceasing fasting, but also non-eating, and by caring for the body he deserves praise as the best steward.”
“We must pay attention so that, by excessive abstinence, weakening bodily strength, we do not make the body lazy and inactive for the most important activities... I think that a sign of the best stewardship is to follow the established regulations.”
“Fasting is an ancient gift; fasting is the treasure of fathers. He is contemporary with humanity. Fasting is legal in heaven. Adam accepted this first commandment: “You shall not tear down the tree which you understand is good and evil” (Gen. 2:17). And this: don’t take it down is the legalization of fasting and abstinence.”
“If Eve had fasted and not eaten of the tree, then we would not now have the need to fast. “For they do not require the health of a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12). We are damaged by sin; Let us be healed by repentance, and repentance without fasting is not effective. “Cursed is the ground...thorns and thistles will grow for you” (Gen. 3:17-18). It is ordered to be contrite in spirit, and not to indulge in luxury. By fasting, be justified before God.”
“Fasting is the mother of humility, the source of all wisdom; fasting is the mother of all blessings, the teacher of chastity and all virtues"
“Fasting from alms takes its firmness... If you fast without alms, then your fast is not fasting, and such a person is worse than a glutton and a drunkard, and, moreover, as much as cruelty is worse than luxury.”
“Just as a bird cannot fly without the help of wings, so fasting cannot flow without its two wings - prayer and alms. Look at Cornelius, how he, along with fasting, also possessed these wings. That’s why he heard a voice come to him from heaven: “Cornelius, your prayers and your alms have risen” (Acts 10:3-4).”
“Prayer should always be combined with fasting... And prayers are performed with attention, especially during fasting, because then the soul is lighter, not burdened by anything, and not suppressed by the disastrous burden of pleasures.”
“A person who fasts must abstain from food, but first of all from sins... I would call the one who eats a thousand times more blessed than the one who fasts and commits untruths. I say this not to destroy fasting, but to call for piety. It’s not food that’s evil, it’s sin that’s evil.”
“Let there be no excess; This greatly contributes to the health and strength of our body. Do you not see that countless diseases arise from luxurious tables and excessive saturation? Where do the diseases in the legs come from? Where do head diseases come from? Where does the multiplication of spoiled phlegm come from? Where do countless other diseases come from? Is it not from immoderation? Just as an overcrowded ship soon sinks and sinks, so a person, indulging in gluttony and drunkenness, rushes into the abyss, drowns his mind, and finally lies like a living corpse, often still capable of doing something bad, but capable of no more good than the dead. »
“The purpose of fasting is pure communion. For this reason, the fathers extended the field of fasting and gave us a time of repentance, so that we, having cleansed and washed ourselves, would thus proceed to the Sacrament. That’s why I am now calling out with a loud voice, testifying, asking and begging - not with an unclean, not with a vicious conscience to approach this sacred meal, because otherwise it will not be communion... but condemnation, torment and increased punishment.”
“There are many people who, preparing to fight fasting, seem to wild beast, they protect themselves with gluttony, and, having burdened and darkened themselves to the extreme, they very unreasonably meet the quiet and meek face of fasting. And if I ask you: why are you going to the bathhouse today? - you will say: in order to meet the post with a clean body. And if I ask: why are you drunk? - you will say again: because I am preparing to enter into fasting. But isn’t it strange to meet this most beautiful fast with a clean body, but with an unclean and intoxicated soul?”
“We should do this: not just go through the weeks of fasting, but examine our conscience, test our thoughts, and notice what we managed to do this week, what the next, what new things we tried to achieve the next, and what passions we have corrected from. If we do not correct ourselves in this way and show such concern for our soul, then we will not benefit from the fasting and abstinence to which we subject ourselves.”
“Besides abstaining from food, there are many ways that can open the doors of boldness before God. He who eats food and cannot fast, let him give abundant alms, let him say fervent prayers, let him show intense zeal for listening to the word of God - here bodily weakness does not hinder us in the least - let him make peace with his enemies, let him expel from his soul all memory of malice . If he does this, he will commit a true fast, the kind that the Lord requires of us. After all, He commands abstinence from food itself so that we, by curbing the lusts of the flesh, make it obedient in fulfilling the commandments.”
“Fasting, like a doctor of our souls, humbles the flesh of one Christian, and tames the anger of another; drives away sleep from one, stimulates another to greater good deeds; For one, it cleanses the mind and makes it free from evil thoughts; for another, it binds the uncontrollable tongue and with the fear of God, like a bridle, restrains it, not allowing it to speak idle and rotten words; and for others it does not allow the eyes to look here and there and be curious about what one or the other is doing, but it forces everyone to listen to himself.”
“Fasting is the beginning and foundation of every spiritual work. Whatever virtues you create on the basis of fasting, they will all be unshakable and unshakable, like those written on solid stone. And when you accept this foundation, that is, fasting, and in its place you put satiation of the belly and other inappropriate desires, then all the virtues will be shaken and blown away from bad thoughts and from the flow of passions, like sand blown by the wind, and the entire edifice of virtue collapses.”
“It is written in the law that God commanded the children of Israel to tithe every year of all that they acquired, and by doing so they were blessed in all their deeds. Knowing this, St. The apostles established... that we separate the tithe from the very days of our life and dedicate it to God: so that we, too, may thus receive a blessing on all our deeds, and annually cleanse the sins we have committed during the year. Having reasoned this way, they consecrated to us the seven weeks of Lent.”
“There are two types of gluttony: laryngeal madness and gluttony. The first type is when a person seeks the pleasures of food; he does not always want to eat a lot, but he desires something tasty and is overcome by its pleasant taste. Gluttony is polyeating, when a person does not care about the taste of food, but strives to fill his belly.”
“Whoever fasts out of vanity or believing that he is performing virtue fasts unreasonably and therefore begins to reproach his brother afterwards, considering himself to be someone significant. But whoever fasts wisely does not think that he is doing a good deed wisely, and does not want to be praised as a faster.”
“Concerning the image of fasting, it cannot be conveniently observed same rule... - the time, method and quality of nutrition must be different, precisely due to the unequal condition of the bodies, or according to age and gender; but everyone should have one rule for taming the flesh to control the heart and strengthen the spirit.”
“Strict fasts become in vain when they are followed by excessive consumption of food, which soon leads to the vice of gluttony.”
“One should be considered a suicide who does not change the strict rules of abstinence even when it is necessary to strengthen weakened strength by eating food.”
“Tighten your belly with abstinence, and thereby stop your mouth; for the tongue takes strength from many foods"
“The living memory of death prevents intemperance in food; and when intemperance in food is stopped with humility, then other passions are cut off at the same time.”
“When we are full, the spirit of gluttony departs and sends the spirit of prodigal upon us, informing it in what state we are in, and saying: “Go and stir up such and such; his belly is full, and therefore you will labor a little.” This one, having come, smiles and, having tied our hands and feet to sleep, does whatever he wants with us.”
“Whoever serves his own belly, and yet wants to overcome the spirit of fornication, is like someone who extinguishes a fire with oil.”
“Just as healthy eyes are characterized by a desire for light, so a fast observed with prudence is characterized by a desire for prayer.”
“He who is clothed in the weapon of fasting is at all times inflamed with jealousy. For even the zealot Elijah, when he was zealous for the law of God, remained in this matter - in fasting."
“From the meal of those who fast... borrow for yourself the medicine of life, and awaken your soul from deadness. For among them, sanctifying them, the Beloved reclines, and the labor of fasting and their deeds transforms them into His inscrutable sweetness; and His heavenly servants overshadow them and their holy dishes. I know one of the brothers who clearly saw this with his own eyes."
“There is physical fasting, and there is mental fasting. Bodily fasting is when the belly fasts from food and drink; spiritual fasting is when the soul abstains from evil thoughts, deeds and words. A good faster is one who shuns all evil. If you, Christian, want fasting to be useful to you, then, while fasting physically, fast also mentally, and fast always.”
“It is appropriate to proportion the way of bodily nutrition to the state of strength and strength of the body: when it is healthy, oppress it as much as necessary, and when it is weak, relax it a little. The ascetic should not relax his body, but be as strong as is required for the ascetic endeavor, so that even though bodily labors the soul is also properly cleansed.”
St. Asterius of Amasia
“Fasting is the teacher of moderation, the mother of virtue, the educator of the children of God, the leader of the disorderly, the calm of souls, the support of life, the peace of lasting and unperturbed; its severity and importance pacifies passions, extinguishes anger and rage, cools and calms all sorts of unrest that arise from overeating.”
Rev. Macarius of Optina
“We must be, according to the teaching of the holy fathers, not body-killers, but passion-killers, that is, destroy the passions in ourselves.”
holy Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow
“The Apostle Paul said: if one of the unbelievers calls you and you want to go, then eat everything that is offered to you without any examination, for peace of conscience (1 Cor. 10:27) - for the sake of the person who welcomed you cordially.”
“Irrational people are jealous of the fasting and labors of saints with wrong understanding and intention and think that they are passing through virtue. The devil, guarding them as his prey, plunges into them the seed of a joyful opinion about himself, from which the inner Pharisee is born and nurtured and betrays such to complete pride.”
What is blessed at meals during the Nativity (Philippov) Fast?
Instructions for the Nativity Fast meal
According to the rules of abstinence, the Nativity Fast is close to Peter's Fast. According to the church charter, meat, dairy products and eggs are excluded on all days of fasting. In addition, it is prescribed:
- on Tuesdays, Thursdays - hot food with vegetable oil;
- on Saturdays and Sundays - hot vegetable food with vegetable oil, fish, wine;
- November 21 (December 4), the Feast of the Entry into the Temple Holy Mother of God- hot vegetable food with vegetable oil, fish, wine;
From December 20 (January 2) to December 23 (January 5) inclusive (the period of the pre-celebration of the Nativity of Christ):
- on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - dry eating;
- on Tuesdays and Thursdays, on Saturdays and Sundays - hot food with vegetable oil;
- December 24 (January 6), on Christmas Eve - hot food with vegetable oil (according to the Charter); In addition, according to custom, they eat sochivo (kolivo) - a sweet porridge made from wheat, rice or other cereals, usually only after Vespers.
On those days when wine is allowed, it is meant to be consumed in moderation.
History of origin The first mentions of the Nativity Fast date back to the 4th century, they can be found in the works of St. Ambrose of Milan, St. Augustine and other saints. The Nativity Fast, like other multi-day fasts, was established by Christians in the first centuries. At first it lasted 7 days, sometimes more, but in 1166 at the Council of Constantinople it was approved that all Christians should fast for forty days before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. The Nativity Fast ends the yearly cycle. The fast begins on November 28 and ends on January 7. This fast is also called Filippov - in honor of the Apostle Philip. It is on the day of his memory that the fasting ritual begins. The spell The spell takes place on the final day before the start of fasting and marks the time when last time Believers are allowed to eat fast food: meat, dairy products, animal fats, eggs. If the day of the conspiracy falls on Friday or Wednesday, which are considered fast days, then in this case it is transferred to the previous day. Why was the Nativity Fast established? God loves us and therefore is waiting for our rebirth, so that we, to the extent of our desire and strength, gradually abandon our sinful habits and receive an inner vision of what we live and what we suffer from. Sin is the most terrible thing in every person’s life. All troubles, both global and private, lie in sin and in our inability to fight it. In order for our fast to become salutary, it must be truly favorable to God. We must work to look at our lives differently. The Nativity Fast was established so that Christians, having cleansed themselves with sincere repentance, sincere prayer, abstinence from food, with a pure heart, could reverently meet the Son of God born into the world, and our change in better side and the desire to follow His teachings have become the gift and sacrifice that we can present to our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas Day. What is important to do during fasting? The Lord does not require supernatural feats from us. Christ says that our heart should be able to perceive the pain of another person. This does not mean that faith, traditions, canons, dogma, and fasts have no meaning in life. Fasting is needed so that we can cultivate in ourselves genuine joy in the Born and Risen Christ. And each of us, to the best of our ability spiritual experience, knows how the Lord sends us this quiet joy, when, on the one hand, through feasible work, spiritual eyes are opened, and you see and feel the impurity in your soul, but at the same time you hope that God will cleanse you from it and save you. Time for change Lent is always a time for change. Everyone sets some goals for themselves this period. The goals are different, big and small. It all depends on the spiritual maturity of a person: some plan to attend church services more, others gather the courage to read in the morning and evening prayer rule instead of short prayers, still others are trying to strictly observe fasting, and some will give up sweets during this time... When setting goals for ourselves, we must clearly understand why we are going to do something. If our plans do not have Christ, they will not change our life, our soul. You can just as easily use fasting for weight loss and dieting, which is what some do. This post is intended for something else. He gives us the opportunity to make up for lost good deeds, so that the heart becomes softer, kinder, brighter: to visit elderly and sick parents whom we have not seen long time, be condescending towards the shortcomings of your neighbor (after all, you have many more of them), help a friend who has been waiting for your help for a long time, say hello to your neighbors, hug someone who needs your support, say at least a few friendly words to your acquaintances during the day... Consciously decorating your fast days with light colors, Living them in love and joy, we will approach the Birthday of our Lord not empty-handed, but with small and large gifts, gifts of our heart, our changed soul. And the Divine Infant, rejoicing in our aspirations and zeal, will prepare for everyone joyful meeting and will graciously present the gift of feeling the power of His Divine love. magazine "Orthodox Life"
Two thousand years ago, humanity waited with hope for the Savior. However, the majority imagined Him as an earthly king and therefore did not notice the day of His Nativity. Bethlehem slept peacefully, and only a handful of shepherds heard the angel's gospel. These people believed that the Savior could be born not in the royal palace, but in a cave where sheep were sheltered from bad weather.
These people saw the One for whom the whole world was waiting, because they were pure in heart. And as a reward for everything, the secret of the Embodiment of Love was revealed to them. How often do people hope that life will improve thanks to... external reasons. They do not suspect that the darkness of everyday life can only be illuminated by love in their souls. But to find it, you need to cleanse your heart.
The days of fasting take a person out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life and demand from him pure life for God. This is another, unworldly time. IN Old Testament was required to bring a tenth of their income to the Temple. Fasting is the New Testament sacrifice of Christians to God.
Leo the Great teaches: “The very maintenance of abstinence is sealed in four times, so that throughout the year we learn that we are in constant need of cleansing and that when life is scattered, we must always try by fasting and alms to destroy sin, which is multiplied by the frailty of the flesh and impurity of desires.”
According to Leo the Great, the Nativity Fast is a sacrifice to God for the harvested fruits. “Just as the Lord generously provided us with the fruits of the earth,” the saint writes, “so during this fast we should be generous to the poor.”
According to Saint Simeon of Thessaloniki, “the fast of the Nativity Pentecost depicts the fast of Moses, who, having fasted forty days and forty nights, received the words of God inscribed on stone tablets. And we, fasting for forty days, contemplate and accept the living Word from the Virgin, not inscribed on stones, but incarnate and born, and we partake of His Divine flesh.”
The Nativity Fast was established so that on the day of the Nativity of Christ we purify ourselves with repentance, prayer and fasting, so that with a pure heart, soul and body we can reverently meet the Son of God who appeared in the world, and so that, in addition to the usual gifts and sacrifices, we bring him a pure heart and desire follow his teachings.
Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk reasons: “As we see, there is physical fasting, and there is also mental fasting. Bodily fasting is when the womb fasts from food and drink. Mental fasting is when the soul abstains from evil thoughts, deeds and words.
A fair faster is one who refrains himself from fornication, adultery and all uncleanness.
A fair faster is one who abstains from anger, rage, malice and revenge.
A fair faster is one who has imposed abstinence on his tongue and keeps it from idle talk, foul language, madness, slander, condemnation, flattery, lies and all slander.
A fair faster is one who keeps his hands from theft, embezzlement, robbery
running, and your heart is from the desire of other people's things. In a word, a good faster is one who shuns all evil.
You see, Christian, spiritual fasting. Physical fasting is useful for us, since it serves to mortify our passions. But mental fasting is absolutely necessary, because physical fasting is nothing without it.
Many fast with the body, but do not fast with the soul. Many fast from food and drink, but do not fast from evil thoughts, deeds and words - and what good does it do them?
Many fast every other day, two or more, but out of anger, rancor and revenge they do not want to fast.
Many abstain from wine, meat, fish, but with their tongues they bite people like themselves - and what good does it do them? Some often do not touch food with their hands, but extend them to bribery, theft and robbery of other people's goods - and what benefit does it do them?
True and direct fasting is abstinence from all evil. If, Christian, you want fasting to be useful to you, then, while fasting physically, fast also mentally, and fast always. Just as you impose a fast on your belly, so impose a fast on your evil thoughts and whims.
Let your mind fast from vain thoughts.
Let the memory fast from rancor.
Let your will fast from evil desire.
Let your eyes fast from evil vision: turn away your eyes so as not to see vanity(See Ps. CXVIII. 37).
May your ears be kept from vile songs and slanderous whispers.
Let your tongue fast from slander, condemnation, blasphemy, lies, flattery, foul language, and every idle and rotten word.
May your hands fast from beating and stealing other people's property.
Let your feet fast from going to evil deeds. Avoid evil and do good(Ps. XXXIII, 15, 1; Peter III, 11).
This is the Christian fast that God requires of us. Repent, and, abstaining from every evil word, deed and thought, learn every virtue, and you will always fast before God.
If you fast in quarrels and strife, and strike with the hand of the humble, why do you fast before Me as you do now, so that your voice can be heard? I have not chosen such a fast as the day on which a person will humble his soul, when he bends his neck like a sickle and covers himself with rags and ashes. This is not the kind of fast you would call a pleasant fast, this is not the kind I have chosen,” says the Lord. - But resolve every alliance of unrighteousness, destroy all debts written down by force, set the brokenhearted free, tear apart every unrighteous scripture, split your bread with the hungry, and bring the poor who have no shelter into the house; When you see a naked person, clothe him, and do not hide from your half-blood.
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly increase, and your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will follow you.
Then you will call, and the Lord will hear; you will cry out and He will say: Here I am! When you remove the yoke from among you, stop raising your finger and speaking offensively, and give your soul to the hungry and feedsoul of the sufferer: then your light will rise in darkness, and your darkness will be like noon(Isa. LVIII, 4-10).”
The winter period for Orthodox Christians is always associated with the entry into forty days of Advent which begins November 28(November 15, Art. Art.) and ends on the day of the great holiday. This fast was established so that, having been cleansed by repentance, prayer and fasting and thus enlightened in soul and heart, we could worthily welcome the Son of God who appeared into the world, “ for our sake man and for our sake of salvation came down from heaven».
The history of the establishment of the Nativity Fast
From stories of the Nativity Fast it is known that it was established during the times of early Christianity and was accepted for observance already from the fourth century. However, the final regulations on the duration of fasting was formed only in the middle of the 12th century, in 1166, when, by decision of the Constantinople Patriarch Luke Chrysovergo, under Emperor Manuel, it became forty days everywhere.
According to St. Simeon of Thessalonica, « The fast of the Nativity Pentecost depicts the fast of Moses, who, having fasted for forty days and forty nights, received the words of God inscribed on stone tablets. And we, fasting for forty days, contemplate and accept living word from the Virgin, not inscribed on stones, but incarnate and born, and we partake of His Divine flesh».
By the name of the holy Apostle Philip, on whose memorial day the ritual often falls, Christmas post also called " Filippov"or, in common parlance, " Filippovka" It would be appropriate to briefly mention here the life of the holy Apostle.
The Holy Apostle Philip, a native of the city of Bethsaida (Galilee), was a deep expert Holy Scripture and, correctly understanding the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies, he expected the coming of the Messiah. At the call of the Savior (John 1:43), he followed Him. The Apostle Philip is spoken of several times in the Holy Gospel: he led the Apostle Nathanael to Christ (John 1:46); The Lord asked him how much money was needed to buy bread for 5 thousand people (John 6:7); he brought the Greeks who wanted to see Christ (John 12:21-22); finally, during the Last Supper he asked Christ about God the Father (John 14:8). After Pentecost, the apostle preached the Gospel in Galilee, accompanying the sermon wondrous miracles. Then he enlightened the Jews in Greece and converted many to Christ. From Hellas St. the apostle went to Syria, Lydia, Mysia, Phrygia, everywhere preaching the Gospel and suffering all kinds of sorrows and hardships from his persecutors. He was accompanied by his sister Mariamia and St. ap. Bartholomew. In the city of Hierapolis (Phrygia) there were many pagan temples, including a temple dedicated to snakes, where a huge echidna lived. St. Philip, by the power of prayer, killed the echidna, and also healed victims of snake bites. Among those healed was the wife of the city ruler, who converted to Christianity. Having learned about this, the ruler ordered the apostles to be seized and crucified headlong. An earthquake began and many pagans were buried in the earth. St. Philip prayed for the salvation of his tormentors. Many believed in Christ and demanded an end to the execution. Ap. Bartholomew, taken down from the cross, was alive, baptized all those who believed and appointed a bishop for them. St. ap. Philip betrayed his spirit by dying on the cross.
Rules for meals during the Nativity Fast
Myself Christmas post could be divided into three periods. The first three weeks, until December 19 - memory, the regulations are relatively lax: on Saturday, Sunday, as well as on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there is a permit for fishing. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - food without oil (or with vegetable oil, depending on the day of remembrance of the saint). For the next two weeks, fish is allowed to be eaten only on Saturdays and Sundays, and for the last 5 days, on the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ, the regulations coincide in their severity with. For detailed food instructions for each day, please refer to church calendar , since for the sake of the memory of deliberate saints there may be some concessions.
A special day on the eve of the great holiday - December 24, Christmas Eve. According to the established pious tradition, many Christians observe this day especially strictly and do not sit down to eat until the “first star” appears. Thus, we remember with reverence the appearance of the miraculous Star of Bethlehem, which led the Eastern Magi to the manger of the born Infant of God. Sochivo- This Lenten dish, which is most often prepared from wheat or rice with honey and fruit. Hence the name of this day - Christmas Eve. “Sochivom” used to be called not only porridge and all lean foods, but also juice; or, as they said, “milk” of different seeds: poppy, hemp, sunflower, mustard, nut, almond and others.
Divine service of the Nativity Fast
The liturgical church charter also has some distinctive instructions, consistently leading us and preparing us to meet the Nativity of the Savior. Starting from November 21, when we celebrate until the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, at Matins, when the great doxology is sung, we sing the chaos of the Nativity (“Christ is born…”). Before the holiday Sundays They rely on their own special statutory services twice. From December 11 inclusive, the service of the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers is sung, and after it comes the Week of the Holy Fathers, when we honor the ancient ancestors of Christ: “Forefather of copulation, come, lovers of leisure, let us psalmically praise. Adam the forefather. Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. According to the law, Moses, and Aaron and Jesus. Samuel and David. With them Isaiah, and Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and Daniel, and both ten. Together Elijah, and Elisha, and everyone. Zechariah and the Baptist. And those who preached Christ, life and resurrection to our race” (stichera for the Feast). We serve here with the Menaion and three holy youths, who, for the sake of fasting, chastity and other godly virtues, alone among many people were able to resist the lawless royal command to worship the golden idol and were not afraid to enter the fire for their faith. As we know from Scripture, the Lord preserved them in a burning hot furnace, although the flames escaping from it managed to burn even the wicked pagans standing nearby.
Starting on December 20th special days - Forecelebrations of the Nativity of Christ. Here (and until January 14 - the Day of Epiphany inclusive) Oktai is omitted (except Sunday service), and on Sundays, if there is no memory of a deliberate saint, polyeleos is omitted. At Matins on weekdays, two kathismas are read, and at the Vespers, instead of the usual Theotokos canon, the Three Song of Songs is indicated in the Menaion on the row.
On December 24th the Royal Hours are served, in the image of the service of the hours of Epiphany Christmas Eve and Great Friday. This is a special kind of service, when at all hours, in addition to the psalms, we also read paremias, the Apostle and the Gospel, and also sing stichera dedicated to the events of the Holiday. The clock is called “royal”, as they say, because of the custom of the first Byzantine kings, who certainly attended such services.
Holy Fathers about fasting
The patristic teachings say a lot about the benefits and necessity of Christian fasting: “Just as a cloud hides the light of the sun, so gluttony obscures the knowledge of the mind and drives away the Holy Spirit”; “If you hunger, thirst and humble yourself for God, then you will soon be glorified by God”; “Whoever hungers and thirsts for God here, on the day of reward He will show true wealth”; “The pillar and foundation of all goodness is fasting with silence, and he who neglects it loses all goodness.” (“Miterikon”).
But while abstaining from food, it is also necessary to observe “spiritual fasting” in order to “fast” from envy, slander, condemnation, etc., as is sung in the stichera of the Lenten Triodion. In one of the most famous and widely read Old Believer books, “Chrysostom,” before the beginning of the Nativity Fast, on the 22nd week in memory of All Saints, a special word is also said about how we should practice the Lenten feat so that this fast is truly virtuous and godly:
“Today, beloved, let us bow to the Physician of the soul, who calls us to heal our invisible wounds and not disdain our spiritual passions. Now the time of hunger is coming, giving saved health to our souls and bodies. Through fasting and prayers and spiritual labors, he commands one to be anointed as an ascetic.
Prayer and hunger are victory over the devil. Prayer and fasting are the wealth of piety. Prayer and fasting the second death after the resurrection delivers. Prayer and fasting of a good warrior for an ethereal warrior.
But when there is fasting and prayer with almsgiving, then the worker of piety will find wealth with God. For if you give alms to the poor, God is favored, who rewards the poor with the Kingdom of Heaven and the pleasure of heaven for alms.
For this reason, to the Jews, as they do not create greed with alms, the prophet says: I have not chosen such a fast, says the Lord, but that every man should humble his soul. What good is it to hunger in your flesh, and oppress others, and be filled with your possessions? What is the benefit of abstaining from eating and copulating with fornication? What is the use of being smart and not being naked; What good is it to dry up the flesh, but not to feed the greedy; What good is it to crush the luck, but not to have mercy on widows, and not to deliver the orphans who are tormented in troubles?
What good is it for a person to call himself a Christian and do filthy things? It is not by rank that men will receive honor from God, but by deed.
For this reason, let us strive, brethren, to flee from the fury and wrath of God, through true repentance, fasting and tears, not repaying evil for evil to anyone, nor slander for slander, keeping the word of the Lord, which He says to us: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who do to you grievances, and give in return from them and do not expect any acceptance, so that your reward will be many in heaven and you will be called the sons of the Most High.
The brethren are eager to receive that sonship, let us strive more and more, not to return to our foolish deeds and godless deeds: but let us swim through the Lenten abyss and reach the highest abodes, glorifying the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever.”
(“Chrysostom”, “The Teachings of St. John Chrysostom on Fasting”).
One salvation is fasting and prayer.
Fasting leads to the gates of heaven, and almsgiving opens them.
Dear guest, may Lent be great.
Eat what they put in, and listen to the owner of the house!
Fasting is not in the belly, but in the spirit.
Bread and water are healthy foods.
They don’t die from fasting, but from gluttony they die.
The law is not written to the sick and the road.
We fast all the time, but we’re no good!
During fasting, food is simple.
Holy Fathers about fasting:
Do not neglect the Pentecostal Day, it is an imitation of the life of Christ.
St. Ignatius the God-Bearer
Fasting is the teacher of moderation, the mother of virtue, the educator of the children of God, the leader of the disorderly, the calm of souls, the support of life, the peace of lasting and unperturbed; its severity and importance pacifies passions, extinguishes anger and rage, cools and calms all sorts of unrest that arise from overeating.
St. Asterius of Amasia
The benefits of fasting should not be limited to abstinence in food, because true fasting is elimination of evil deeds... Forgive your neighbor's insult, forgive him his debts. You do not eat meat, but you offend your brother... True fasting is the removal of evil, abstinence of the tongue, suppression of anger, excommunication of lusts, slander, lies and perjury. Abstaining from this is true fasting.
holy Basil the Great
It is not the food that matters, but the commandment; Adam was expelled from paradise not for overeating, but for eating only what was forbidden.
Rev. Ambrose Optinsky
We must be, according to the teachings of the holy fathers, not body killers, but passion killers, that is, destroy passions in ourselves.
Rev. Macarius of Optina
In addition to abstaining from food, there are many ways that can open the doors of boldness before God. He who eats food and cannot fast, let him give abundant alms, let him say fervent prayers, let him show intense zeal for listening to the word of God - here bodily weakness does not hinder us in the least - let him make peace with his enemies, let him expel from his soul all memory of malice . If he does this, he will commit a true fast, the kind that the Lord requires of us. After all, He commands abstinence from food itself so that we, by curbing the lusts of the flesh, make it obedient in fulfilling the commandments.
holy John Chrysostom
The Apostle Paul said: if one of the unbelievers calls you and you want to go, then eat everything that is offered to you without any examination, for peace of conscience (1 Cor. 10:27) - for the sake of the person who welcomed you cordially.
Unreasonable people are jealous of the fasting and labors of saints with the wrong understanding and intention and think that they are passing through virtue. The devil, guarding them as his prey, plunges into them the seed of a joyful opinion about himself, from which the inner Pharisee is born and nurtured and betrays them to complete pride.
holy Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow
Whoever fasts out of vanity or, believing that he is performing virtue, fasts unreasonably and therefore begins to reproach his brother afterwards, considering himself to be someone significant. But whoever fasts wisely does not think that he is doing a good deed wisely, and does not want to be praised as a faster.
Abba Dorotheos
Those who do not change the strict rules of abstinence even when it is necessary to reinforce weakened strength by eating food should be considered a suicide.
Rev. John Cassian the Roman
