Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos: signs and what not to do on this day. Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos: the history of the holiday, its traditions and congratulations Orthodox holiday Introduction and its traditions

history of the holiday

According to Tradition, the parents of the Blessed Virgin, Joachim and Anna, could not conceive a child for a long time. Turning their prayers to the Lord, they asked to send them a baby, promising to give it to the service of God. Their prayers were heard, and the one who was destined to become the mother of the Savior was born.

The righteous couple fulfilled their vow - when Mary was three years old, she was dressed in the best clothes and with great solemnity was led to the doors of the Jerusalem temple. There they were met by the clergy.

A high and steep staircase led to the temple. Three-year-old Maria was placed on the first step. To the great surprise of those present, the young maiden overcame the remaining fourteen steps herself, without experiencing any difficulties. She ran to the temple doors quickly and easily, without even looking at her parents. When Mary reached the last step, the high priest, who, according to legend, was sent an inspiration from above, led the virgin to the Holy of Holies, where the Tablets of the Covenant were kept. Until that moment, no one entered the sacred place, except for the high priest - and he was allowed to do this only once a year for a special ritual.

Joachim and Anna entrusted the child to the will of the Lord and left the temple. Mary remained in the temple until the age of fifteen, after which, according to angelic instructions, she was married to Joseph.

Mary's life is hidden by a veil of secrecy. According to Tradition, when she was in the Temple, she was engaged in needlework, studied the text of the Holy Scriptures, and love for the Heavenly Father grew and strengthened in her soul.

The day of the Entry into the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the day of the appearance of the chosen by God to the world, the purest of all who lived on earth, who did not have even a shadow of a sinful thought.\

Traditions

Our ancestors identified the day of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the temple with the beginning of real winter, therefore, among the people, it was often called the gate of winter. The thaw was no longer expected: it was believed that the winter cold had finally come into its own.

The onset of winter was celebrated with appropriate entertainment: they took out sleds, played in the fresh air. The custom of sleigh rides on this day was especially common among the newlyweds - the whole family gathered in the house of the newlyweds to watch their first trip. And unmarried girls on that day were guessing at their future spouse: before going to bed they asked “Holy Introduction” to show in which house they would live after marriage. Women especially revered the Feast of the Entry into the Temple. It was believed that he patronizes the female share, gives strength for work. In honor of the holiday on December 4, magnificent services are held in churches.

The pagans believed that on December 4, Winter rides through the streets on a trio of horses, dressed in a snow-white fur coat. However, there are also thaws, but to this day they say that the Introduction brings winter. But after this date, the heat was no longer expected.

This day they greeted the Morozov Brothers, going out into the courtyard with bows. This was done only by the owner of the house. The Morozovs were asked for strength and health to the whole family, in their honor they stoked a warmer stove.

If there is no opportunity to go to church, you should read prayers at home, light candles near the icon of the Virgin Mary. Follow the rules of church holidays: avoid work and household chores, unless urgently required. Dedicate the day to spiritual affairs and folk traditions.

What can you eat on this day
This holiday falls on the Nativity Fast (it is also called Philip's Fast), but it is allowed to eat fish.

Folk signs on the Entry into the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary

According to popular belief, if there is frost on the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, then all holidays will turn out to be frosty, but if the weather is relatively mild, then it will not be very cold outside on holidays.
Snow that falls on or after the fourth day of December will not melt until spring. The snowdrifts that appeared before this date will soon melt. Real winter weather on the Introduction is a good omen for harvest and wealth.
Frost on the Introduction - to the hot summer. If the weather is clear or it is snowing, there will be a good harvest of bread.
A cloudy and warm day promises a poor grain harvest, but a warm winter.
Before a heavy snowfall, the night is darker than usual.
Many snowdrifts on the hills - to a large harvest of strawberries.
The weather on December 4 also predicts what Christmas will be like. Frost means that all Christmas days will be cold. If the bell ringing is well heard, the weather will be clear. The ringing of bells is deaf - to the snow.

The authorities of Ecuador have deprived Julian Assange of asylum in the London embassy. The founder of WikiLeaks is detained by the British police, and this has already been called the biggest betrayal in the history of Ecuador. Why is Assange being avenged and what awaits him?

Julian Assange, a programmer and journalist from Australia, became widely known after the WikiLeaks website he founded published secret documents from the US State Department, as well as materials related to military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010.

But it was quite difficult to find out who the police, supporting under the arms, were taking out of the building. Assange grew a beard and did not look at all like the energetic man that he had so far presented in photographs.

According to Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno, Assange's asylum was denied because of his repeated violations of international conventions.

He is expected to remain at a police station in central London until he appears before Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Why the President of Ecuador is accused of betrayal

Former President of Ecuador Rafael Correa called the decision of the current government the biggest betrayal in the history of the country. "What he (Moreno. - Approx. ed.) did is a crime that humanity will never forget," Correa said.

London, on the contrary, thanked Moreno. The British Foreign Office believes that justice has prevailed. The representative of the Russian diplomatic department, Maria Zakharova, has a different opinion. "The hand of 'democracy' is squeezing the throat of freedom," she said. The Kremlin expressed the hope that the rights of the detainee would be respected.

Ecuador harbored Assange because the former president was center-left, critical of U.S. policy, and welcomed WikiLeaks' release of classified documents on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even before the Internet activist needed asylum, he managed to get to know Correa personally: he interviewed him for the Russia Today channel.

However, in 2017, the government in Ecuador changed, the country headed for rapprochement with the United States. The new president called Assange "a stone in the shoe" and immediately made it clear that his stay on the territory of the embassy would not be delayed.

According to Correa, the moment of truth came at the end of June last year, when US Vice President Michael Pence arrived in Ecuador on a visit. Then everything was decided. “You can be sure: Lenin is just a hypocrite. He has already agreed with the Americans about the fate of Assange. And now he is trying to make us swallow the pill, saying that Ecuador allegedly continues the dialogue,” Correa said in an interview with Russia Today.

How Assange made new enemies

The day before his arrest, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristin Hrafnsson said that Assange was under total surveillance. "WikiLeaks uncovered a massive spy operation against Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy," he said. According to him, cameras and voice recorders were placed around Assange, and the information received was transmitted to the administration of Donald Trump.

Hrafnsson specified that Assange was going to be expelled from the embassy a week earlier. This did not happen only because WikiLeaks made this information public. A high-ranking source told the portal about the plans of the Ecuadorian authorities, but the head of the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry, Jose Valencia, denied the rumors.

Assange's expulsion was preceded by a corruption scandal involving Moreno. In February, WikiLeaks published the INA Papers package, which traced the operations of the offshore company INA Investment, founded by the brother of the Ecuadorian leader. In Quito, they said that this was a plot by Assange with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and former head of Ecuador Rafael Correa to overthrow Moreno.

In early April, Moreno complained about Assange's behavior in Ecuador's London mission. “We have to protect the life of Mr. Assange, but he has already crossed all the lines in terms of violating the agreement that we came to with him,” the president said. “This does not mean that he cannot speak freely, but he cannot lie and hack ". At the same time, back in February last year, it became known that Assange at the embassy was deprived of the opportunity to interact with the outside world, in particular, he was turned off access to the Internet.

Why Sweden stopped persecuting Assange

At the end of last year, Western media, citing sources, reported that Assange would be charged in the United States. This was never officially confirmed, but it was precisely because of Washington's position that Assange had to take refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy six years ago.

Sweden, in May 2017, stopped investigating two cases of rape in which the founder of the portal was accused. Assange demanded compensation from the country's government for legal costs in the amount of 900,000 euros.

Earlier, in 2015, Swedish prosecutors also dropped three charges against him due to the statute of limitations.

Where did the rape investigation lead?

Assange arrived in Sweden in the summer of 2010, hoping to get protection from US authorities. But he was under investigation for rape. In November 2010, a warrant for his arrest was issued in Stockholm, and Assange was put on the international wanted list. He was detained in London, but was soon released on bail of 240 thousand pounds.

In February 2011, a British court ruled to extradite Assange to Sweden, followed by a series of successful appeals for the founder of WikiLeaks.

The British authorities placed him under house arrest before deciding to extradite him to Sweden. Breaking his promise to the authorities, Assange asked for asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy, which was granted to him. Since then, the UK has had its own grievances against the founder of WikiLeaks.

What's next for Assange?

The man was re-arrested following a U.S. extradition request for publishing classified documents, police said. At the same time, Deputy Foreign Minister Alan Duncan said that Assange would not be sent to the United States if he faced the death penalty there.

In the UK, Assange is likely to appear in court on the afternoon of 11 April. This is stated on the WikiLeaks Twitter page. It is likely that the British authorities will seek a maximum sentence of 12 months, the man's mother said, citing his lawyer.

At the same time, the Swedish prosecutor's office is considering reopening the investigation into the rape allegation. Lawyer Elizabeth Massey Fritz, who represented the interests of the victim, will seek this.

In early December, Christians celebrate the day when Saints Anna and Joachim first brought the Mother of God to the temple. Having prayed on December 4 before the icon of the Mother of God, you can find happiness and peace.

Every year on December 4, we celebrate a great church event - the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. This enduring holiday is one of the Twelve and is revered by all Orthodox believers.

The church holiday is based on a story from the life of a childless couple - Anna and Iaokim. They dreamed of having children and once made a vow that if the Higher powers give them a child, they will definitely dedicate it to the Lord God. Soon they had a daughter, whom they named Mary.

Until the age of three, the girl lived with her parents. After that, they took her to the Temple in Jerusalem, where she lived until she was 15 years old. At this age, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but continued to be chaste.

Every year on December 4, parishioners visit churches and pray in front of the icon of the Mother of God. She is asked for health, happiness and family well-being. The more sincere your prayer, the faster you will receive an answer to it.

Prayer for the Feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos

On this bright holiday, you can visit the church and ask the Mother of God to free you from worries and failures. If you are tormented by ailments, pray for a speedy deliverance from them. Turning to the Virgin Mary, ask for the remission of sins and a happy future. If you are ready to change your life for the better, then the Blessed Virgin Mary will definitely help you.

“Oh, Blessed Virgin Mary. During your lifetime, you were chosen as the Bride of our God. You came to the temple to conclude a sacred marriage. You left your home and offered yourself as a Sacrifice to the Heavenly King, remaining a fragile Virgin all your life. Help us, grant us your mercy. Support us in difficult times. May our faith in the Lord be strong. You spent your youth in the temple, abstaining from the joys of the world, and you received a reward for your patience. God gave you the Son of Jesus Christ. Endowed him with kindness and made him the protector of the believers. Help us sinners. Bless us for a long, sinless and happy life. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Say the prayer slowly, thinking about each word. You can repeat this several times a day if you wish.

Prayer before the icon "Entrance into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos"

On any day you can come to the temple and pray in front of the image of the Mother of God "Entering the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple." You can purchase this miraculous icon and replenish your home iconostasis. In this case, you can say prayers every day.

“I pray to You, our Lady, and I ask You to hear my prayers. Hear my cry and my prayers. Deliver me from terrible sins and help me not to commit them in the future. Hear my spiritual suffering, deliver me from them. Teach me to do the will of the Lord, so that He does not bring down His wrath on me a sinner. May the Heavenly King forgive me for my deeds. Hear, Virgin Mary, my prayers. Amen".

Prayer will help you get rid of sins, as well as solve problems and life difficulties.

Magnification of the Feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos

In the morning, before saying prayers to the Mother of God, thank her for her help. After all, in order for the Saints to continue to respond to your requests, it is necessary to show that their support is important to you in difficult moments of life.

“We magnify you, Virgin Mary! From birth, you became chosen by the Lord God himself. We thank You for Your help, for Your blessing. Just as You left the sinful world for the sake of faith and worship of the King of Heaven, so we want to get rid of sins and evil. We honor Your good deeds, which You performed both in life and in Heaven. Do not leave us, Holy Mother of God. Amen".

After you have said a prayer, you can pray to the Mother of God and tell her about your worries. Do not forget that you need to turn to the Saints with a good mood and good thoughts, otherwise your prayer will not bring results.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is especially revered in Orthodoxy. Believers turn to her at any time and with any problems. Women, considering the Virgin Mary as their patroness, often ask her for marriage and family well-being. The strong prayers of the Mother of God will help you find happiness in your personal life.

In December 2018, there will be many Orthodox holidays, and in a few days we will celebrate one of them - the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos is a holiday that came to us from Church Tradition.

On this day, Christians remember how Saints Joachim and Anna brought the three-year-old Virgin Mary to the Jerusalem Temple. So the parents of the Mother of God fulfilled their vow - a promise to dedicate their long-awaited daughter to God.

In addition, do not forget that the Advent Fast continues - one of the longest and strictest of the year. It will end only on the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

Martyr Platon of Ancyra.
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Martyrs Roman, deacon, and the youth Varul.

Venerable Barlaam and Joasaph, prince of India, and his father Abner the king.
Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna.
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Prophet Obadiah.

Prefeast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos.
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Saint Proclus of Constantinople.

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Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos.

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Blessed Prince Mikhail of Tver.
Apostles from 70 Philemon and Archippus.
Afterfeast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Saint Gregory.
Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, in schema Alexy.
Saint Mitrofan, in schema Macarius, Bishop of Voronezh.
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Martyr Mercury of Smolensk.
Great Martyr Catherine.
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Hieromartyr Clement of Rome, Pope of Rome.
Commemoration of the Feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos.
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Saint Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk.
Venerable Alypy the Stylite.
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Venerable Palladius of Alexandria.
Celebration of the icon of the Mother of God, called "The Sign".
Great Martyr James the Persian.
Saint James, Bishop of Rostov.
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Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov).
Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New.
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Martyr Filumen of Ancyra.
Martyr Paramon and 370 martyrs with him.
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Hieromartyr John Chestnov, presbyter.
Apostle Andrew the First-Called.
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Righteous Philaret the Merciful.
Prophet Nahum.
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Venerable Athanasius, recluse of the Caves.
Prophet Habakkuk.
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Prophetess Zephaniah.
Reverend Savva Storozhevsky (Zvenigorodsky).
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Pakhromskaya Icon of the Mother of God.

Like John of Damascus.
Great Martyr Barbara.
Damascus Icon of the Mother of God.
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Hieromartyr Elijah Chetverukhin, presbyter.
Saint Savva the Sanctified.
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Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, St. Nicholas, Archbishop of the World of Lycia.
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Reverend Nil of Stolobensky.
Venerable Anthony of Siya.
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Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.

Reverend Cyril of Chelmogorsk.
Reverend Patapius.
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Reverend Stephen the New Radiant.
Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by Righteous Anna.
Icons "Unexpected Joy".
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Saint Joasaph, Bishop of Belgorod.
Martyrs Evgraf, Mina and Hermogenes.
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Reverend Nikon Dry.
Venerable Daniel the Stylite.
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Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimifunt, miracle worker.
Martyr Wise.
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Venerable Arcadius of Vyazemsky and Novotorzhsky.
Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes.
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Hieromartyr Nikolai Kovalev.
Martyrs Firsus, Leukia, Kallinikos.
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Cathedral of the Crimean Saints.
St. Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Sourozh.
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Reverend Sophia of Suzdal.
Prophet Haggai.
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Prophet Daniel and three youths: Ananias, Azariah and Misael.
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Glorification of the Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye.
Martyrs Sebastian of Milan and his retinue.
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The Entry into the Church of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary - this is the full name of the holiday that the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates on December 4 (according to the new style). This is the second twelfth feast of the Mother of God of the church year. The Twelfth are called holidays that are dogmatically closely connected with the events of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Mother of God and are divided into master's (dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ) and theotokos (dedicated to the Mother of God).

On this day, Orthodox Christians remember how the holy righteous Joachim and Anna brought their three-year-old daughter - the Most Holy Theotokos - to the Jerusalem Temple. They did this in order to fulfill their vow before the Lord - to dedicate their daughter to serving Him. From that day on, the Virgin Mary lived at the Jerusalem Temple - until the very moment she was betrothed to the righteous Joseph.

We will not find a mention of the events of this holiday in the canonical Gospels, but Church Tradition tells us about it (which is revered on a par with Holy Scripture). Namely, “The Story of James about the Birth of Mary”, or “The Proto-Gospel of James” (II century), and “The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew” (the Latin version of the childhood of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, formed by the 9th-10th centuries, but based on earlier " childhood gospels).

Events of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos

When the Virgin Mary was three years old, her righteous parents Joachim and Anna realized that the time had come to fulfill the vow they had made to God. Namely, to dedicate a daughter to serving Him. They brought Mary to the walls of the Jerusalem Temple. As the Holy Tradition says, the Mother of God easily climbed the steep steps, despite the fact that she was just a baby. The high priest was already waiting for her upstairs to bless her. According to some sources, this was Saint Zacharias, the future father of the prophet John the Baptist.

Zechariah had a revelation from the Lord, and he introduced Mary into the Holy of Holies - a place where only the high priest was allowed to enter, and even then only once a year. From this moment, unusual for contemporaries, the long, glorious and difficult journey of the Mother of God began.

Years passed, the Mother of God lived and served at the Temple. She spent her days in prayer, studied the Holy Scriptures - right up to the moment when she was betrothed to the righteous Joseph.

When is the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos celebrated?

The Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated on December 4, according to the new style (November 21, according to the old style). This is a non-transitory holiday, that is, its date is unchanged.

What can you eat on the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos

The holiday falls on the Nativity Fast (it is also called Philip's Fast). It is allowed to eat fish on this day.

The history of the celebration of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos

As Church Tradition says, the feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos was already known in the first centuries of Christianity. Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Elena (years of life: 250-330) built a temple in honor of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple. And in the 4th century, St. Gregory of Nyssa wrote about the holiday.

The feast of the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple became widespread only from the 9th century. George of Nicomedia and Joseph of Hymns wrote two canons for this day's worship.

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On December 4, 2 Orthodox church holidays are celebrated. The list of events informs about church holidays, fasts, days of honoring the memory of saints. The list will help you find out the date of a significant religious event for Orthodox Christians.

Church Orthodox holidays December 4

Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The latest twelfth non-passing feast. Dedicated to the introduction of Mary by her parents to the Temple in Jerusalem at the age of 3 for the purpose of consecration to God.

On December 4, the Orthodox celebrate the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos. On this day, Christians remember how Saints Joachim and Anna brought the three-year-old Virgin Mary to the Jerusalem Temple. So the parents of the Mother of God fulfilled their vow - a promise to dedicate their long-awaited daughter to God. The Virgin Mary lived and served at the Temple until the moment when she was betrothed to righteous Joseph.

The Entry into the Church of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (this is how the holiday is fully called) is one of the Twelve, that is, the largest Orthodox holidays. This is a non-transitory holiday, its date is unchanged.

On the day of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, the festive divine service consists of small vespers, all-night vigil (with litia), hours and liturgy. The charter of the service practically does not differ from the charter of other twelfth celebrations of the Theotokos (the Nativity of the Virgin and the Assumption). Only hymns of the holiday are sung. Priests are dressed in white and/or blue vestments.

There are folk signs associated with this holiday. In the old days, they often said: “Introduction breaks ice” (thaw) or “Introduction - thick ice” (frosty). If a deep winter falls from the Introduction, prepare bins: there will be a rich harvest of bread. If the weather is cloudy on the Introduction, then next year there will be a harvest, but if it is clear, do not wait for the harvest.

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7th day
Multi-day post. Its goal is the spiritual cleansing of a person and preparation for the feast of the Nativity of Christ. The duration of the fast is 40 days.

Any ritual of refusing food for a true Christian is a stage of serious preparation for an Orthodox event. The Advent fast is observed in order to meet the day revered as the Birth of the Savior with a pure soul and thoughts.

The history of the custom has its roots in early Christianity and is noted in sources from the 4th century. Then it lasted only seven days and was observed from the last day of December and the first seven days of January according to the new style.

The clergy of the Church of Constantinople, represented by Patriarch Luke Chrysoverg, considered that 7 days for fasting before the Orthodox event was not enough to completely cleanse oneself from sins, bad thoughts and deeds. In 1166, they decided to increase the number of fast days to 40. The time period for its observance is from November 28 to January 6. According to the Julian calendar from November 14 to December 24.

This period of the church calendar is also called the Filippov fast, or Filippovka, because the day before the fast, or conspiracy, falls on the date of veneration in the church of St. Philip's day (November 27). He was a great connoisseur of the Holy Scriptures and was waiting for the coming of the Messiah. I followed Christ at the beginning of his journey and helped in many ways.

If during the Easter fast the period of abstinence from food shifts every year, then the Christmas fast always has one interval, which is easy to determine if you count back from January 7 (Christmas holiday) 40 days of fasting.

The meaning of the Advent in Orthodoxy

In order to accept with due reverence and awareness the birthday of Jesus Christ, you need to cleanse yourself physically and spiritually from any filth.

The Nativity of Christ is revered as one of the significant events of Orthodoxy. It cannot be celebrated as an ordinary holiday, but only according to a special custom. You need preparation comparable to cleaning the house for the arrival of the most important guests. As you want to remove the dirt from the corners of the house, you should also prepare spiritually and bodily for the acceptance of the Savior.

The parishioner must limit the intake of prohibited foods, give up entertainment, bad thoughts, deeds, pray to cleanse the soul. Only in an integrated approach can a state be reached when a person is ready to accept faith and Christ.

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