The first week of Lent is a church service. Posts of the Orthodox Church

Great Lent is a time of repentance and preparation for the meeting of the main Christian holiday - Easter, the Bright Resurrection of Christ. The peculiarities of Lenten time in the Church are expressed primarily in the liturgical tradition. Lenten services help us focus on our repentance, remind us of the events that preceded the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the material of "Thomas" we have collected those services that are performed only during Great Lent, or are associated with the holidays that fall on Great Lent.

Vespers with the Order of Forgiveness

18th of Febuary

On the evening of Forgiveness Sunday, on the eve of the first day of Great Lent, a divine service is served, during which clergy and laity ask each other for forgiveness.

Great penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete:

February 19- February 22, March 21

The oldest and longest canon, written by St. Andrew of Crete in the 7th century. During the first week of Lent, the canon is read in parts from Monday to Thursday at Great Compline. The canon is read in full on the 5th week of Great Lent on Wednesday (Mary's standing).

Standing of Mary of Egypt, March 21

5th week of Lent. On Thursday morning (Wednesday evening) the Life of Mary of Egypt and the Great Penitential Canon of Andrew of Crete are read in its entirety.

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Divine service, during which the faithful are offered for communion the Holy Gifts, previously consecrated at the full Liturgy (Presanctified). It takes place during Great Lent on weekdays.

In February: 21st, 23rd, 28th

In March:2, 7, 9, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 30th

In April: 2, 3, 4

Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

The Liturgy of the Byzantine Rite Compiled by Saint Basil the Great.

It is served 10 times a year, 7 of which are in Great Lent.

In February: 25th

In March:4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

In April: 5, 7th

passion

Evening service with an akathist to the Passion of Christ (suffering). As a rule, 4 Sundays of Great Lent are served in a row.

Prayer singing to the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tyron, February 23

A prayer service is performed on the day before the feast day of St. Theodore Tiron after the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, then a prayer is read over the koliv (boiled wheat with honey). On the feast itself (February 24), the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Memorial services for parents' Saturdays: March 3, 10, 17

On the eve of the all-night vigil, a parastas is served - the follow-up to the Great Panikhida for all the departed Orthodox Christians. In the morning, a divine liturgy for the dead is performed, after which a common memorial service is served.

Order of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, February 25

First Sunday of Great Lent. After the liturgy of Basil the Great, a special rite of the Triumph of Orthodoxy is served.

Holy Week Liturgy, March 11

On the eve of the third Sunday (March 10, Saturday), at the all-night vigil, a cross is solemnly brought out for worship.

Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, March 23

In honor of the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos (March 24, Saturday), an akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos is sung on Friday evening. On the feast itself, the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday, April 1

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. All-night vigil the evening before and the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. On the eve of the evening at the all-night vigil and in the morning after the liturgy, the branches of the willow are consecrated.

Holy Thursday Services, April 5

Commemoration of the Last Supper and the establishment of the sacrament of the Eucharist by Jesus Christ.

In the morning Vespers is served with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and spare Gifts are being prepared for communion of the sick. At the end of it, during the hierarchical service, the rite of the Washing of the Feet is performed.

In the evening Matins is served with the reading of 12 passages from the Gospels dedicated to the Passion (suffering) of the Lord. There is an old Russian custom to bring home burning candles from this service.

Divine Services of Good Friday, April 6

In the morning the following of the hours of the Great Heel with pictorial ones is performed, the liturgy is not served.

Afternoon- Vespers with the removal of the shroud, at the end of the service, the canon "Lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos" is sung.

In the evening on Friday or Saturday night, Matins is served with the rite of the Burial of the Shroud of the Savior.

Service of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, April 7

Usually, on the feast of the Annunciation, the All-Night Vigil is served the night before, and in the morning, the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

In 2018, the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos coincides with Holy Saturday. Therefore, there is no All-Night Vigil the day before. Vespers is served in the morning, which passes into the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.

Great Saturday Services, April 7

Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which is connected with Vespers. 15 proverbs (selected fragments of the Old Testament) are read, which contain types and prophecies about the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. After the liturgy - the consecration of Easter dishes.

The evening before the Easter service The Acts of the Apostles are read in the church.

Every day, except Saturdays and Sundays, at all divine services of the daily cycle, the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is read:

Lord and Lord of my life, do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk.

Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to me, Thy servant.

Yes, Lord, King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for you are blessed forever and ever. Amen.

Great Lent is a seven-week period of strict abstinence, repentance and prayer established by the church, a time of spiritual perfection. Great Lent in the church is presented as preparation for the meeting of the holiday, symbolizing the inner spiritual purification and resurrection of the soul of the believer.

Great Lent or Holy Forty Day is the most important and strict among the fasts. It begins seven weeks before the Feast of the Holy One and consists of Forty Days (forty days) and Holy Week (the week before Easter).
Forty days was established in imitation of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who fasted in the wilderness for forty days, and Holy Week was established in remembrance of the last days of His earthly life, suffering, death and burial. Thus, the total duration of Great Lent, together with Holy Week, is 48 days.

Great Lent is preceded by three weeks, during which the Holy Church begins to spiritually prepare for it.
First week of prep- “The Week of the Publican and the Pharisee” is called “a continuous week”, because there is no fasting at the meal during it. On Sunday, during the Liturgy, the Gospel “About the Publican and the Pharisee” is read (Luke 18:10-14). With this parable, the Church teaches us true humility and repentance, without which fasting will be fruitless. Starting from this week and until the fifth week of Great Lent, during the all-night vigil, after reading the Gospel, a prayer is sung, which they listen to on their knees: “Open the doors for me of repentance ...”
Second prep week- “The Week of the Prodigal Son”, Wednesday and Friday are Lenten. On Sunday, at the Liturgy, a parable from the Gospel “About the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32) is read, which calls on the lost to repent and return to the Lord, with the hope of His mercy. This week, as well as the two weeks following it, at the all-night vigil after the polyeleos, the 136th psalm is sung: , speaking about our sinful captivity and about the fact that we should strive for our spiritual fatherland - the Kingdom of Heaven.
Third prep week is called “meat-empty”, or “cheese”, and according to the folk - “Shrovetide”. You can't eat meat this week. Wednesday and Friday are not lean, it is allowed to eat milk, eggs, fish, cheese, butter. According to the old Russian custom, pancakes are baked for Shrovetide. Sunday of the “Meat-Feast Week”, according to the gospel reading, is called “The Week of the Last Judgment” (Matt. 25:31-46). With this reading, the Church calls on sinners to repent and do good deeds, reminding us that we will have to answer for all sins. With the beginning of this week, those who are married are required to abstain from marital relations.
Last thing Sunday before Great fasting is called “cheese-empty”: it ends the eating of eggs and dairy products.
At the Liturgy, the Gospel is read with a part from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:14-21), which speaks of forgiveness of offenses to our neighbors, without which we cannot receive forgiveness of sins from the Heavenly Father; about fasting and about gathering up heavenly treasures.
In accordance with this gospel reading, Christians on this day ask each other for forgiveness for the offenses they have caused and seek to reconcile with everyone. Therefore, this Sunday is called "Forgiveness Sunday."

The first and last (Holy) weeks of Great Lent are distinguished by their strictness, and their divine services by duration.
This is a time of special repentance and intense prayers. Believers, as a rule, attend the services of these weeks daily.
According to the charter, on Monday and Tuesday of the first week, the highest degree of fasting is established - complete abstinence from food; the first eating of food is allowed only on Wednesday, and the second time on Friday after the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.
On these days, dry eating is prescribed, that is, food without oil.
Of course, for the weak, the sick, the elderly, pregnant and lactating women, these requirements, with the blessing of the confessor, are weakened. Starting from Saturday of the first week, you can eat lean food.
Fish is allowed only twice during the entire fast: on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos (April 7), if the holiday does not fall on Holy Week, and on the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). On Lazarus Saturday (the Saturday before Palm Sunday), caviar is allowed. If you strictly follow the charter, then vegetable oil is allowed only on Saturdays (except Saturday in Holy Week) and Sundays.

Features of Lenten Divine Liturgy- celebration of liturgies only on Saturdays and Sundays; Liturgy is not performed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated. The very name of this service indicates that communion with the Holy Gifts, consecrated on the previous Sunday, takes place there. In the temple - both black vestments, and a special chant of hymns - call for repentance, a change in sinful life. The prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian “Lord and Master of my life…” constantly sounds, which all those praying make with earthly bows.

On the first four days of Great Lent, in the evening in Orthodox churches, the great penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read - an inspired work that poured out from the depths of a contrite heart. Orthodox people always try not to miss these services, which are amazing in their impact on the soul.
On Friday of the first week, after the Liturgy, the consecration of “koliva” (boiled wheat with honey) takes place in memory of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tyron. This saint appeared in a dream to Bishop Eudoxius of Antioch. He revealed to him the secret order of the emperor Julian the Apostate to sprinkle all food supplies with the blood of idolaters and commanded him not to buy anything in the market for a week, but to eat koliva.

Week One of Great Lent dedicated to the Triumph of Orthodoxy. This celebration was established on the occasion of the final victory of the Holy Church over the iconoclastic heresy. On this day, after the liturgy, a special rite is performed in the temple - the rite of the triumph of Orthodoxy. With this rite, the Church anathematizes, that is, excommunicates heretics, enemies of Orthodoxy, from unity with herself, and glorifies its defenders.
Second Week of Great Lent honors the memory of St. Gregory Palamas. He is known as the exposer of the heresy of Barlaam, who rejected the Orthodox teaching about the uncreated light.
Week Three of Great Lent- Cross. This week the holy Cross of the Lord is glorified. For worship and spiritual reinforcement of those undergoing the feat of fasting, the Cross is taken out of the altar to the middle of the temple. The week following the Adoration of the Cross bears the same name, and is also called the Week of the Cross, since Great Lent reaches its middle on Wednesday.
Fourth Week of Great Lent offers us a lofty example of fasting life in the person of St. John of the Ladder, the author of The Ladder.
On Wednesday, in the fifth week, an all-night vigil is performed with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of Andrew of Crete and the life of St. Mary of Egypt. For this feature, it is called St. Andrew's standing, or the standing of Mary of Egypt.
On Saturday of the same week, the singing of the akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos is performed, which was established in gratitude for Her deliverance of Constantinople from enemies.
Fifth Week of Great Lent dedicated to the glorification of the exploits of the Monk Mary of Egypt.
The Saturday before the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem is called Lazarus. On this day, we remember the resurrection of the righteous Lazarus, which the Lord Jesus Christ performed as proof of His Divine power and as a sign of our resurrection. The resurrection of Lazarus served as a pretext for condemning the Savior to death, therefore, from the very first centuries of Christianity, it was established to perform the memory of this great miracle just before Passion Week.
Sixth Week of Great Lent is called “Week of Vay”, colloquially – Palm Sunday” (or Flower-bearing), and the “Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem” is celebrated. The branches of the vay (palm branches) are replaced by willows, since the willow buds earlier than other branches. The custom of using vayi on this holiday has its basis in the circumstances of the very event of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem. Prayers, as it were, meet the invisibly coming Lord and greet Him as the Conqueror of hell and death, holding in their hands the “sign of victory” - flowering willows with burning candles.

During Great Lent, in church and at home, the penitential prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is read:
"Lord and Master of my life, the spirit of idleness, despondency, lust and idle talk, do not give me. The spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love, grant me to Your servant. Yes, Lord King, grant me to see my sins, and do not condemn my brother For blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen."
Three Saturdays - the second, third and fourth weeks of Great Lent are set to commemorate the dead: Lenten Parental Saturdays. Just like on Saturday, meat-fare, these days intensified prayers are made and memorial services are served for already deceased relatives and acquaintances, and not acquaintances either - those for whom there is no one to pray.

According to the established tradition, Unctions are held during Great Lent, the schedule of which is compiled separately in each church.

Today is an Orthodox church holiday:

Tomorrow is a holiday:

Holidays expected:
15.03.2019 -
16.03.2019 -
17.03.2019 -

Fasts are established by the Church as a special time, singled out from everyday life, when a Christian works hard to cleanse his soul and body, praying, confessing his sins, partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Fasting abstains from fast food - meat, milk, eggs, sometimes fish.

Post history

Fasting existed in the times of the Old Testament, but Christians began to fast from the very foundation of the Church, following the example of the Lord Himself and the apostles. The oldest church writers claim that the apostles established the first 40-day fast in imitation of the prophet Moses and the Savior, who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness. Hence the name of Great Lent - Lent.

Some church scholars believe that the fast at first consisted of 40 hours. Ancient Christian books (II, III centuries) tell us about the custom of fasting for two days. Fasting before Easter was 6 days, as Dionysius of Alexandria tells about it.

Thus, Great Lent (Holy Forty Day) in the form in which it exists today developed gradually. Church historians believe that it finally took shape when it became customary to baptize new converts at Easter and prepare them for the reception of the Sacrament by a long fast. Out of a sense of brotherhood and love, all believers began to participate in this fast with them.

Already in the 4th century, Great Lent existed in the Church everywhere, but it did not begin everywhere at the same time and did not last 40 days everywhere. The post was very strict. The ancient Christian writer Tertullian says that only bread, dried vegetables and fruits were allowed, and then not until the evening. This was called dry eating. They didn't even drink water during the day. In the East, dry food lasted until the 12th century, then not only vegetables, but also fish, and even some birds began to be considered lean.

Any joy and fun was considered a violation of the fast. The general rule was to abstain from stimulating foods and to moderate the use of even permitted foods.

In subsequent times, heresies appeared, some of which considered fasting to be the main duty of a Christian, others, on the contrary, completely denied its significance. The church rules, which summarized the experience of the first centuries, punish not only anyone who, without the need for health, violates the established fast, but also those who claim that eating meat is a sin even on holidays, and condemns the use of meat food at the permitted time.

During Lent, all kinds of spectacles were forbidden in Christian countries, baths, shops, trade in meat and other fast foods were closed, only essential items were sold. Even court hearings were stopped. Christians were involved in charity work. During these days, slaves were often set free or released from work.

Posts are divided into one-day and multi-day. Multi-day posts include:

1. Great Lent, or Holy Forty Day.
2. Petrovsky post.
3. Assumption post.
4. Christmas post.

One-day posts include:

1. Weekly fasts on Wednesday - in memory of the betrayal of the Savior by Judas and on Friday - in memory of the suffering and death of the Savior.
2. However, there is no fast on Wednesday and Friday of some weeks. These are: Easter week, which is revered as if for one bright day; week after Trinity; the so-called Christmas time, that is, the time from Christmas to Epiphany Eve; Week of the publican and the Pharisee before Great Lent (so that we do not become like the Pharisee, who boasted of his piety); Maslenitsa (although during it there is a ban on meat).
3. Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - 27 September.
4. The day of the beheading of John the Baptist is September 11.
5. Epiphany Christmas Eve, that is, the day before Epiphany - January 18th.

great post

Great Lent consists of: 40 days (Fourteen days); two holidays (Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday), as well as Holy Week - a total of 48 days. It is called Great not only because of its duration (it is longer than all the others), but also because of the great significance of this post in the life of a Christian.

In addition to 7 weeks of fasting itself, the charter prescribes another 3 preparatory weeks for it. They begin with the Sunday of the publican and the Pharisee. From the beginning of the 3rd week until its end, there is no longer any meat at the meal, it will appear only at breaking the fast during the Easter meal. The whole week is also called Cheese, or Shrovetide, because the main food during it are dairy products, fish, eggs, cheese.

3 weeks before Lent, on Sunday, when the gospel text of the parable of the publican and the Pharisee is read at the liturgy, the Lenten Triodion, a book of liturgical texts that defines the features of worship during Great Lent, begins to be used in the service.

On Sunday, which received the name of the Week of the publican and the Pharisee, in the morning they sing a special penitential prayer from the 50th psalm: "Open the doors of repentance to me ..." This is the beginning of preparation for fasting. The singing of the prayer of repentance continues at Matins on Sundays (Weeks) of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks of Great Lent inclusive.

The Week of the Prodigal Son is the second preparation week. On Sunday, at the liturgy, the Gospel is read with the parable of the prodigal son. At Matins, a new penitential hymn sounds: "On the rivers of Babylon ..." (Psalm 136).

The Week of the Last Judgment is the third preparatory week. On Sunday the Gospel of the Last Judgment is read. This Sunday is also called meat-fare, as it is the last day of the meat-eater. From Monday to Easter meat can not be eaten.

On the eve of meat-fare Sunday - Ecumenical (meat-fat) parental Saturday. On this day, the memory of all the departed Orthodox Christians is celebrated.

The week following this Sunday is called Maslenitsa.

Week of remembrance of Adam's exile - Forgiveness Sunday. On this Sunday, the gospel passage is read about the forgiveness of offenses and fasting. Adam's exile is mentioned in many liturgical texts. In the evening, everyone gathers in the temple for the rite of forgiveness. The service is already sentry, the vestment is black, bows and penitential singing. At the end of the service, a sermon is read about forgiveness of offenses, about fasting, and a prayer with a blessing for Great Lent. The clergy, starting with the eldest, ask the people and each other for forgiveness. Then everyone approaches the priests in turn, bows, asks for forgiveness and forgives them all their sins and insults, while kissing the cross and the Gospel as a sign of the sincerity of what is being said. Parishioners ask for forgiveness from each other. Such forgiveness of mutual insults is an indispensable condition for the purification of the heart and the successful celebration of Great Lent.

Lent is distinguished from the rest of the year by special services.

Firstly, the Divine Liturgy is not served on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (except for a few holidays), on Wednesday and Friday the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated, and on Sundays the Liturgy of Basil the Great.

Secondly, in worship the volume of texts read from the Psalter increases, singing becomes much less.

Thirdly, the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is read with 16 bows, waist and earthly. Special prayers with bows and kneeling are added to the divine service.

All these differences determine the special spiritual atmosphere of fasting, which is not characteristic of the whole year. Orthodox more often than always visit the temple, so as not to miss special services.

First week of Great Lent

Reading of the Great Canon of Andrew of Crete on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Great Compline. Wednesday morning the first Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. On Friday morning, after the liturgy, a moleben with the consecration of the koliva (in remembrance of the miracle of the great martyr Theodore Tyron). Kolivo is a boiled grain with dried fruits, most often rice with raisins. The consecrated kolivo is distributed to those present in the temple and is consumed on an empty stomach on the same day. The first week ends with Week One, that is, the first Sunday of Lent. This Sunday, the Triumph of Orthodoxy is celebrated - the restoration of icon veneration at the 7th Ecumenical Council.

Second week

Saturday is the commemoration of the dead. On Sunday evening, the first Passion is served in many churches - worship of the sufferings of the Savior. This is a service with an akathist to the Passion of Christ. The remaining three Passions are served on subsequent Sundays. Although the Passion is not a statutory service, it has already entered into a pious tradition.

third week

Saturday is the commemoration of the dead. The week ends with the Third Week, the Adoration of the Cross. On the eve, at the Sunday Vigil, the Cross of the Lord is brought to the middle of the temple for worship. Such worship is performed to the singing of "We worship Thy Cross, Master, and we sing and glorify Thy Holy Resurrection." The cross remains in the center of the temple all week.

Fourth Week, Holy Cross

This week is a stricter fast than the second and third. Wednesday is the middle of Great Lent, that is, its middle. On all days of the week, the worship of the Cross is performed. On Friday at Vespers, the Cross is taken to the altar. Saturday is the commemoration of the dead. The week ends with the Fourth Week, dedicated to the memory of St. John of the Ladder, hegumen and strict ascetic.

Fifth week

Thursday morning - Mariino standing. The service is dedicated to St. Mary of Egypt. At this service, the Great Canon of Andrew of Crete is read in full. The Saturday of the fifth week is called the Saturday of the Akathist, or Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos; in the morning, the Akathist to the Theotokos is read with special festive hymns. But fasting on this day is not weakened.

sixth week

On Friday of this week, Forty Day ends. On Saturday, the memory of the righteous Lazarus, resurrected by Jesus Christ on the 4th day after his death, is Lazarus Saturday. This week ends with Palm Sunday (Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem).

Holy Week

Strict post. Worship services are all special.

During the first three days, special hymns are sung: "Behold the Bridegroom is coming at midnight..." and "Thy Chamber...". This is a reminder of our upcoming meeting with Christ, the Heavenly Bridegroom of our souls, in His Kingdom — the beautiful Hall. These days the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served.

On Wednesday evening, confession is for everyone who wants to lighten their souls before Easter. On Maundy Thursday, the Last Supper is remembered, at which the Lord established the Sacrament of Communion - the Eucharist. On this day, everyone who can partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

In the evening service to the Passion of Christ. Twelve selected gospel passages are read on it, telling about all the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. These "12 Gospels" constitute the main feature of the service. During the reading, everyone stands with candles. A candle that burned during the readings of the "12 Gospels" is called "Thursday" and is taken home unextinguished to light the lamp, to draw a cross with a flame over the door jamb.

Liturgy is not served on Good Friday. In the morning, the Royal Hours are performed. In the middle of the day, the Shroud is taken out - an embroidered icon of the Savior, taken down from the Cross and prepared for burial. The shroud is placed in the middle of the temple, surrounded by flowers. Everyone bows to her and kisses. In the evening of the same day, the Shroud is buried. At the end of the service, the shroud with the procession is carried around the church.

On Great Saturday in the morning, the hours, vespers and the liturgy of Basil the Great are celebrated. At Vespers, 15 parimias are read, that is, readings from the Old Testament, which contain prophecies about Christ and His Resurrection. At the beginning of the Liturgy, all vestments change from black to white.

On this day, the consecration of Easter dishes begins in the morning - Easter cakes, Easter eggs, eggs. The consecration can be continued at Easter.

This concludes the Divine Liturgy of the Lenten Triodion; Lent itself ends.

petrovsky post

Otherwise it is called apostolic. The beginning of this fast depends on the time of the celebration of Easter, and therefore it is sometimes shorter, sometimes longer. Lent begins a week after the Trinity and ends on July 12 with the feast of the supreme apostles Peter and Paul. The longest possible duration of Petrovsky Lent is 6 weeks, the shortest is 8 days. Its beginning comes from ancient times, it was commanded in the apostolic decrees, but it is especially often mentioned from the 4th century.

Assumption post

Fasting in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos lasts 2 weeks - from August 14 to 28, until the feast of the Assumption. This fast resembles the Great Fast in severity, but is weakened on Sundays, as well as on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 19.

In the Ancient Church, it was called autumn. There were disagreements about its duration, some allowed themselves to eat meat already on the Transfiguration. But the church rules that have been in force since the 12th century do not allow this.

Christmas post

It begins 40 days before the Nativity of Christ and therefore, like Great Lent, is sometimes called the Forty Day. It is also called Filippovsky, because on the day of its beginning, November 28, the memory of the Apostle Philip is celebrated.

This fast is not as strict as Great, fish is allowed. But a few days before the Nativity of Christ, abstinence intensifies; on Christmas Eve, the last day before Merry Christmas, do not eat anything until the evening star, in memory of the star that appeared over Bethlehem at the Nativity of the Savior.

The Nativity Fast has been mentioned in church books since the 4th century, in its modern form it was adopted by the Church in the 12th century.

Discussion

Comment on the article "The Posts of the Orthodox Church"

Practice is clear the stump is now at the post and does not look here. 1. In the cookbook under And was there / is there the same multi-day fast in other countries, with the same restrictions? 1. In the Greek Orthodox monasteries, seafood was not considered (and it seems that even now it is not ...

Poll about food in fasting, just call it "Food in fasting". Because fasting is not food at all. according to my concepts, fasting is not a diet at all, and since I am not going to fast in a non-food sense, I see no reason to limit myself in food.

Discussion

Poll, IMHO, incorrect. Poll about food in fasting, just call it "Food in fasting." Because fasting is not food at all. Well, not just food. This is both prayer and abstinence (from marital intimacy to watching entertainment programs on TV), work on spiritual and human qualities, first of all.
For example, according to your survey, I would like to answer “I try to comply as much as possible”, meaning prayer and work on myself, but at the same time I eat everything. Only this year I plan to eat lean food in the last week of fasting.

so christian or orthodox? Orthodox - or rather, some especially blinkered believers - do not celebrate because they fast, apparently they are sure that a holiday is to get drunk from the belly, and it’s contraindicated to rejoice in fasting (although Fasting on NG is exclusively for Orthodox.

Discussion

Maybe she meant Christmas? Familiar Czech Catholics (also Christians) do not celebrate in any way. Their children were very surprised that in our country all the gifts are mainly for New Year's Eve, and then for another 5 minutes they meticulously asked why New Year's Eve is so important to us?

so christian or orthodox?
Orthodox - or rather, some particularly blinkered believers - do not celebrate because they fast, apparently they are sure that a holiday is to get drunk from the belly, and it’s contraindicated to rejoice in fasting (although why? There is a joyful event ahead - birth, unlike Lent before Easter )
but that's their problem
and the rest of the Christian world also notes how
moreover, this has nothing to do with religious beliefs at all - a secular holiday, everyone has fun
believers and those who have joined them solemnly celebrate Christmas
and NG is a fun party

Great Post. YES someone is going to comply with it in full? When I found out that I was pregnant for the third time, Great Lent was in progress, which my husband and I observed in full. See other discussions: Church fasting and conception.

Discussion

pregnant women should not fast in the full sense of the word, there is no need to even try. all this is discussed with the priest, who allows certain indulgences ...

When I found out that I was pregnant for the third time, Great Lent was in progress, which my husband and I observed in full. I approached the priest in church and said that I had started fasting, and now I found out that I was pregnant, what should I do? He didn’t even let me finish, he immediately said, eat everything that is supposed to be pregnant :) In parallel with this, I registered with the LCD and passed the tests, it turned out that I had very low hemoglobin, less than 80 was. This was another confirmation that fast food restrictions are not for pregnant women. I started eating boiled veal and hemoglobin returned to normal :) So a strict fast (in terms of food) for pregnant women is not needed and even harmful, you need to eat fully and correctly.

Christmas Eve (sochevnik) - there is the eve of the holiday. Christmas Eve is the last fast day of Advent. According to the Church Charter, sochivo is eaten in the evening after complete abstinence from food throughout the day. Cooking Ingredients

Discussion

I tell you how my Khokhlyatskaya grandmother cooked (for Christmas). You need a pestle from a mortar, preferably a brass one, a heavy one, and a bowl or clay pot. Of the products - poppy seeds, raisins, walnuts, sugar and rice (although she said that they used to make kutya from wheat). Then everything is simple - pour the poppy seeds into a bowl, pour a little boiling water to the state of a liquid slurry, add sugar and grind everything with a pestle. Boil the rice until cooked, cool slightly, add raisins, lightly chopped walnuts (you can use the same pestle to grind) and poppy seed gruel with sugar, mix everything and cool. It’s also good to cook a compote of dried fruits (a boil is called) and drink kutya with it ... Oh, already saliva flowed.

Kutya is prepared for the wake. And sochivo - for Christmas.

Our son was conceived during the fast that happens before Easter. And nothing, thank God, he is a healthy child! By the love of a husband to his wife :) And God is love and only love ... It would not be worth it to specially plan for a post, but if it happened, then don’t worry.

Discussion

Everything is done by faith. If you approach Communion with faith and reverence and fear, then it is impossible to get infected from other communicants, but you can only be healed. For several years of our constant church life, my children never fell ill after Communion, but to recover, they recovered.
As for whether it is possible to receive communion if one is ill with some kind of infectious disease, I don’t know. I once had such a case, my goddaughter had just been ill, and before taking communion, I asked the priest for blessings.
In your case, the children will receive communion according to the faith of the godmother, who made vows for them during the sacrament of baptism. Therefore, with her, you can safely let them go to Communion.
Another thing is that when parents are not believers, it is almost impossible to raise children in the faith. Or very difficult. This is a heavy burden for your godmother, because she has a huge responsibility for your girls, so she tries to fulfill her duties to the best of her ability.

I am a Catholic and was raised in a religious family. My godmother was just like your children, she often took me to the church. True, Catholics don’t receive communion, but at the age of 11-12, children go through the First Communion - a very beautiful, solemn holiday, before that they confess for the first time, and then stand at Mass separately from adults, elegant, decorated with branches of myrtle or rue. We receive communion only with bread, but not with thick prosphora, but with a wafer of unleavened dough the size of a large coin and as thick as a sheet of paper. By the way, during baptism, they don’t lower them into the font, but draw crosses with holy water on their foreheads and on their chests. They are not applied to icons, because they are rarely used by Catholics. In general, everything is very hygienic.
Personally, I think that it is not necessary to take children to communion if the mother has doubts. To what it. Without the sacrament, children will not grow up less happy, and it is not worth claiming that you are denying them something vital in this way.
Faith should be in the soul of a person, and not in the observance of rituals. You can go to Communion as much as you like, but at the same time be an envious, vile person - then the observance of the canons turns into hypocrisy. 1. Great Lent from March 14 to April 30.
2. Petrov post from June 27 to July 11.
3. Assumption fast from August 14 to August 27.
4 Advent fast from November 28 to January 6.
It is also not blessed to live sexually on Wednesday, Friday and on major church holidays (any Sunday is also a holiday).
But these are recommendations to believers, church-going laity, if you don’t go to church, don’t confess and don’t take Communion, then there’s no point in abstaining these days. Everything is interconnected.

"When do we have posts?" You have - who has it, sorry? Judging by the fact that you don’t even know about these posts, the question arises - is it necessary? All signs work only for those who believe in them!

conception in fasting ... I find it difficult to choose a section. A child from 1 to 3. Raising a child from one to three years old: hardening and development There are several fasts a year, so it's ridiculous to talk about some kind of "thickening of pathologies" ... Or is it just statistics on Orthodox mothers and children?

Discussion

Fasting is not only abstinence in food, but also the observance of bodily cleanliness.
According to medical statistics, the thickening of pathologies occurs in children conceived during late winter / early spring, i.e. just in time for Lent
So draw your own conclusions

If it's a sin, then it's very sweet (in reg).

Lent in 2019: what services not to miss? We will consider this issue in detail in this article, and we will help you successfully withstand the post.

Great post in 2019

Every day, except Saturdays and Sundays, at all divine services of the daily cycle, the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is read. For the first time during the Lenten Triodion, it is pronounced on Wednesday and Friday of Cheese Week, and for the last time on Great Wednesday (April 24), after which all prostrations, except before the Shroud, cease until the day of Pentecost.

On the first four days of Lent at Great Compline is read. It is sung in its entirety on Thursday morning of the fifth week, which is usually performed on Wednesday evening, the day before - one of the longest and most complex services is called "". In addition, on Thursday of the fifth week, a special ancient service is performed, which in origin is Vespers with Communion. This service is also performed every week on Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as on the first three days of Holy Week. According to the charter, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts should be celebrated in the evening, but this is rare in parish practice - the service is usually postponed to the morning.

On the first Friday of Great Lent (March 15, 2019), at the end of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, prayer singing is performed with the consecration of koliva (boiled wheat grains or other cereals with honey). Memory of St. vmch. Theodora is the first Saturday (March 16) of Great Lent.

From Wednesday on the Adoration of the Cross (April 3), half past Lent, at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, a litany of those preparing for Holy Baptism is added.

The second and third (March 23, 30, 2019) are the commemoration of the dead. On these days, the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and a memorial service are served. (April 6, the funeral service is not performed in connection with the pre-feast of the Annunciation.)

Fifth Saturday (April 13) of Great Lent - celebration, on the eve, on Friday evening (April 12), Matins is served with the singing of an akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. The sixth Saturday (April 20) - the memory of the resurrection of the holy righteous Lazarus of the Four Days (at the meal, eating fish caviar is allowed).

On all Sundays of Lent, the Liturgy of Basil the Great is celebrated, and in the first week after the end of the Liturgy, a prayer service is also performed in honor. The second Sunday is dedicated to St. Gregory Palamas, the teacher of the Church, who formulated the theology of grace. On the eve of the third Sunday, at matins, at the great doxology, the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord is brought out for veneration. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, the Church commemorates St. John, hegumen of Mount Sinai, author of the famous ascetic work The Ladder, and on the fifth (April 14) - the feat of St. Mary of Egypt. Due to the coincidence in the current year of the Week of the 4th Great Lent with the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, the service of St. John of the Ladder (from the Triodion) is transferred to Great Compline on Friday evening.

On the day of the feast of the Most Holy Theotokos (April 7), the liturgy of Basil the Great is served. On a holiday, fish is allowed at the meal.

Last Sunday before Easter - Palm Sunday (April 21). On this day, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is performed and the willows are blessed.

On the first four Sundays of Great Lent, a special service is also ruled - vespers with an akathist to the Passion of Christ (Passia). This worship service is of Western origin, serves as a constant reminder of the saving deed and suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary.

On the first three days of Passion Week, the last Liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts of the year are celebrated. On the morning of these days (the first of them takes place on Sunday evening), the troparion is sung, and at the dismissal, the words “Coming Lord on a free Passion” are pronounced.

Maundy Thursday (April 25) - commemoration of the Last Supper and the establishment of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. On this day Vespers is celebrated with the Liturgy of Basil the Great and reserve Gifts are prepared for the communion of the sick. At the end of the Liturgy, the rite of the Washing of the Feet is performed during the Episcopal Divine Liturgy.

On Thursday evening, Good Friday Matins with Reading is celebrated, one of the longest and most beautiful services of the church year. There is an old Russian custom to bring home burning candles from this service.

(April 26) - the day of strict fasting. In the morning, the Follow-up of the Great Heel Hours with pictorial ones is performed, the Liturgy is not served. In the afternoon - after the dismissal, the canon “Lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos” is sung, during which the Shroud is kissed.

On Friday evening or Saturday night, the Savior is celebrated. On Holy Saturday itself (April 27), the Liturgy of Basil the Great is served, during which the clergy change from purple and black Lenten robes to white. During this divine service, the Gospel is already being read, which recalls the Resurrection of Christ (chapter 28 of the Gospel of Matthew). After the Liturgy - the consecration of Easter dishes.

On Paschal night, services begin with the Midnight Office with the reading of the canon of Holy Saturday before the Shroud. Before this, during non-liturgical hours, the Acts of the Holy Apostles are read in the church. After Midnight Office, Easter Matins is served with the Paschal Canon of St. John of Damascus, and then - the Paschal Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Great Lent begins seven weeks before Easter and consists of fortecost- forty days - and Holy Week- Weeks before Easter. Forty days was established in honor of the forty-day fast of the Savior, and Holy Week - in remembrance of the last days of earthly life, suffering, death and burial of Christ. The general continuation of Great Lent along with Holy Week - 48 days.

Accepted with particular rigor follow the first and Holy Week

In not very old historical centuries in Orthodox countries during Great Lent, the life of citizens changed dramatically: theaters, baths were closed, meat trade was stopped, and on the first week of Lent, as well as on Holy Week, classes in educational institutions were stopped, all state institutions were closed so that believers can go to the temple for very important Lenten services. According to historians, pious people in Russia in the first days of Great Lent did not leave their homes unnecessarily.

Last Sunday before Lent called forgiven or "Syropustom" (on this day the eating of cheese, butter and eggs ends). At the liturgy, the Gospel is read with a part from the Sermon on the Mount, which speaks of forgiveness of offenses to our neighbors, without which we cannot receive forgiveness of sins from the Heavenly Father, about fasting, and about collecting heavenly treasures. In accordance with this Gospel reading, Christians have a pious custom to ask each other for forgiveness of sins, known and unknown offenses on this day. This is one of the most important preparatory steps on the way to Great Lent.

Accepted with particular rigor follow the first and Holy Week Great post. Great Lent implies the rejection of meat, dairy, fish food, as well as eggs, however, the measure of your fast must be agreed with the priest, in accordance with the state of health.

The first week of Great Lent is especially strict,
and Divine service - duration.

Holy Forty Day, which reminds us of the forty days Jesus Christ spent in the wilderness, begins on a Monday called clean. Not counting Palm Sunday, there are 5 Sundays in the entire Fortecost, each of which is dedicated to a special remembrance. Each of the seven weeks is called, in order of occurrence: the first, the second, and so on. week of Great Lent.

The divine service is distinguished by the fact that, during the entire duration of the Holy Lent, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays there is no liturgy(unless there is a holiday on those days). In the morning, Matins, the Hours with some inserts, and Vespers are served. In the evening, instead of Vespers, is performed great compline. On Wednesdays and Fridays takes place liturgy of the presanctified gifts, on the first five Sundays of Great Lent - the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which is also performed on Maundy Thursday and Great Saturday of Passion Week. On Saturdays during Holy Lent, the usual liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated.

In the first four days, (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) in Great Belief is read canon of St. Andrew of Crete with refrains to the verse: "Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me." This canon provides numerous examples from the Old and New Testaments, in relation to the moral state of the soul of a person mourning his sins, the Canon is called great both by the many thoughts and memories contained in it, and by the number of its troparia (about 250, while in there are about 30 of them in the usual canons).

Orthodox believers try not to miss these services with the reading of the canon.

Friday of the first week After the Liturgy of Great Lent, the consecration of “koliva” takes place - this is boiled wheat with honey, in memory of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tyrone, who provided beneficial assistance to Christians in preserving the fast. In 362, he appeared to the Bishop of Antioch, Eudoxius, and ordered the Christians to be informed that they should not buy food defiled by the blood of the emperor Julian the Apostate, but would consume kolivo.

First Sunday of Great Lent referred to as " The triumph of Orthodoxy”, established under Empress Theodora in 842 on the victory of the Orthodox at the Seventh Ecumenical Council. During this holiday, temple icons are exhibited in the middle of the temple in a semicircle, on lecterns. At the end of the liturgy, the clergy perform prayer singing in the middle of the temple in front of the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God, praying to the Lord for the confirmation of Orthodox Christians in the faith and the conversion to the path of truth of all who have apostatized from the Church. The deacon then loudly reads the Creed and pronounces an anathema, i.e., announces separation from the Church of all who dare to distort the truths of the Orthodox faith, and "eternal memory" to all deceased defenders of the Orthodox faith, and "many years" to those who live.

On the second Sunday of Great Lent committed memory St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonite, who lived in the XIV century. According to the Orthodox faith, he taught that for the feat of fasting and prayer, the Lord illuminates the faithful with His grace-filled light, which the Lord shone on Tabor. For the reason that St. Gregory revealed the doctrine of the power of fasting and prayer and it was established to celebrate his memory on the second Sunday of Great Lent.

On the third Sunday of Great Lent at the Vespers after the Great Doxology the Holy Cross is carried out. All believers worship the Cross, at this time we sing: We worship Your Cross, Master, and we glorify Your Holy Resurrection. In the middle of Lent, the Church exposes the Cross to believers in order to strengthen those who are fasting to continue the feat of fasting as a reminder of the sufferings and death of the Lord. The Holy Cross remains for worship for a week until Friday. Therefore, the third Sunday and the fourth week of Great Lent are called "worshiping the Cross."

On the fourth Sunday I remember the great ascetic of the VI century - Saint John of the Ladder, who, from the age of 17 to 60, labored on Mount Sinai and in his creation "The Ladder of Paradise" depicted the path of a person's gradual ascent to spiritual perfection, as a ladder leading from the earth to eternally abiding glory.

Thursday in the fifth week the so-called " standing of St. Mary of Egypt”, on which the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, the same one that is read on the first four days of Great Lent, and the life of St. Mary of Egypt. The service on this day lasts 5-7 hours.). The life of St. Mary of Egypt, formerly a great sinner, who left the world and was bound to live in the desert in fasting and prayer, and through this acquired not only forgiveness from God, but also holiness, should serve as an example of true repentance for everyone and convince everyone of God’s inexpressible mercy to repentant sinners.

Saturday in the fifth week is done " Praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary”: the great akathist to the Mother of God is read. This service was established in Greece in gratitude to the Mother of God for Her repeated deliverance of Constantinople from enemies.

On the fifth Sunday of Great Lent succession is made venerable Mary of Egypt.

Saturday in week 6 Matins and Liturgy commemorate the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus Christ.

Sixth Sunday of Great Lent- the great twelfth holiday, on which a solemn Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem to free suffering. This one is called differently. palm Sunday, Week of Vai and Flower-bearing. On the eve of the All-night service, willow branches (vaya) are consecrated, with which believers come to church. Then candles are lit, with which the faithful stand until the end of the service, marking the victory of life over death.

Palm Sunday ends Lent and Holy Week begins.

Holy Week dedicated to the memories of suffering, death on the cross and the burial of Jesus Christ. Christians should spend this entire week in fasting and prayer. This period is mourning and therefore the robes in the church are black. According to the greatness of the remembered events, all days of Holy Week are called Great. Especially touching memories, prayers and chants of the last three days.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week are dedicated to remembering the last conversations of the Lord Jesus Christ with the people and disciples. The features of the divine service of the first three days of Passion Week are as follows: at Matins, after the Six Psalms and Alleluia, the troparion is sung: “Behold the Bridegroom is coming at midnight,” and after the canon, the song is sung: “I see Thy chamber. Save mine." All these three days the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served, with the reading of the Gospel. The Gospel is also read at Matins.

AT Great Wednesday Holy Week commemorates the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot.