Nativity Fast

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Philip's Fast
)

In

Parousia
.

The Byzantine fast is observed from November 15 to December 24, inclusively. These dates apply to the Eastern Catholic Churches, and Eastern Orthodox churches which use the Revised Julian calendar, which currently matches the Gregorian calendar. For those Eastern Orthodox churches which still follow the Julian calendar—the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Mount Athos, the Portuguese Orthodox Church, and all Old Calendarists, as well as some parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Church, of the Polish Orthodox Church, and of the Orthodox Church of America—the Winter Lent does not begin until November 28 (Gregorian) which coincides with November 15 on the Julian calendar. The Ancient Church of the East fasts dawn til dusk from December 1 until December 25 on the Gregorian calendar.

Sometimes the fast is called Philip's Fast (or the Philippian Fast), as it traditionally begins on the day following the Feast of St. Philip the Apostle (November 14). Some churches, such as the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, have abbreviated the fast to start on December 10, following the Feast of the Conception by Saint Anne of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Purpose of fasting

Through the discipline of

almsgiving, it is believed that by tempering the bodily desire for food, other passions are tempered as well, and that the soul can orient more away from worldly needs and more towards spiritual needs. Through this practice one is better enabled to draw closer to Christ, and engage in the continuous and synergistic process of becoming more Christ-like. While fasting is practiced with the body, it is important to note that emphasis is placed on the spiritual facet of the fast rather than mere physical deprivation. Eastern Orthodox theology sees a synthesis between the body and the soul, so what happens to one can be used to have an effect on the other.[3]

Fasting rules

Novgorod school
).

In the Byzantine Rite, the fast traditionally entails fasting from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine. Fish, wine and oil are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays as well as most Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and oil and wine are generally allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, except in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

The fasting rules also permit fish, wine and oil on certain

Dormition Fast
.

As is always the case with Byzantine fasting rules, persons who are ill, the very young or elderly, and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting. Each individual is expected to confer with their confessor regarding any exemptions from the fasting rules, but should never place themselves in physical danger.

There has been some ambiguity about the restriction of fish, whether it means the allowance of invertebrate fish or all fish. Often, even on days when fish is not allowed, shellfish may be consumed. More detailed guidelines vary by jurisdiction, but the rules strictly state that from the December 20 to December 24 (inclusively), no fish may be eaten.

The Eve of Nativity (December 24) is a strict fast day, called Paramony (lit.'preparation'), on which no solid food should be eaten until Sirius is seen in the evening sky (or at the very least, until after the Vesperal Divine Liturgy that day). If Paramony falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day is not observed as a strict fast, but a meal with wine and oil is allowed after the Divine Liturgy, which would be celebrated in the morning.

Liturgical aspects

Great Feast which falls during the course of the Nativity Fast (16th-century Russian icon
).

In some places, the services on weekdays during the fast are similar to the services during Great Lent (with some variations). Many churches and monasteries in the Russian tradition will perform the Lenten services on at least the first day of the Nativity Fast. Often the hangings in the church will be changed to a somber, Lenten colour.

During the course of the fast, a number of

Godhead
.

As is true of all of the four Byzantine fasts, a

Entry of the Theotokos (November 21). After the apodosis
(leave-taking) of that feast, hymns of the Nativity are chanted on Sundays and higher-ranking feast days.

Forefeast

The liturgical

Forefeast of the Nativity begins on December 20, and concludes with the Paramony on December 24. During this time hymns of the Nativity are chanted every day. In the Russian usage, the hangings
in the church are changed to the festive color (usually white) at the beginning of the Forefeast.

Sunday of the Forefathers

Two Sundays before Nativity (hence, between 11 and 17 December of each year

King David, and other" biblical righteous.[7][8] Seth, son of Adam, started the descendants of the Sons of God.[9]

The

Three Young Men. There are also special Epistle (Colossians 3:4–11) and Gospel (Luke 14:16–24) readings appointed for the Divine Liturgy
on this day.

Sunday of the Holy Fathers

The Sunday before Nativity is even broader in its scope of commemoration than the previous Sunday, in that it commemorates all of the righteous men and women who pleased God from the

)

Paramony

.

During the Vespers, eight

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
is celebrated in the morning, with its readings and antiphons, and the fasting is lessened to some degree—a meal with wine and oil being served after the Liturgy.

The

Kingdom of God, and 9:2–7, foretelling the birth of the Messiah
("For unto us a child is born...and he shall be called...the Mighty God....").

The Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on Christmas morning. However, in those monasteries which continue to celebrate the All-Night Vigil in its long form—where it literally lasts throughout the night—the conclusion of the Vigil at dawn on Christmas morning will often lead directly into the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. When the Vigil is separate from the Divine Liturgy, the Lenten fast continues even after the Vigil, until the end of the Liturgy the next morning.

Fasting during the afterfeast

On December 25, the

Nativity of Christ begins. From that day to January 4 (the day before Theophany Eve) is a fast-free
period. The Eve of the Theophany (January 5) is another strict fast day (paramony).

Coptic fast

In the

Al-Muizz Li-Deenillah
.

Armenian fast

Uniquely, the

Armenian Calendar of Saints
).

See also

Notes

  1. Revised Julian Calendar
    , the services are celebrated on the date according also to the calculation of the Gregorian Calendar.
  2. ^ Joseph Bingham, Origines Ecclesiasticae (W. Straker, 1840), p. 240
  3. ^ "Liturgy of the Sunday of the Holy Fathers". Eastern Orthodox Church of America. Archived from the original on Oct 11, 2018. Retrieved Oct 11, 2018.
  4. ^ a b
  5. ^ "Sunday of the Holy Forefathers". Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. House Springs, MO. Dec 14, 2009. Retrieved Oct 11, 2018.
  6. ^ "Sunday of the Holy Forefathers". Russian Orthodox Church of Baltimora, U.S. Archived from the original on Oct 3, 2007. Retrieved Oct 11, 2018.
  7. Judith, Miriam, prophets Nathan and Nehemiah, Noah, Rebecca, Sarah, Solomon, Susanna, Ruth, Mary (the mother of Saint Anne), the prophet Daniel
  8. ^ "Afterfeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple". oca.org. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved Oct 11, 2018.
  9. ^ "Answering The Why Of Christmas". 30 November 2017. Retrieved Nov 21, 2021.

External links