Church calendar of the year with holidays. Orthodox church calendar. Days of special commemoration of the departed
The fixed part of the church calendar is the Julian calendar, diverging by 13 days from the Gregorian one. These holidays occur annually on the same date of the same month.
The movable part of the church calendar moves along with the changing date of the celebration of Easter from year to year. The very date of the celebration of Easter is determined according to the lunar calendar and a number of additional dogmatic factors (not to celebrate Easter with the Jews, to celebrate Easter only after the spring equinox, to celebrate Easter only after the first spring full moon). All holidays with variable dates are counted from Easter and move in time of the "secular" calendar with it.
Thus, both parts of the Easter calendar (movable and fixed) together define the calendar of Orthodox holidays.
The following are the most significant events for an Orthodox Christian - the so-called Twelve 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 2015:
Non-rolling holidays:07.01 - Nativity of Christ (twelve)
14.01 - Circumcision of the Lord (great)
01.19 - Baptism of the Lord (twelve)
15.02 - Presentation of the Lord (twelve)
07.04 - Annunciation Holy Mother of God (twelve)
21.05 - Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
22.05 - Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, miracle worker
07.07 - Nativity of John the Baptist (great)
12.07 - Saints first. apostles Peter and Paul (great)
19.08 - Transfiguration of the Lord (twelve)
28.08 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelve)
11.09 - Beheading of John the Baptist (great)
09.21 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelve)
September 27 - Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord (twelve)
09.10 - Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
14.10 - Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (great)
04.12 - Introduction to the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos (twelve)
19.12 - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, miracle worker
Moving holidays:
08.02 - Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
01.25 - Week of Zacchaeus the Publican
01.02 - Week of the Publican and the Pharisee
08.02 - Week of the Prodigal Son
15.02 - Week of the Last Judgment
16.02 - Cheese week
22.02 - Remembrance of Adam's exile. Forgiveness Sunday
01.03 - Triumph of Orthodoxy
08.03 - 2nd week of Great Lent, St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop. Solunsky
15.03 - Week of the 3rd Great Lent, Christ on the Cross
22.03 - 4th week of Great Lent, St. John Climacus
March 29 - 5th week of Great Lent, St. Mary of Egypt
04.04 - Lazarev Saturday (Saturday of the 6th week of Great Lent)
05.04 - Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (twelve)
06.04 - Great Monday
07.04 - Great Tuesday
08.04 - Great Wednesday
09.04 - Maundy Thursday. Last supper
10.04 - Good Friday. Crucifixion of Christ
11.04 - Great Saturday. Descent of Christ into Hell
04.12 - Resurrection of Christ. Easter
19.04 - Week 2 after Easter (Anti-Easter). Remembrance of the assurance of ap. Thomas
26.04 - 3rd week after Easter, holy myrrh-bearing women
03.05 - Week 4 after Easter, about relaxed
10.05 - Week 5 after Easter, about the Samaritan woman
05.17 - Week 6 after Easter, about the blind
21.05 - Ascension of the Lord (40th day after Easter, twelve)
05.24 - Week 7 after Easter, St. Fathers of the I Ecumenical Council
05.31 - Pentecost. Holy Trinity Day (50th day after Easter, twelve)
01.06 - Holy Spirit Day (first Monday after Pentecost)
07.06 - Week 1 after Pentecost, All Saints
06.14 - Week 2 after Pentecost, all the saints who shone in the land of Russia
Days of special commemoration of the departed
02.14 - Universal parental Saturday (Saturday before the week of the Last Judgment)
07.03 - Universal parental Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent
14.03 - Universal parental Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent
03.21 - Universal parental Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent
21.04 - Radonitsa (Tuesday of the 2nd week after Easter)
05.30 - Trinity parental Saturday (Saturday before Trinity)
09.05 - Commemoration of the dead warriors
07.11 - Dmitrievskaya parental Saturday (Saturday before November 8)
ABOUT ORTHODOX HOLIDAYS:
TWELVE HOLIDAYS
In worship Orthodox Church twelve great feasts of the annual liturgical circle (except for the Easter holiday). Subdivided into Lord's, dedicated to Jesus Christ, and Theotokos, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos.
By the time of celebration of the twelveth holidays divided into motionless (intransitive) and movable (carryover). The former are constantly celebrated on the same day of the month, the latter fall on different dates every year, depending on the date of the celebration. Easter.
ABOUT HOLIDAY MEALS:
According to the church charter on holidays Nativity of Christ and Epiphanythat happened on Wednesday and Friday, there is no post.
IN Christmas and Epiphany eve and on holidays Exaltation of the Holy Cross and The beheading of John the Baptist food is allowed with vegetable oil.
On the feasts of the Meeting, Transfiguration of the Lord, Dormition, Nativity and the 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 allowed on Wednesday and Friday.
ABOUT FASTS IN ORTHODOXY:
Fast - a form of religious asceticism, an exercise of spirit, soul and body on the path to salvation within the framework of a religious view; voluntary self-restraint in food, entertainment, communication with the world. Corporal post - restriction in food; sincere fast - limiting external impressions and pleasures (solitude, silence, prayer concentration); spiritual fasting - struggle with one's "bodily lusts", a period of especially intense prayer.
The most important thing is to realize that fasting bodily without fasting spiritual brings nothing for the salvation of the soul. On the contrary, it can be spiritually harmful if a person, abstaining from food, is imbued with the consciousness of his own superiority and righteousness. “Those who believe that fasting only means abstaining from food is mistaken. True post, - teaches St. John Chrysostom, - there is removal from evil, curbing the tongue, deferring anger, taming lusts, stopping slander, lies and perjury. " Fast - not a goal, but a means to distract from the delight 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; Latin Quadragesima) - the period of the liturgical year preceding Holy Week and easter, the most important of the many days of fasting. Due to the fact that Easter may fall on different dates 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. Fourties.
Fast for an Orthodox person is a set of good deeds, sincere prayer, abstinence in everything, including food... A bodily fast is necessary for the fulfillment of a spiritual and mental fast, all of them in their association form fasting true, contributing to the spiritual reunification of fasting with God. IN days of fasting (days of fasting) Church Charter prohibits meager food - meat and dairy products; fish is allowed only on some fasting days. IN 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). In the Russian Orthodox Church, there are four long-term fasts, three one-day fasts and, in addition, fast on Wednesday and Friday (with the exception of special weeks) during the whole year.
Wednesday and Friday installed as a sign that on Wednesday Christ was betrayed by Judas, and crucified on Friday. Saint Athanasius the Great said: "By allowing food on Wednesday and Friday, this man crucifies the Lord." In summer and autumn meat-eaters (periods between Petrov and Dormition posts and between Dormition and Christmas posts), Wednesday and Friday are the days of strict fasting. In winter and spring meat-eaters (from Christmas to Lent and from Easter to Trinity), the Charter allows fish on Wednesday and Friday. Fish on Wednesdays and Fridays is allowed and when these days fall on the holidays of the Presentation of the Lord, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Nativity of the Virgin, the Entry of the Virgin into the Temple, the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, 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 the fast on these days is canceled. On the evening (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.
Continuous weeks (in Church Slavonic the week is called a week - days from Monday to Sunday) means the absence of fasting on Wednesday and Friday. Established by the Church as an indulgence before a many-day fast or as a rest after it. Continuous weeks are as follows:
1. Christmastide - from 7 to 18 January (11 days), from Christmas to Epiphany.
2. Publican and Pharisee - two weeks before Great Lent.
3. Cheese - the week before Great Lent (eggs are allowed for the whole week, fish and milk, but without meat).
4. Easter (Light) - the week after Easter.
5. Trinity - a week after Trinity (the week before Peter's Lent).
One-day fasts, except Wednesday and Friday (days of strict fasting, no fish, but food with vegetable oil is allowed):
1. Epiphany Eve (Eve of the Epiphany) 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 was established in memory of the abstinent life of the great prophet John and his lawless murder by Herod.
3. Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord - September 27. This day reminds us of the sad event on Calvary, when "ours for the sake of salvation" suffered on the Cross the Savior of the human race. And therefore this day must be spent in prayer, fasting, contrition for sins, in a feeling of repentance.
LONG DAY FASTING:
1. Great Lent or Holy Lent.
It begins seven weeks before the feast of Holy Easter and consists of the Forty Days (forty days) and Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter). Forty days was established in honor of the forty days of fasting of the Savior Himself, and Holy Week - in remembrance last days earthly life, suffering, death and burial of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The total continuation of Great Lent together with Holy Week is 48 days.
The days from Christmas to Great Lent (before Shrovetide) are called Christmas or winter meat-eaters. This period contains three continuous weeks - Christmastide, Publican and Pharisee, Shrovetide. After Christmastide, fish is allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays, up to the solid week (when you can eat meat on all days of the week), which comes after the "Week of the Publican and the Pharisee" ("week" in Church Slavonic means "Sunday"). In the next week, after the solid week, fish is no longer allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but vegetable oil is still allowed. Monday - food with butter, Wednesday, Friday - cold without butter. This establishment has the goal of gradual preparation for Great Lent. The last time before fasting meat is allowed on "Meat-Passing 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 are invited to Lent (the last time they eat fast food, with the exception of meat) on the last day of Shrovetide - Forgiveness Sunday. This day is also called "Cheese week".
It is customary to observe the first and Passion Weeks of Great Lent with particular rigor. On the Monday of the first week of fasting (clean Monday), the highest degree of fasting is established - complete abstinence from food (pious laymen with ascetic experience abstain from food on Tuesday). On the rest of the 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 never vodka). If the memory of the 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 during 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 Lazarev Saturday (Saturday before Palm Sunday), fish caviar is allowed, On Friday of Holy Week, it is customary not to eat any food before taking out shroud (our ancestors did not eat at all on Good Friday).
Bright week (week after Easter) - solid - modest is allowed on all days of the week. Starting from the next week, after a solid one until Trinity (spring meat eater), fish is allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The week between Trinity and Peter Lent is a continuous one.
2. Petrov or Apostolic Fast.
Fasting begins a week after the feast of the Holy Trinity and ends on July 12, on the day of the commemoration of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, Installed 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 throughout all countries with the good news, abiding always in the deed 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 fast is 8 days, the longest is 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, cereal, mushroom dishes with vegetable oil. If the memory of the great saint happens on Monday, Wednesday or Friday - hot food with butter. On the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist (July 7), fish is allowed according to the Charter.
In the period from the end of Peter's Lent to the beginning of the Dormition (summer meat-eater), Wednesday and Friday are the days of strict fasting. But if on these days the holidays of the great saint fall with an all-night vigil or a polyeleos service the day before, then food with vegetable oil is allowed. If on Wednesday and Friday there are temple holidays, then fish is allowed.
3. Assumption fast (from 14 to 27 August).
Installed in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Mother of God herself, preparing to depart into eternal life, constantly fasted and prayed. We, who are spiritually weak and weak, should all the more often resort to fasting, turning to the Most Holy Virgin for help in every need and sorrow. This fast lasts only two weeks, but according to its 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 fishy. 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 the great saint happens, then on Tuesday and Thursday - hot food with butter, Monday, Wednesday, Friday - hot food without butter.
The food regulations on Wednesdays and Fridays in the period from the end of the Dormition fast to the beginning of Christmas (autumn meat-eater) is the same as in the summer meat-eater, that is, on Wednesdays and Fridays, fish is allowed only on the twelve and temple holidays. Food with vegetable oil on Wednesday and Friday is allowed only if these days are the feast days of the 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 was established for the day of the Nativity of Christ, so that we would cleanse ourselves at this time by repentance, prayer and fasting and with a pure heart we would meet the Savior who appeared in the world. Sometimes this fast is called Filippov, as a sign that it begins after the day of the commemoration of the Apostle Philip (November 27). The food charter for this fast coincides with the charter of St. Peter's fast until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19). If the feasts of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 4) and St. Nicholas fall on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. From the feast day of St. Nicholas to the prefeast of Christmas, which begins on January 2, fish is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. On the forefeast of the Nativity of Christ, fasting is observed in the same way as during the days of Great Lent: fish is forbidden all days, food with butter is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. On the eve of Christmas (Christmas Eve), January 6, a pious custom requires you not to eat until the first evening star appears, after which it is customary to eat coliva or syrup - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins, in some places boiled dry fruits with sugar. The name of this day - Christmas Eve - comes from the word "soothing". There is also Christmas Eve before the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. On this day (January 18), it is also customary not to eat food until the adoption of Agiasma, the holy Epiphany water, which is consecrated on the very day of Christmas Eve.
In the church calendar there are many holidays and fasts that every Orthodox Christian should know and, if possible, observe. To make it easier to figure out when and what posts will be in 2015, and with what holidays they are associated, there is a special calendar for each month.
January 2015
In January 2015, the fast continues, which began on November 28, 2014. it Christmas post... This post ends 6 January 2015 of the year.
January 6 - a holiday called Christmas Eve(Eve of the Nativity of Christ). On Christmas Eve, they usually refuse food altogether until the first star, which announced the birth of Christ. After Christmas Eve, it is customary to eat grains of soaked wheat with honey and fruits.
January 7th– Nativity, one of the most important Orthodox holidays. This is a holiday in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary.
January 7-17 A holiday that lasts 11 days and is called Christmastide... These days, you can guess and carol.
January 18 - Christmas Eve again, but already Epiphany.The Eve of the Epiphany on the eve of the feast of the Epiphany.
January 19 - celebration Epiphany... It is also called the Holy Epiphany. On this day, Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River. It is customary to consecrate water, plunge into an ice hole and collect consecrated water for the whole year.
February 2015
February 15 - Presentation of the Lord.It symbolizes the meeting of the Old and New Testaments.
February 16-22— Cheese week, or as it is usually called, Shrovetide.Begins a week before Lent. On Shrovetide, they bake pancakes, burn an effigy of Maslenitsa, ride a sleigh.
February 22 - Forgiveness Sunday.On this day, everyone asks each other for forgiveness in order to start fasting with a pure, kind soul. At the liturgy, Christians will be able to hear the reading of the Gospel.
From 23 Februarybegins Great post, the longest and strictest fast of the year (ends April 11).
March 2015
The whole month goes on Great post.
April 2015
April 5 - Palm Sunday.Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. On this day, the Orthodox illuminate the willow branches in the church, decorate the icons in the house with them and keep them all year round.
April 7 - Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos.The good news that Jesus Christ the Savior will be born.
April 12th -holy holiday Easter, Christ's Resurrection.The holiday in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the main event of the Orthodox Christian of the year. Services continue for 40 days. On this day, Easter cakes are made and eggs are painted.
May 2015
May 21st -celebration Ascension of the Lord.This is a holiday in honor of the ascension of Jesus Christ in the flesh to heaven.
May 31 - Holy Trinity Day. Feast in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, which indicated the trinity of God.
June 2015
July 2015
July 8 is the day of the Blessed Prince and Princess Peter and Fevronia.Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.
August 2015
August 2 - Ilyin's Day.From this day, according to legends, bad weather begins and it is forbidden to swim.
From August 14 to August 27 -strict Assumption Fast, in memory of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
August 28 - Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.This day is dedicated to the memory of the death of the Mother of God - the Virgin Mary.
September 2015
September 11 - Beheading of John the Baptist.Parents day. Funeral services are performed.
October 2015
November 2015
From November 28, 2015 to January 6, 2016 - Nativity Fast,which was installed in honor of the Nativity of Christ.
December 2015
The whole month goes on Christmas post. December 4 - Entry into the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.On this day, the parents of the Mother of God brought her to church.
These are the most important holidays and fasts in 2015. There are also many other church memorial days that are less significant.
Church Orthodox calendar for 2015
(dates are given in new chronology)
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Major holidays Fasting days The days are continuous (no restrictions in the composition of food) Days of remembrance of the departed * rolling church holidays Folk holidays, beliefs and rituals ======================================================================================September 14, 2014 (September 1, old style) - The beginning of the indict - the church new year.
The beginning of the liturgical church year.
Celebrate the Birth of the Virgin Mary in the family of the righteous Joachim and Anna. This was an extraordinary phenomenon, for even then the Lord assigned Her a major role in the history of all times and peoples - to carry out the Divine plan to save all people on Earth.
Celebrated on the date when the discovery of the Cross of the Lord took place in 326 near Golgotha, where Jesus Christ was crucified. Since the 7th century, along with this event, they also began to celebrate the return of the Life-giving Cross from Persia by the Greek emperor Heraclius. It is customary to cook lean meals based on vegetables and sunflower oil.
October 8 - Memorial Day of St. Sergius of Radonezh and of All Russia a wonderworker, venerated in the face of the saints as a saint. He founded the Trinity Monastery.
Dates are marked:
September 25 (October 8) - submission st. Sergius-Radonezh (his death);
5 (18) July 1422 - uncovering of relics. They were taken out several times under the threat of fire or war. In 1812, when Russian troops left Moscow, the relics were transported to the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery complex. And during the Great Patriotic War they were sent to Solikamsk in the Perm Territory. Now the relics have been returned and are kept in the Lavra in the small town of Sergiev Posad.
July 6 (19) - Cathedral of Radonezh Saints, the day of the joint glorification of the holy monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
In addition, on August 24 (September 6), the appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to the Monk Sergius is celebrated.
Veil Day - This is a significant day among Orthodox holidays, which, according to legend, begins its history in 910, when the Mother of God appeared to those who were praying at the Blachernae Church in Constantinople.
In that year, Byzantium fought against the Saracens, and people were worried about the city. On Sunday they gathered for an all-night vigil to pray, and when, in the middle of the night, the Blachernae church was filled with people, Saint Andrew, suddenly saw the Mother of God hovering over everyone. Angels surrounded her, and she herself was illuminated by a soft radiance. The Most Holy Theotokos prayed together with everyone. When she finished praying, she took off the thin veil from herself and spread it over all the people below. While the Mother of God was praying, her veil was also visible, but after Her departure, it became invisible. But taking him with her, She sent down grace to all the people standing there.
For a long time in Russia, this day was celebrated as a real holiday, it was also believed that on Pokrov Day, Autumn meets Winter. At the same time, girls gathered for evenings - get-togethers with girlfriends and the wedding season began. The most favorite topics were, of course, conversations about future marriage, about the betrothed and preparation for wedding ceremonies.
If this day falls on Wednesday or Friday, then eating fish and caviar is allowed in honor of the holiday.
November 1 - Dimitrovskaya (Dmitrievskaya) Parents' Saturday.Commemoration of the departed.
Initially, on Dimitrievskaya Saturday in Russia, soldiers who died on the battlefield were commemorated. This memorable day was first established by Dmitry Donskoy, the Grand Duke of Vladimir and Moscow, the collector of the Russian land. It was during his reign that the beginning of the unification of individual principalities into a single state was laid, which later helped to free themselves from the yoke of the Golden Horde.
After a significant victory in the Battle of Kulikovo over the Mamaisky army on September 8, 1380, Dmitry entered the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where he prayed for the repose of the soldiers who had not returned from the battlefield. Then he proposed to commemorate those who fell in battle every year before October 26 (commemoration of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki - November 8, New Style). Today, on Dimitrovskaya Saturday, people remember their parents, who died untimely. The day of remembrance of parents is necessarily referred to as Saturday. this is a day of rest and the most suitable for praying for the repose of the dead.
Archangel Michael is the most revered character in the Bible. In Orthodoxy, the Archangel Michael protects and patronizes the heavenly soldiers, is the head of the holy army of Angels and Archangels, for which he is also called the Archangel. In 1239 he defended Novgorod with his appearance and forbade Batu to go on the offensive against the city.
Besides Christianity, Michael the Archangel is also well known in Judaism and Islam.
In Russia, they were convinced that the Archangel Michael was afraid of evil spirits and, as soon as he saw him, he was in a hurry to hide wherever possible.
After Mikhailov's Day, the wedding season traditionally ended, it was the very last Autumn holiday.
On the first day of the week, food without oil is allowed. On the second and fourth days - with its addition. On the third and fifth days - dry eating: coarse bread, vegetables, fresh fruits. Fish dishes are also allowed on weekends. Further to January 5, 2015: on the first, third, fifth days of the week, dry food, on the second and fourth days - food without oil, on weekends - with oil.
Also highlighted are the dates when it is supposed to eat twice and drink wine: November 29, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 22, 30 December and 2 January.
From January 3, when the Christmas Pre-Celebration begins, previously permitted fish dishes are excluded from the menu, incl. and on weekends. The same rules should be followed at the end of 2015.
Another holiday is called Christmas Eve or Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is celebrated on January 18, on the eve of Epiphany.
Its name comes from "sotiv", which meant wheat grains, sodden from the juice from the seeds. According to custom, the beginning of a meal on this day should be only after the ascent of the first star in the firmament, at the time when the strict fast comes to an end. The long-awaited star is expected to appear as a symbol announcing the Birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Talking with a syrup or kutya - eating soaked wheat grains with the addition of honey and fruits. Traditionally, people preparing to be baptized at Christmas have fasted, thus preparing themselves for the sacrament. And after baptism, it was allowed to use honey as a symbol of the sweetness of spiritual gifts.
January 7 - Nativity of Christ
Christmas is one of the main holidays for Christians. In many countries of the world, Christmas is celebrated on December 25, close to the day of the winter equinox. In Russia it is celebrated on January 7 and has lost its reference to the date of the solar solstice.
After Christmas, the dishes on the table become more satisfying, because the fast, when it was forbidden to eat fatty foods, has already ended. Menu recipes will be more varied. In addition to traditional kutya, in Orthodoxy there is a custom to bake a Christmas cake or other pastries, and many offer their guests to taste the Christmas goose with apples. Children were allowed to enjoy sweets in the form of caramel cockerels.
Christmastide lasts 11 or 12 days, each of which is considered a holiday. They end at the Baptism of the Lord. There is no fasting during this period. Many popular beliefs and customs are also associated with it.
Then they carried out christmas divination... The most successful were: January 6 - Rozhdestvensky, January 13 - Vasilievsky, January 18 - Epiphany evenings. On these dates there was a rampant of all evil spirits, the nights were the most dangerous and turning point.
The most interesting fortune-telling turned out on Feoktistov day, January 17. To ward off damage, it was necessary to sew the thistle into the amulet and put it on the neck strap next to the cross. This ceremony was also intended to help the wandering.
Kolyada is one of the most popular festivities orthodox calendar... Carols also begin on January 7, when in the morning merry gangs go around the house and sing Christmas church or other benevolent songs to the owners. For this, the carolers received a sweet treat. According to a long-standing tradition, carolers scattered grain for prosperity, swept corners to cleanse the dwelling from evil spirits, poured water on the owners.
On Kolyada, special ceremonial cookies were baked: carols or roes. They were given during caroling. Children also played with them, gave them away to relatives and friends, but one or several carols were always left for the next year as amulets.
Today caroling is performed mainly by children on the Christmas days: January 6, 13 and 18.
The festival dates back to the 4th century. When Jesus was 8 days after Birth, he received circumcision, which was prescribed by the Old Testament to boys in commemoration of the Covenant of God.
All-night vigil is celebrated in churches on this night.
This holiday is also called Epiphany Christmas Eve, since then the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated.
A prerequisite on this day is considered to observe a strict fast in order to cleanse the body and prepare it for consecrated water. You can eat only once after the liturgy. The Typikon also recommends eating juicy.
When the evening comes or Epiphany evening, according to ancient beliefs, evil spirits begin to come out of their shelters. Until that time, you need to have time to put crosses with chalk on all doorways and windows. It was believed that such a ceremony would protect the home and the owners from the penetration of demons into the house. if the owner forgot to put crosses, then something bad could happen.
The baptism of Jesus in the water of the Jordan is celebrated. The ceremony was conducted by John the Baptist. According to legend, when He entered the river, the Holy Spirit descended on him. At the same time, a voice from heaven said: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This is how the manifestation of God (Epiphany) took place in the fullness of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
Baptism is celebrated everywhere, and it ends with a special sacrament - swimming in an ice hole or pouring it with consecrated water. For this, ice holes were cut in advance on lakes and rivers, often in the form of a cross, they were called "Jordan" after the name of the Jordan River in memory of the Baptism of Jesus.
It was believed that if you plunge into such a hole, then a person will be healthy all year. Also earlier it was possible to meet couples who agreed on this day about their imminent wedding. They talked about such people: "To a happy family life!"
On January 12, 1755, Empress Elizabeth signed a decree on the construction of Moscow University. And the petition was filed from Count Ivan Shuvalov, who specially sent it to the Empress on the day of the name day of his mother, Tatyana Shuvalova.
Later, in a small outhouse, a parish in honor of the holy martyr Tatiana was built here, and she began to patronize all student students.
Thus, the most noisy all-Russian student holiday was born. Candles are lit in churches for successful studies.
A meat eater is the period when it is allowed to eat meat food. It usually starts at the end of a post.
On the third and fifth days of the week, it is allowed to eat fish dishes. On the remaining days, you can eat fast food, without fasting.
Means "meeting" or "bringing to the Temple." In the context of the memorable date, an important event lies: the bringing by Joseph and Mary to the Jerusalem temple of the baby Jesus on the fortieth day after Christmas in order to dedicate him to God. They were met by Simeon the God-Receiver. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Long ago, he made a translation of the Holy Scriptures from Hebrew into Greek on behalf of the Egyptian king Ptolemy II. And when he read the words "Behold the Virgin in her womb will receive and give birth to a Son," he thought that instead of the word "Virgin" there should be the word "Wife." He wanted to fix it, but the Angel of God stopped him and said that he would live until he was convinced of the correct spelling. And now, almost 300 years later, Simeon came to the Temple under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He saw Jesus there.
This holiday is also celebrated in Lutheranism.
Celebrates the I and II acquisition of the head of John the Baptist, forcibly truncated by order of the tetrarch of Galilee Herod Antipas. The chapter was revered as the most important part of the relics of St. John the Baptist. There were three acquisitions in total.
Remembrance of the Forty Sebastian soldiers who died martyrically for the faith near the city of Sebastia. At the beginning of the IV century, Christian soldiers served in the army of the Romans. When the commander demanded from them a sacrifice to the pagan god, he heard their refusal. After that, he drove forty men into the icy water of the lake in anticipation of their imminent death. But they didn't freeze. Then he ordered to break their legs and burn them at the stake.
This is the day of the vernal equinox, when night is equal to day. Winter is leaving, and the long-awaited Spring comes. The people baked Larks, Sorok - special cookies in the form of birds or the sun, so that Spring would hurry up and fly as soon as possible on the wings of these first birds.
Celebration of the good news brought by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she will soon be of the flesh son is born God's.
Larks are also baked.
* Great Lent
Triody is three prep weeks (weeks) before Great Lent:
* February 2-8 - Week of the Publican and the Pharisee. The first of four Sundays in preparation for fasting. Lay people are allowed to eat everything, even eggs, meat and fish dishes. Monks - no meat.
* February 8 — Week (Sunday) about the prodigal son. Second Sunday before Lent.
* February 9-15 - Meat Week.
* February 14 - Ecumenical meat-eating Parent's Saturday
* February 16-22 - Cheese week (Maslenitsa). Orthodox Christians bake pancakes in the shape of the sun, see off Winter by burning Shrovetide, and organize festivities.
* February 22 - Forgiveness Sunday - the festivities on Maslenitsa end. After that, strict Lent begins, which continues until Easter.
Fasting should be done to the fullest. The main meaning of this action, as has long been believed, is to cleanse your heart in preparation for the celebration of Easter.
* March 7, 14, 21 - Parental Ecumenical Saturdays... Days of Special Commemoration of the Dead.
* February 23 - The beginning of the First week of Great Lent. Clean Monday.
The first and final weeks of Great Lent are the strictest when it comes to eating any food.Holy Week is the final fast. It reflects the suffering and death on the cross of the Savior and his imminent Resurrection. Church services call on believers to empathize with the suffering of Christ.
There was such a saying among the people: "Prokhor da Vlas has come - soon spring is here!" Now on this day they also celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day, congratulate men, especially those who served and defended the Motherland.
Jesus resurrected Lazarus, a resident of Bethany, on the fourth day after his death. Then he lived for another thirty years and died a second time in Cyprus. The transfer of his relics is also celebrated in October.
You can eat fish caviar.
Jesus came to Jerusalem riding a donkey, people joyfully greeted him and waved palm branches. In Russia, palm branches have been replaced by willow. It is allowed to eat fish and fish dishes.
Dedicated to the memory of the finding of Jesus Christ in the tomb and his descent into hell (according to the teachings of most Christian denominations).
* April 12 - Easter - the Bright Resurrection of Christ
This is the main holiday of the liturgical year for all Orthodox Christians, the resurrection of Christ is celebrated, who atoned for all human sins. In Jerusalem, there was a tradition to slaughter a young lamb, bake it and eat it in a close family circle during the night.
Services continue for forty days, until the very celebration of the Ascension of the Lord (May 21).
It is customary to greet each other with the phrase: “ Christ is Risen!". The respondent should say: “ Truly Risen!". Larks, small cookies shaped like the sun or birds, were also baked for Easter.
Throughout the week, the main gates of the temples are opened and left open - until Bright Saturday, when after the service artos, consecrated leavened bread, is cut into pieces.
Matins is laid on all days, processions of the cross are performed with sprinkling of holy water on everyone. There is no post.
Until the day of the Holy Trinity (until May 31), on the third and fifth days of the week, you can eat fish and dishes from it. In the remaining days - fast food, no fasting.
Trinity solid week from 1 to 7 June. Slow food is allowed throughout the week, even on the traditionally fasting days of the third and fifth days of the week.
* April 19 - April 25 - Radonitskaya week... Fomina week. Red hill
Krasnaya Gorka is a pre-Christian holiday of seeing off winter and welcoming spring. Non-Orthodox people on this Sunday consider it their duty to go to the cemetery and commemorate the dead. Although in the tradition of Orthodoxy, it is customary to commemorate the dead since the day of Radonitsa.
On Krasnaya Gorka, young people took round dances, called out the spring sun: "Hello, Red Sun, roll out from behind the mountain, rise up to the light of the world!"
April 21 Radonitsa is the main Parent's day,along with Trinity Saturday (May 30).
Dead relatives were remembered on Radonitsa. On this day, funeral services are held in Orthodox churches. It is customary to bring food to the temple (except meat) to the funeral table. It is also customary to visit cemeteries after the service and arrange “joyful commemorations” (remembering the good deeds of deceased relatives).
On the same days, they also tried to come to an agreement about the wedding, and hold it itself no later than May, which was already considered a bad omen.
Commemorate those who died during the Great Patriotic War. The hostilities claimed the lives of more than 26.5 million Soviet citizens. They remember those who fell in battle fighting for their homeland. But much more, about two thirds of those who have died, are civilians. All of them are remembered on this day.
Simon Zealot (Zealot) is one of the apostles of Christ. Preached His teachings to the Jews. He died a martyr's death in 107.
The people also call this holiday: "Simon's Day", the Name Day of the Mother of the Raw Earth "," Simonov sowing ".
It is forbidden to work on the earth, it is considered a sinful act. In the morning, leaving the house, each peasant had to bow to the Earth, because all wealth comes from her.
It was also believed that on this day, as well as on January 7, the Mother of Cheese Earth could open her bowels and swallow up for perjury, for untruth and an unfulfilled promise.
If a person went to other lands, he took with him a small handful of his native land. In a foreign land, she helped him to overcome difficulties, gave strength and healed from diseases.
Jesus' ascension to heaven is celebrated in front of his disciples. Celebrated on the 40th day from Easter.
Since the Resurrection of Jesus, all the apostles have felt joy. Some days He himself appeared to them. Jesus ascended, which symbolically showed that at the coming of the end of the world, He would descend to the sinful earth in the same way as He now returned to His Father.
Jesus Christ promised that in 10 days he would descend to his disciples as a Comforter from God the Father in the form of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the phenomenon will occur Holy Trinity.
On the Russian land on Ascension and on remembrance of John Climacus (* March 22), and also on Lazarev Saturday (* April 4) baked ladders - special cookies in the shape of stairs. It was believed that they facilitate the path upward and help the ascent of the soul of the righteous to heaven.
Trinity, Green Christmastide - Holidays combined together: Semik, Trinity Universal Parental Saturday, Trinity Sunday, Spirits Day, Navskaya Trinity.
The Trinity was celebrated in unison, starting on the 7th Thursday from Easter. The celebration lasted, as a rule, for several days and symbolized the end of Spring and the beginning of Summer.
7th Thursday, which in 2015 falls on * May 28 (rolling date) called Semik, remembered those who died not of their own free will: who drowned or committed suicide. At the same time, they remembered children who died not baptized.
The following Saturday Parental , which falls on * May 30, is also called "Trinity Grandfathers" when the dead are commemorated. It is on this day that you should remember your loved ones and relatives who have passed away, and not the Trinity itself, as many do.
* May 31 - the day of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost) , often called Rusalnaya or Green.
On the 50th day after Easter, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven on the Apostles in the form of flaming tongues of fire, after which they began to speak all the languages \u200b\u200bof the world and were able to preach the Gospel throughout the earth.
On this day, Orthodox churches and dwellings are decorated with freshly cut birch branches, hence the second name of the holiday - Green Sunday.
After the holiday Holy Trinity Trinity or Green Week follows, lasting from * 1 to * 7 June.
The cult of plants is revered everywhere. They also decorate indoor spaces houses.
Special days are distinguished here:
In Siberia, young people gather for the last festivities in the spring. In some places the ceremony Seeing off Kostroma“, A kind of seeing off Spring. Kostroma was portrayed by one of the youth, dressed in a girl's sundress.
Mermaids then come out of the water, sit on the shore and comb their long hair. The girls were forbidden to go to field work or swim alone: \u200b\u200bmermaids can take them to them.
They harvested branches of birches, maple, oak, mountain ash, and also herbs and wild flowers, from which wreaths were then woven on the head. Everywhere they also adorned the owner's outbuildings, a gate, wreaths were put on cattle, scattered over the beds. Later, on Spirits Day, some of this grass and twigs were collected and dried. It was believed that she would protect the house from evil spirits, from all kinds of troubles, and help the owner to improve health. At the very end of the celebration of the Trinity, the owners of the courtyard had to destroy all the rest of the greenery. They set it on fire, threw it into deep pits and ravines, let it down the river, threw it on tall bushes and trees. Thus, people got rid of mermaids, and after the Trinity, they will no longer appear on earth.
The third miraculous uncovering of part of the relics of John the Baptist is celebrated.
It is also called the Petrine retreat, established in the memory of Peter and Paul. In 2015, it lasts 34 days. On the third and fifth days of the week, dry season is supposed - you can eat bread, vegetables and fresh fruits. On these days, the meal is served only once - in the evening.
If the first, third or fifth days fall on the memorable day of any saint, then heated meals with the addition of sunflower oil... When the holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, fish dishes and wine are also allowed. You can eat twice a day.
On weekends, you can enjoy vegetable food with the addition of oil, wine and fish dishes. Meals are also allowed twice a day.
This fast is not strict, one should only abstain from meat and dairy foods, and sometimes fish.
It was originally timed to coincide with the summer solstice and has ancient pagan roots. It is also called “Midsummer's Day” or “Ivan Travnik” and is celebrated mainly in the dark.
After the adoption of Christianity, the ritual of the celebration passed to the day of John the Baptist, celebrated on June 24. In our country, the astronomical significance of the holiday has been lost.
The ancient rituals were better preserved among the Belarusians and Ukrainians, while in Russia they were a little forgotten or transferred to other holidays.
For a long time, people celebrated Ivan Kupala at night, using water, fire and herbs in their rituals. It was obligatory to swim in rivers or lakes before sunset. They swam in the water of the rivers, which from that day became safe, evil spirits came out of them, and until Ilyin's day one could safely swim in the reservoir.
That night, the betrothed and the mummers were chosen. During the day, the girls gathered herbs, wove wreaths and walked in them. And the young men had to remember the wreaths of the girls they liked. Later they took off the wreaths in order to send them down the river. Downstream, each young man had to get a wreath and not make a mistake, otherwise the betrothed would go to another. It was said among the girls that "Whoever you kiss this night will be connected with."
They also danced in circles, jumped over large ceremonial bonfires, held hands, and went into the forest to look for a fern flower. It was believed that whoever finds it will gain wonderful opportunities or will find all the treasures that were hidden in the ground.
They drove herds of cattle through uncooled coals to get rid of ailments.
Celebrate the Birth of John the Baptist from the righteous Elisabeth and Zechariah, who lived during the time of the Jewish king Herod. All their life the couple had no children, and they prayed that God would give them a son. The prayer was heard, and a boy was born, who was named John.
Before this event, when Zechariah was in the temple, an angel appeared to him and said that soon he would have a son and his mission on Earth would be "to present a prepared people to the Lord."
Zechariah, already quite old, doubted the words of the Angel and for this he was speechless. The ability to speak returned to him only after the birth of his son and not immediately, but after eight days, when it was the turn to choose the name of the baby.
The Nativity of Christ is timed to coincide with the winter solstice, and John the Baptist - to the summer. On this occasion, John himself said: "He must grow, and I must decrease," which is symbolic with the change in the length of the day.
In Russia, the celebration is celebrated according to the Julian calendar.
Unlike Valentine's Day, which is celebrated on February 14 mainly by teenagers and young people, the day of Peter and Fevronia has a deeper meaning and an ancient history.
The legend tells that once upon a time the future prince Peter lived in the Murom land, who fought with fire serpent and because of this he fell ill with leprosy. No one could cure him, no matter how hard the healers tried. Then he had a dream where it was said that he would receive healing only from a girl named Fevronia, who lived in the Ryazan region. Fevronia was the daughter of a beekeeper who collected honey from wild bees. She helped Peter defeat the disease, and soon after that they got married.
They lived their whole lives in perfect harmony, took monastic vows and desired to die in one day and one hour. And so it happened. They asked to bury their bodies together in one coffin. A special tomb was made with a division inside. But the clergy considered this incompatible with the monastic custom, and their bodies were transferred to different monasteries. The next day they appeared side by side again. Peter and Fevronia found their peace in Murom.
It was believed that after this day it was already possible to swim fearlessly: the tricks of the mermaid are not terrible, because they go into the depths of the reservoirs and fall asleep there. At the end of the Kupala merrymaking, couples of the betrothed were made up, who then played weddings until Mikhailov Day (November 21).
The mowing of meadow grasses began. The omen "If it rains today, it will be good harvest honey ".
The family union of Peter and Fevronia is considered exemplary in relation to love of spouses and happiness in the family.
The celebration of this day begins in the 4th century. This happened for the first time in Rome, where the bishops retained the succession from the Apostle Peter.
In 258, the relics of Peter and Paul were moved. This event fell on June 29th. Later, its meaning was lost and now the day of common martyrdom of these saints is celebrated, which falls on June 29.
On the third and fifth days of the week, dry food: bread, vegetables and fresh fruits. In the remaining days - fast food.
Other names of the holiday: Day of Elijah the Prophet, Thunderer, Holder of Thunderstorms, Carrot.
Elijah the Prophet (in Hebrew - Eliyahu) lived more than three thousand years ago: in the 9th century BC. Among Orthodox Christians, the prophet Ilya has always enjoyed great popularity.
According to legend, the Prophet Ilya was taken to heaven alive. He was "hidden by the whirlwind from the chariot of fire," on which he threw off his outer garments. Often depicted in icons along with a chariot.
For a long time in paganism, he patronized and disposed of all earthly and natural forces. They prayed to him, when there was a drought, that he would send grace-filled moisture to the earth. He threw lightning in a thunderstorm, set the weather for sowing or haymaking, gave fertility to scarce soils, etc.
Since Ilyin's day, it was forbidden to swim in reservoirs, because evil spirits returned here. According to legend, from Midsummer (July 7), she went on land in full force, where the prophet Elijah hunted her. Those who dared to enter the water, and even more so to bathe in it, should be punished with abscesses and other skin diseases. Sometimes mermaids could even drown (lure a person to themselves).
This is the very first saved August. It is also called wet or poppy, "Maccabee", "Medolom".
It was first installed in 1164 by Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky to commemorate the victory over the Volga Bulgars.
According to legend, from this day on, beekeepers should start collecting honey in apiaries, because bees no longer carry honey. In churches, for the first time, processions of the cross were performed to the water.
The people have always treated everyone with honey, distributed to the homeless and the poor. It was considered a bad sign to taste the honey of the new harvest before the onset of the Savior of Honey. Prior to this holiday, only honey from last year was allowed.
Maccabees call him in remembrance of the seven Old Testament martyrs of the Maccabees, who laid down their violent heads for their homeland.
Baked on Honey Spas honey, poppy cakeswho consecrated in church, and also drank intoxicated honey.
Installed in honor of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. During this fast, not only bodily cleansing takes place, but also spiritual. It is important during this period not to have fun in noisy companies, not to quarrel, to refrain from numerous temptations. Fasting should be done to the fullest. On the first, third and fifth days of the week, it is dry. Only bread, vegetables and fresh fruits are allowed. Eat once at 15:00. On the second and fourth days of the week, cooked vegetables without oil are also allowed. There is also one meal at 15:00.
On weekends, sunflower oil is allowed. They eat twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. On these days, until August 19 - the Transfiguration of the Lord - in churches, the consecration of grapes and apples takes place. Until that time, the use of these fruits is prohibited. Usually in Russia, the lenten table was set with young potatoes, mushrooms, fresh vegetables and fruits ripening this season.
This is the second Savior of August. It is also allowed to eat fish dishes.
According to the Gospel tradition, once upon a time Jesus ascended Mount Tabor of Galilee together with his disciples: Peter, John and James and began to pray. And suddenly His face changed, as if light began to emanate from Him, and the robe of Jesus became snow-white. Then a brightest cloud arose nearby, from which Moses and Elijah stepped. The voice said: “Behold, this is my beloved Son; Listen to him. "
In the estates and farms, apples are harvested. Those people who do not have apples of their own must include some part of the fruit. Until now, it was impossible to taste apples, this was equated with sinful deeds, but with the beginning of the Savior - it is already possible. It was believed that in the next world the Mother of God gives sweet fruits to those children whose parents did not eat apples before the onset of this holiday. And if they have tried the forbidden fruit earlier, they will not.
They remember the Assumption (death) of the Mother of God.
Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and informed her about the imminent death.
According to legend, the disciples of Jesus, who at that moment were in different parts of the world and preached about the Teachings of Christ, miraculously transported in the blink of an eye and arrived in Jerusalem. There they said goodbye to the Virgin Mary and buried Her. But the only apostle Thomas was not present at the ceremony. He came to Jerusalem only three days later and wanted to say goodbye to Her. For this, the apostles gathered at the tomb and threw back the stone that pressed the entrance. Having opened the coffin, they found only the fragrant clothes of the Mother of God. In the evening, when the apostles were going to eat, She appeared before them and reassured them: “Rejoice! - for I am with you all the days.
Lasts until November 27. On the third and fifth days of the week, dry season: bread, vegetables and fresh fruits that have not been thermally processed. In the remaining days - fast food. Among the peasants, this time was very popular among young people as a time for weddings. But most weddings took place from October to mid-November. all work in the field was almost complete and the harvest was summed up.
He is also called Oreshny, Kholshchov, the third in a row in August.
Christians celebrate the transfer to Constantinople in 944 of the image of the Savior not made by hands - a cloth of cloth, where the face of Jesus Christ was imprinted.
The harvesting of grain crops is coming to an end in the fields, winter crops are being sown. In the forests, nuts (hazel) ripen completely.
Newly built wells are consecrated among the people, and the old ones go around in circles, as if closing the "warm time". They bake bread, start selling canvases and canvases.
According to the sign, if the cranes fly off on a holiday, then the Cover will be frosty.
They remember the soldiers who died for the Faith and the Fatherland. For the first time, Empress Catherine II commanded to remember those who passed away on the battlefield, when in 1769 military operations were waged against the Turks and the Poles.
It is customary to fast in the morning and throughout the day. Meals should be prepared from vegetables or fruits, vegetable oil may be added.
It was impossible to eat round fruits and vegetables, because they looked like the head of the Prophet. So potatoes, onions, apples, turnips were banned. Sharp objects and knives were removed from the table away from human eyes, as symbolizing the sword, with which the head of John the Baptist was truncated. In some regions, it was forbidden to serve red drinks, similar to the blood of the Baptist, on the table.
In churches on this day, funeral services are performed, and children, whose parents have already died, remember them.
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Perhaps every person has heard about church holidays celebrated by all Orthodox people. People who are not dedicated, far from the affairs of the church, should understand these holidays in order to distinguish them one from one. There are twelve of these holidays celebrated by the church, and only Easter stands apart.
All the rest of the devout people are accustomed to dividing the holidays into the Lord's, that is, those dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the Theotokos, that is, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos who gave birth to Christ. In addition, all church holidays can be divided into mobile, that is, transferable, and stationary - non-transient. If the latter are celebrated from year to year on the same day of the calendar year, then the former can fall on very different dates and they depend on the celebration of the day of Great Easter.
Undoubtedly, each such festival implies a certain choice of meal. For example, according to the Charter orthodox Church on Christmas Day and on the day of Epiphany, which happen on Wednesday and Friday, people do not fast. During the period of Christmas, as well as Epiphany, on the day of the Beheading of Ivan the Forerunner, or on the feast of the Exaltation of the Lord's Cross, people could eat food flavored with oil. On the Intercession, the Assumption, as well as on the holidays of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Transfiguration and the Presentation of the Lord, which also happened on Wednesday or Friday, as well as on the days from Easter to Trinity, people are allowed to eat fish.
One of the most important forms of religious asceticism, which speaks of commitment to faith and the salvation of one's own soul and body, is religious fasting. It is through self-restraint in food, according to religious beliefs, that self-purification and spiritual development can be achieved. At the same time, fasting is both bodily, when they refuse only food, and spiritual, which implies abstaining from external entertainment and pleasures. A believer at this time needs prayer concentration, solitude, and also silence. That is, spiritual fasting is a struggle with one's bodily passions - the period when it is necessary to pray with special zeal. At the same time, the church notes that bodily fasting will mean nothing without spiritual fasting for the salvation of the human soul. The main fasting for any Orthodox person is considered to be Great Lent, which lasts forty days and always begins on different days. Every believer should keep with him the Orthodox church calendar for 2015 and sacredly honor all church rites.
Twelve non-rolling holidays
January 7 - Nativity of Christ
January 19 - Baptism of the Lord (Epiphany)
February 15 - Presentation of the Lord
April 7 - Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos
August 19 - Transfiguration of the Lord
August 28 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 21 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 27 - Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord
December 4 - Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos
Twelve rolling holidays in 2015
April 5, 2015 - The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem
April 12, 2015 - Easter
May 21, 2015 - Ascension of the Lord
May 31, 2015 - Holy Trinity Day. Pentecost.
Great holidays
January 14 - Circumcision of the Lord
July 7 - Nativity of John the Baptist
July 12 - Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
September 11 - Beheading of John the Baptist
October 14 - Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos
Church fasting for many days in 2015
March 23 - April 11 - Lent
June 8 - July 11 - Petrov post
August 14 - 27 - Assumption Fast
November 28, 2015 - January 6, 2016 - Nativity Fast
Continuous weeks in 2015
January 7 - 17 - Christmastide
February 1 - 7 - Publican and Pharisee
February 16 - 22 - Cheese (Maslenitsa)
April 12 - 18 - Easter (Light)
May 31 - June 6 - Troitskaya
Days of special commemoration of the departed in 2015
February 14 - Meat Saturday (Ecumenical parental Saturday)
March 7 - Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent
March 14 - Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent
March 21 - Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent
April 21 - Radonitsa
May 9 - Commemoration of the dead warriors
May 30 - Saturday Trinity
November 7 - Saturday Dimitrievskaya
Strict fasting is to be observed from 2 to 6 January 2015. Until this time, fasting is considered non-strict and is limited only to the use of modest foods.
Limitations of non-strict fasting:
Monday - Fats and oils are excluded.
Oil can be consumed on Tuesday and Thursday.
Saturday and Sunday - any fish allowed.
Wednesday and Friday - Exceptionally dry. Bread, any raw vegetables and fruits are allowed.
On January 2-5, the post will be as follows:
On Monday, Wednesday, Friday - exclusively dry eating.
Tuesday and Thursday - vegetable food without added oil.
Saturday and Sunday - butter is allowed.
The proximity of the feast of the Nativity of Christ to the winter solstice is based on the Gospel testimony. For this reason, this holiday is celebrated throughout Europe on December 25th. In the post-Soviet space, the Nativity of Christ has lost its astronomical belonging to the solstice, and the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates this event on January 7th. Christmas food is traditionally served.
This holiday is celebrated by Christians annually, in honor of the event that took place on the Jordan River.
John the Baptist performed the baptism of Jesus, during which, according to the Gospels, the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ, appearing in the guise of a dove.
On the feast of the Epiphany, Christians consecrate water. This usually happens in Churches or on bodies of water, in specially cut ice-holes in the shape of a cross. In addition, there is a tradition of swimming in an ice hole, which gives a person good health for the whole year.
The one who was baptized on this holy joyous day will be happy all his life.
The old Slavic word “Sretenie” means “meeting” in modern Russian. On this day, humanity in the person of Simeon met with God. Also, this date is considered the moment of the meeting. Old Testament and the New Testament.
The holiday called the Annunciation speaks for itself. On this day, the Virgin Mary was announced about a good event - the conception of the Infant Christ of God took place. It is accepted that this holiday should not be overshadowed by any sad or unpleasant news. As well as on Easter and Magpie, cookies are baked in the form of Larks or the Sun on Annunciation.
According to the Gospel, one day Jesus went to the mountains with three disciples. John, Peter, James, and Jesus climbed the mountain and devoted themselves to prayer. During his conversion to the Lord, the face of Jesus was suddenly transformed, became bright and radiant like the sun. The clothes were found white color... At the same moment, a bright cloud appeared in the sky, from which two great prophets, Elijah and Moses, appeared.
During this period, apples ripen. Until that time, eating an apple is considered a sin. Such a strict prohibition is associated with a belief that says that in the next world, the Mother of God gives ripe juicy fruits to children whose parents will not taste apples before the Savior, and nothing is given to those whose parents could not resist the temptation.
Celebration of the Catholic and Orthodox Church. Dedicated to the memory of the assumption (death) of the Mother of God. On this day, according to church tradition, the apostles who preached in different states miraculously gathered in Jerusalem in order to say goodbye and make the burial of the Virgin Mary.
On this day, according to holy tradition, the Virgin Mary was born in the family of the righteous Joachim and Anna. The Church's doctrine says that the birth of the Mother of God, the future mother of Jesus, is not an accidental and unusual event. She was prepared for a key role in the Divine plan for the salvation of all mankind.
Then in Jerusalem, near Mount Golgotha, where Jesus Christ was crucified, the Cross was made. Since the century, this day has become a sign of the return of the Viviparous Cross by the Greek emperor Heraclius from ancient Persia.
A common Christian holiday. It is based on the Holy Tradition, which tells the believers that Mary's parents - Saint Anna and Saint Joachim - fulfilling their promise to consecrate their daughter to God, brought the three-year-old Mother of God to the temple of Jerusalem, where she lived until she was betrothed to righteous Joseph.
This day, according to popular beliefs, is the day of the arrival of winter. She rides across the Earth in a white fur coat and with her icy breath creates beautiful patterns on cold window panes.
Twelve rolling holidays
Palm Sunday. Great holiday. On this day, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey. The people greeted him with joy and threw palm branches on the road. In Russia, they were replaced by willow.
This is the last Sunday before Easter. It is forbidden to work on this holy day. Fish is served to the table, despite the Great Lent.
The ascension of Jesus Christ is celebrated 40 days after Easter. This miracle happened in the presence of 12 disciples-apostles - Jesus ascended to heaven. All of them felt the holiday, because for 40 days He appeared to them, then all together, then to one of them. But on that day, they all grew older, as Christ ascended on earth, and realized that if the end of the world comes, He will return to earth in exactly the same way as He went to the Father. Jesus promised his disciples that in 10 days He would come down to them and become a Comforter from God the Father as the Holy Spirit. There will be a One appearance of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Holy Trinity).
On this day, ritual cookies in the form of a ladder are traditionally baked. According to popular belief, such ladders facilitate the road to heaven and symbolize the ascent of the spirit of the righteous to heaven.
The Eastern Slavs celebrate Trinity in a whole cycle, which begins after the seventh Thursday after Easter. This Thursday is called Semik, and on such a day they remember unbaptized children and people who did not die of their own: suicides, drowned people, etc.
Next comes Parents' Saturday, another name for which is "Trinity Grandfathers". This day is the main one for remembrance. Then Trinity Sunday, or Rusal (Green) Day, followed by Trinity Week.
Green week is designated by two important days - Spiritual Day on Monday and Navskaya Trinity, or Rusalkin Great day - on Thursday. In Ukraine and Belarus these days are called Green Christmastide.
Green Week got its name due to the cult of vegetation, because it has a special meaning for the Slavs. On these days, ritual Trinity greens are harvested: young felled birches, branches of maple, birch, mountain ash, hazel, oak, herbs, flowers, from which wreaths are then woven and worn on the head on the day of Ascension. In addition, such decorations decorate the house outside and inside on other holidays. They are pushed into outbuildings, wells, hung on the gates and on the horns of cows, wreaths are thrown into the garden.
Some of the greens collected on Monday were dried and then used as a talisman against unclean forces and other troubles, as well as for fortune telling or healing.
At the end of the holiday, all excess greens are burned, thrown away in remote places, floated on water or thrown onto trees.
Great holidays
The evidence of such an event as the Circumcision of the Lord, according to the Eastern Church, comes from the 4th century.
It says that on the eighth day after His birth, Jesus accepted circumcision, which is mandatory for all boy children.
According to the Old Testament law, this action symbolizes the Covenant of God with Abraham the forefather and his descendants.
In Russia, this day is widely known as “old New Year”. It is celebrated according to the new calendar, which coincides with the traditional New Year, according to the old calendar. hence the name.
The feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is celebrated annually 6 months after the Nativity of Christ. This gap is based on the gospel testimony, which points to the half-year age difference between John and Jesus. Since the church holidays of Christmas are close to the solstices (summer and winter), under the sign of Christ the sun rises, and under the sign of John it decreases.
This holiday was first mentioned in the 4th century. At first it was celebrated in Rome - the bishops of the city conducted their reception from the Apostle Peter. According to the Julian calendar, this day is celebrated on June 29, because it was this date in 258 that was marked by the transfer of the relics of Peter and Paul. Over time, the essence of the event was somewhat distorted and partially lost. It is for this reason that June 29 (July 12) is perceived as the day of martyrdom of the apostles-saints Paul and Peter.
One of the greatest holidays for the Russian Church.
The first significant day of autumn. Slavic folk tradition, on this day they celebrate the meeting of winter with autumn.
The holiday is based on the legend about the appearance of the Mother of God in the Blachernae Church in 910. In those days, Constantinople was in dire danger - the Byzantine Empire was at war with the Muslims (Saracens). And one bright Sunday afternoon, during a church service, when there were many worshipers in the church, Saint Andrew lifted his eyes to the sky and saw the Mother of God walking through the air. All in all, surrounded by angels, she prayed for the people around her. And then she took off the veil from Herself and spread it over the people. And while She was in the temple, people sat with this veil. But as soon as She left, the cover disappeared from sight, but it left grace to people.
Church fasting for many days in 2015
The essence of the human deed, which is performed during Great Lent, is the purification of the heart.
Every Lent Saturday (March 7, 14 and 21) is Parent's Day, the day of remembrance of the dead.
On parental day, Orthodox Christians go to churches, where church funeral services are performed.
It is customary to take with you and carry food to the church, except for meat, in order to bring them to the funeral table.
Fasting is strict, on the first day, eating is prohibited, complete abstinence.
On the second day, you can eat hot without fats and oils.
The next three days, according to the charter, are dry food. You can eat bread, any raw fruits and vegetables, but only once a day, in the evening.
The rest of the weeks:
On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, according to the charter, dry food. Fasting people can eat bread, any raw fruits and vegetables, but only once a day, in the evening.
On Tuesday and Thursday - it is allowed to eat only plant foods, without oil and only in the evening.
On Saturday and Sunday you can eat 2 times a day, exclusively vegetable food with oil.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Dormition Fast are dry eating. Raw bread, vegetables and fruits are allowed.
On Tuesday and Thursday, you can eat boiled, hot vegetables and other vegetable dishes, but without oil and fat.
On Saturday and Sunday, those who fast are allowed oil.
Until August 19, it is forbidden to eat apples and grapes, until the holiday of the Transfiguration of the Lord comes, or, as the people say, Apple Spas.
November 28, 2015 - January 6, 2016 - Nativity Fast
Permitted meals during the Nativity Fast:
From November 28, 2015 to December 19, 2015 (St. Nicholas Memorial Day)
On Mondays, you can eat food without oil.
Tuesday Thursday. Saturday and Sunday are fish days.
Wednesday and Friday are dry food. Cold vegetable food without oil and bread.
On the feast of the introduction to the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, fish dishes are allowed at the meal.
Further until January 1, 2016 inclusive:
On Mondays, any food without oil and fat.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, it is allowed to eat dishes with butter.
On Saturdays and Sundays - fish days.
Wednesday and Friday are extremely dry.
Further through January 5, 2015 inclusive the most strict week:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday dry food.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, meals are without oil.
Oil is allowed on Saturday and Sunday.
Church one-day fasts.
wednesday and Friday of the whole year, with the exception of continuous weeks and Christmastide.
The holiday is celebrated in memory of the creation of the Cross of the Lord. This event took place, according to the tradition of the Church, in the distant 326.
Then in Jerusalem near Mount Golgotha, where Jesus Christ was crucified, the Cross was made. Since the century, this day has become a sign of the return of the Viviparous Cross by the Greek emperor Heraclius from Persia.
On this day, you should eat vegetables and vegetable oil.
Continuous weeks
There is no fasting, you can eat as usual.
In this continuous week, very modest food is allowed, although there is no fasting as such. Even on Wednesday and Friday.
The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican is one of the most famous parables of Christ the Savior, which is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. She denounces pride and talks about the importance of sincere repentance.
The publican and the Pharisee prayed to God daily. Only one of them, the Publican, prayed sincerely and repentantly, realizing his sins. The other, the Pharisee, came to God with his head held high, full of confidence in his sinlessness. He strove to boast of his virtues, he was puffed up by his righteousness. Using this parable as an example, the Church teaches people that true virtue is humility and repentance, and pride is a big obstacle that must be overcome.
The last week before Great Lent.
A satisfying and joyful week. It is allowed to indulge your weaknesses and eat various goodies until you are full.
Butter, fish and dairy products, eggs are all available. Only meat is excluded.
The usual fast on Wednesday and Friday can be skipped, with the exception of the rule that fasting on this day should be continued until evening, and only dinner should be eaten. The charter prescribes to refuse only meat dishes, but other modest foods can be consumed in abundance. In addition, on these two days, Liturgy should not be performed while Cheese Week is in progress.
The essence of Shrovetide is reconciliation with family, loved ones and friends, forgiveness and apology, full spiritual and physical preparation for Great Lent. This week should be devoted to your closest people.
Week after Easter. There is no post.
There is no strict fast, but it is worth eating only modest food, not adhering to the Charter.
Days of special commemoration of the departed
On parental Saturday, Orthodox Christians go to churches where funeral services are performed.
It is customary to take food with you to church, except meat, in order to bring them to the memorial table.
Parents' day, as well as the day of remembrance of the departed. This is Tuesday 2 weeks after Easter, it got its name in commemoration of the great joy of the living and already departed in the Resurrection of Christ.
Like Trinity Saturday, Radonitsa is the main parental day. During this period, Orthodox Christians go to churches where funeral services are performed. It is customary to take food with you to church, except meat, in order to bring them to the memorial table.
After the church, it is customary to go to the cemetery, fix the graves of relatives who have died, and pray for their souls.
