Nativity Fast is the last long fast of the year. For Catholics, it starts 13 days earlier than for Orthodox Christians, that is, it goes according to the old style.
The fast is due to end on Christmas Eve, which causes a difference in dates. But all Christians equally perceive its essence - it is preparation for Christmas, spiritual and physical cleansing before the great church holiday.
What date does the Nativity Fast start in 2022 for Orthodox Christians?
The Nativity Fast lasts 40 days. It begins on November 28 according to the Gregorian calendar or November 15, if according to the old style. The last day falls on January 6 (December 24). Nativity Fast does not shift in time and takes place annually between these dates.
Since the Orthodox begin to fast immediately after the day of the Apostle Philip, fasting is also called Filippov or Filippovka. In the church charter, it is designated by a different name - Forty days, which indicates its duration.
The Nativity fast was established a long time ago, even Pope Leo I in the 5th century mentions it, calling it "winter". At first, the fast lasted only a week, then they began to fast for 10 days. Finally, in the XII century, the church approved a period of 40 days for him, which has survived to this day.
Interesting!
Fasting symbolizes the 40 days of the fasting of Moses, after which the tablets with the commandments of God were revealed to him.
The essence of the Nativity Fast
Fasting Christians at Forty Day bring thus a grateful sacrifice to God for the harvest gathered in the fall. Another purpose of fasting is to be spiritually cleansed in preparation for the Nativity of Christ. Cleansing involves not only fasting, this time should be spent in prayer and repentance.
But refraining from gluttony during fasting, according to the church, is no less important. Such self-restraint promotes prayer, develops spiritual feeling, self-discipline and self-control. The total amount of food eaten should be halved against the usual rate. You should also completely abandon a number of products. Some of them are prohibited during the entire period, and some of them are prohibited only on certain days.
The rules of fasting are not the same during the whole time of the Nativity Fast. It is divided into three stages:
- Before Nikolay. From November 28 to December 19. Ban on meat, dairy products, eggs. Fish and seafood can be eaten on certain days.
- After Nikolai. From December 20 to January 1. A ban on fish products on any days is added to the existing restrictions.
- Strict fasting before Christmas. From January 2nd to January 5th. At this time, they begin to practice dry eating, refusing on some days from hot food.
- Christmas Eve - January 6. On the day before Christmas, food should be excluded until the first star appears in the sky. After that, kutya is served on the table.
Small children and pregnant women should not fast. Children are taught to fast from the age of 7. Less stringent requirements for fasting are permissible for the elderly, those who are sick, engaged in hard work, and those who are traveling at this time. To calm the soul of those who do not fast or deviate from the canons for these reasons, the church advises to seek blessings from their confessor.
How to eat during the Nativity Fast
The rules for Filippov's Lent are about the same as for the fasting in Petrovka. For the entire period, meat, dairy products and eggs should be discarded. Also, you should not drink tonic drinks - coffee, tea (strong) and alcohol. A small amount of wine is allowed on the days of the great saints, as well as on Saturday and Sunday.
Fish is banned on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, even if these days are significant church dates.The holiday on Tuesday and Thursday gives the right to eat fish, and on Sunday and Saturday, the product is allowed during the entire first part of the fast. From December 20, fish is not eaten until Christmas.
Also, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you cannot add oil to food and eat hot food, with the exception of dishes for dinner, which takes place after Vespers. On other days, there is no such prohibition.
Permissible products:
- bread, crackers;
- vegetables, mushrooms;
- fruits and dried fruits;
- nuts, seeds;
- legumes;
- cereals;
- honey, sugar.
Orthodox calendar for 2022
Regardless of the knowledge of all the holidays, the Orthodox calendar is needed for believers, even if they came to faith long ago. For example, it will be especially important for young people who have recently come to the Orthodox Church to know all the upcoming holidays and fasting dates, the days of their heavenly patrons for 2022. The Orthodox calendar is characterized by the variability of many dates, which are called transitional.
This calendar is important for observing fasting, not only multi-day, but also one-day. And also for the veneration of Orthodox holidays. Fasts have their own characteristics and restrictions, for example, on some days you can eat fish, and on special days you need to completely refuse to eat.
Multi-day fasting
Great post
March 7 - April 23, 2022
The total duration of the fast is 48 days. It starts on Monday, seven weeks before Easter and ends on Saturday, before Easter.
The first week of fasting is carried out with particular severity. On the first day, complete abstinence from food is taken. Then, from Tuesday to Friday, dry eating is allowed (they eat bread, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey, drink water), and on Saturday and Sunday - hot food with butter.
In the second to sixth weeks of Great Lent, dry eating is established on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, hot food without oil is allowed on Tuesday and Thursday, and hot food with oil on Saturday and Sunday.
During Passion Week (the last week of fasting), dry eating is prescribed, and on Friday you cannot eat until the shroud is taken out.
On the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos (April 7) (if it did not fall on Holy Week) and on Palm Sunday (a week before Easter), it is allowed to eat fish. On Lazarev Saturday (before Palm Sunday) you can eat fish caviar.
Petrov post
June 20 - July 11, 2022
Begins on Monday, 57th day after Easter (one week after Trinity), and always ends on July 11 (inclusive). In 2022, it lasts 22 days.
On Petrov Lent on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday fish is allowed, on Monday - hot food without oil, and on Wednesday and Friday - dry food.
On the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist (July 7), you can eat fish (no matter what day it falls on).
Assumption Fast
14 - 27 August 2022
It starts on August 14 and ends on August 27. Its duration is 14 days.
During the Dormition Lent on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, dry eating is allowed, on Tuesday and Thursday - hot food without oil, on Saturday and Sunday - hot food with oil.
On the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), you can eat fish (no matter what day it falls on).
Christmas post
November 28, 2022 - January 6, 2023
It starts on November 28 and ends on January 6. Its duration is 40 days.
From November 28 to the feast of St. Nicholas (December 19 inclusive), hot food without oil is allowed on Monday, fish is allowed on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and dry eating is allowed on Wednesday and Friday.
From December 20 to January 1, on Tuesday and Thursday, it is already forbidden to eat fish; instead, hot food with butter is allowed. The rest of the days remain unchanged.
From January 2 to January 6, dry eating is prescribed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, hot food without oil on Tuesday and Thursday, hot food with oil on Saturday and Sunday.
On Christmas Eve (January 6), you cannot eat until the first star appears in the sky, after which it is customary to eat soothing wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.
On the feast days of the Entry of the Virgin into the Temple (December 4) and St. Nicholas (December 19), fish can be eaten on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
One-day fasts
Epiphany eve
January 18, 2022
Installed on January 18 - the eve of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.
On this post, it is allowed to eat only hot food with butter (no matter what day of the week it falls).
Beheading of John the Baptist
September 11, 2022
Installed on September 11 - the day of the martyrdom of John the Baptist (the baptist of Jesus Christ).
Meat, eggs, dairy products and fish should not be taken during this fast. It is allowed to eat hot food with butter on all days of the week, except Wednesday and Friday, when only dry eating is allowed.
Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord
September 27, 2022
Installed on September 27 - the day of the finding of the Life-giving Cross.
Eggs, meat and dairy products, and fish should not be consumed during this fast. Hot food with butter is allowed (except Wednesday and Friday - only dry food is allowed on these days of the week).
Fasting Wednesday and Friday
Wednesday and Friday are the days of strict fasting.
On these days of the week, during the period of winter meat-eater (between Christmas and Great Lent) and spring (between Great and Peter Lent), it is forbidden to eat meat and dairy products. During the summer meat-eater (between Petrov and Dormition fasting) and autumn (between the Dormition and Christmas fasting), dry eating is prescribed.
In Cheese Week, food without meat is allowed, and in the rest of the continuous weeks (Christmastide, Publican and Pharisee, Easter, Trinity) there is no fast on Wednesday and Friday.
On Wednesday and Friday of the first week after the week of the Publican and the Pharisee, they take hot food without oil.
Holidays:
- Meetings of the Lord (February 15),
- Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos (April 7) - if it does not fall on Holy Week,
- Apostle John the Theologian (May 21 and October 9),
- Nativity of John the Baptist (July 7),
- the apostles Peter and Paul (12 July),
- Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19),
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (28 August),
- Nativity of the Virgin (September 21),
- Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (October 14),
- Entry of the Virgin into the Temple (December 4),
- Saint Nicholas (December 19),
on Wednesday or Friday, fish is allowed.
At Nativity of Christ (January 7) and Epiphany of the Lord (January 19), fasting on Wednesday and Friday is canceled.
Continuous weeks
Christmastide
7 - 17 January 2022
The period from Christmas to Epiphany. Starts on January 7th, ends on January 17th (inclusive). The duration of this week is 11 days. During Christmas time there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, you can eat meat every day.
Publican and Pharisee
14 - 19 February 2022
Starts 21 days before Lent (Monday) and ends on Saturday. Lasts 6 days. During this week, there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, you can eat meat every day.
Cheese (Shrovetide)
February 28 - March 6, 2022
The week before Great Lent. Lasts 7 days, Monday through Sunday. On all these days, food without meat is allowed (eggs, fish, dairy products).
Easter (Light)
April 25 - 30, 2022
Week after Easter. Lasts 6 days, Monday through Saturday. During this week, there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, you can eat meat every day.
Troitskaya
June 13 - 19, 2022
The week after the day of the Holy Trinity. Lasts 7 days, Monday through Sunday. During this continuous week, there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, it is allowed to eat meat every day.
Meat eaters
Winter carnivore
January 7 - March 6, 2022
The period between Christmas and Great Lent. In 2022, it starts on January 7 and ends on March 6 (Forgiveness Sunday). During the winter meat-eater, there is no fast on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On these days, you can eat meat food. Fish allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Spring carnivore
April 24 - June 19, 2022
The period between the Great and Peter's Lent. In 2022, it starts on April 24 and ends on June 19. During the spring meat-eater, there is no fasting on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Meat is allowed on these days.Fish can be eaten on Wednesday and Friday.
Summer carnivore
July 12 - August 13, 2022
The period between Petrov and Dormition posts. In 2022, it starts on July 12 and ends on August 13. During the summer meat-eater, there is no fast on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. On these days, you can eat meat. Dry food is prescribed for Wednesday and Friday.
Autumn carnivore
August 28 - November 27, 2022
The period between the Dormition and Rozhdestvensky Lent. In 2022, it starts on August 28 and ends on November 27. During the autumn meat-eater, there is no fasting on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Meat is allowed on these days. On Wednesday and Friday, it is prescribed to eat dry food.
