Orthodox fasts in 2019 - dates and traditions

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

There are several Orthodox fasts in a calendar year, each of which has its own characteristics and rules. Consider what the Orthodox calendar of fasts looks like in 2019.

In Orthodoxy, fasting is an ascetic practice aimed at subordinating the desires of the body to the will of the spirit. Gluttony is one of the main human passions, which not everyone can overcome. Therefore, first and foremost, fasting is aimed at curbing this passion.

During periods of spiritual development, sinful thoughts and deeds are not allowed, a person should direct all his attention to his spiritual life, the education of will and the knowledge of love.

Great Lent in 2019

The main Orthodox post is dedicated to the pacification of the flesh and the preparation of the spirit for the great feast of the Resurrection of the Lord. This is the longest period of abstinence, which is dedicated to the 40-day fast of the Savior in the Judean wilderness. Like Christ, throughout the entire period of spiritual development, believers have to give up certain food, worldly temptations and pleasures.

You need to concentrate on your spiritual essence, spend time in prayer and meditation.

Lent lasts seven weeks and begins on different dates, like some other Orthodox fasts. It will run from March 11 to April 27 in 2019. The most severe weeks in nutrition will be the first and the last, on the rest of the days periods of dry eating will be followed by days of relaxation, during which it is allowed to cook hot meals. Lent always occurs in spring, when fresh berries and fruits are still present in the diet.

Therefore, the food is based on pickled vegetables, legumes, cereals and nuts. Further, depending on the usual diet, dried fruits, lean pastries, compotes, jams and mushrooms can be added.

All seven weeks have their own special meaning and are dedicated to the memory of saints or important events. Every day of the last week is dedicated to the tragic events associated with the torment and death of the Savior. In days of sorrow, believers completely refuse to eat, spend time in solitude and prayer.

On Sundays, it is allowed to eat fish dishes and red wine, cook hot dishes and add vegetable oil to the meal. The period of instilling the will ends with Easter, when all restrictions and prohibitions are lifted.

Petrov post in 2019

Peter's Lent traditionally takes place in the summer months and is tied to the annual date of Easter. It is held in memory of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. Before embarking on the path of preaching and bringing the Christian religion to people all over the world, the apostles fasted, like them, believers begin a period of restrictions a week after Trinity. In 2019, fasting will begin on June 24th.

Its duration is always different, but it always ends on July 12th.

In nutrition, fasting, in honor of the chief apostles, is not strict. On all days except Friday and Wednesday, you can cook fish dishes, meat and its derivatives are prohibited. In summer, heavy meat dishes are replaced by fasting vegetable salads, fruit and berry compotes, and mushrooms.

Many traditions of Peter's Lent came to us from ancient times. During the days of prohibitions, Orthodox Christians prepared okroshka, lean cabbage soup and mushroom caviar, which are still honorable dishes of Russian cuisine. On the holidays of the Orthodox fast, the hostesses treated their guests to fishmongers, special pies with a whole carcass of fish.

Assumption Lent in 2019

The short two-week Orthodox fast is named after the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. In 2019, the time for spiritual work will fall on the period from 14 to 27 August.

This period has been known since ancient times, when the Christian religion was in its infancy and is not inferior in severity to Great Lent. Dairy products, meat and its derivatives, as well as eggs are completely excluded from the diet. The main part of the grocery basket is occupied by cereals, mushrooms and natural plant foods.

You can cook fish dishes on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This is an important date for the Orthodox, since it was on this day that his Divine nature was revealed to the Savior. The holiday is celebrated on August 19.

The end of summer coincides with the harvest season, therefore, many traditions of the Dormition Fast are associated with this event. During two weeks of abstinence, believers celebrate the Honey Savior and the Apple Savior. At the end of summer, honey and apples are harvested, which have always played an important role in Russian cuisine. A small amount of the collected gifts of nature are brought to the church for consecration by believers in the Orthodox fast of 2019.

Christmas post

All important holidays in Christianity are preceded by fasting, so that a person can cleanse his body and soul. The purpose of the Nativity Fast is to work on oneself for a long time, through pacifying the desires of the flesh, repentance and prayer. A person must leave behind everything sinful with pure thoughts, and with a heart filled with love, meet the birth of Jesus Christ.

The period of restraint lasts forty days, during which believers observe the prescribed rules of nutrition, devote time to prayer and meditation. The calendar and fasting schedule for 2019 states that the period of abstinence will begin on November 28 and will last until January 6.

The basis of the diet during the winter fast is all kinds of cereals. Oatmeal, buckwheat and millet porridge with the addition of dried fruits appear on almost every table. In the first half of the post, dietary restrictions are not too strict. Starting from the middle, fish dishes are excluded, and the period ends with the most stringent regulations.

Continuous weeks

Continuous weeks are distinguished by the absence of prohibitions and restrictions. After long periods of taming the flesh, believers can indulge in a variety of dishes and traditional feasts. The dates of continuous weeks vary depending on the calendar of Orthodox fasts and important church holidays.

In 2019, the schedule is as follows:

• 07.01-17.01 - Christmastide, a week of joy and fun established in honor of the feast of the Nativity of Christ;
• 18.01-23.02 - the week of the Publican and the Pharisee, opens a special preparatory period preceding Great Lent;
• 04.03-10.03 - Cheese week, the traditional Maslenitsa, a feast with pancakes and light food, held before the beginning of Lent;
• 29.04-04.05 - Easter week, established after the bright feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, which the believers celebrate for several days;
• 17.06-23.06 - Trinity Week, the week before Peter's Lent, established in honor of the feast of the Holy Trinity.

In the Christian religion, there are not only prohibitions and restrictions. In addition to important church holidays, there are whole weeks when people walk and have fun. The holiday is noticeable both in the performance of divine services and in the vestments of the clergy. Traditionally, during the weeks, mass festivities, fairs with various treats, games and competitions were held.

Fasting on Wednesday and Friday

Two fast days a week have existed since the dawn of Christianity. Nowadays, believers are so accustomed to this tradition that they often do not even think about its origin and purpose. During the formation of the young Christian religion, two days were established in honor of the tragic events.

Those who fast on Wednesday remember the day on which the Savior was betrayed by Judas, and Friday is the memorable day of the crucifixion and death of Christ.

Observing these two days of fasting weekly, believers keep the body in good shape, do not give it complete freedom between fasting for many days. It is also of great importance for spiritual growth, observing fasting on Friday and Wednesday, the believer shows that he never forgets God, is always ready to fight against temptation and unclean forces.

On two days, chosen at the dawn of Christianity, a strict fast is observed. Only plant foods are allowed, and in their natural form, so you will have to forget about the usual methods of cooking.

On days, as a rule, they consume fresh or pickled vegetables, seasonal fruits, nuts and honey in small quantities. Fish dishes are prohibited, as well as vegetable oil.

One-day fasting in 2019

In the Christian religion, there are many Orthodox fasts that last one day. The fast days meal calendar is set depending on the important events associated with fasting. In 2019, one-day fasts fall on the following dates:

• 18.01 - on the eve of the Baptism of the Lord, the blessing of water is performed in churches and the evening is held. On this day, they take food only once, it can be juicy or kutia with a little honey;
• 11.09 - on this day, believers remember the tragic death of John the Baptist, who died at the behest of the cruel king. In memory of the prophet's pious life, believers observe fasting, which involves the consumption of plant foods with vegetable oil;
• 27.09 - a holiday dedicated to the Finding and Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. The symbol of the Christian faith, as well as the instrument of execution, was found at Calvary and was revealed to all believers. A strict fast is observed on this day.

One-day fasts can be established by the church in memory of any social tragedy that was accompanied by human sacrifice. The fasting day should also precede the sacrament of communion.

Is it possible to play a wedding in Orthodox posts?

Traditions, rules and prohibitions associated with restrictions on fasting have come to us from ancient times. They were established by spiritual leaders based on the interpretation of scripture and other Orthodox documents. Earlier in Russia it was not customary to register a marriage; the fate of two lovers was connected only by the wedding ceremony. According to church rules, it is forbidden to marry in fasting; in exceptional cases, the permission of the ruling bishop is required.

Therefore, before the weddings during the fast were never held. This is the time for silence, spiritual calmness, prayer and appeal to God. Restrictions on fasting are incompatible with a happy holiday.

There are no strict church regulations for official registration at the registry office and the subsequent feast, but if you observe fasting, then the holiday should definitely be postponed. Therefore, study in advance how Orthodox posts are distributed in 2019, draw up a calendar by months and choose a suitable date. If there is an urgent need to register a marriage and appoint a celebration for fasting, make sure that not only meager, but also lean dishes are on the table.

Meat eaters

The meat eater, according to the church charter, is the period in which it is allowed to eat meat. Traditionally, the period between fasting is the most appropriate time for a wedding. Since, according to the Orthodox calendar, a meat-eater is provided for every season, it is possible to choose a suitable date for the holiday in 2019.

Winter carnivore

Between the long Christmas fast and strict Great Lent, there is a time allowed for the consumption of meat products. In 2019, it begins on January 7 and lasts until Forgiveness Sunday, which falls on March 10. On all days, it is allowed to cook dishes from various types of meat. The exception is the traditional fast days of the week, the third and fifth.

Spring carnivore

At the end of Lent and until the beginning of Petrov, the spring meat-eater lasts. According to the fasting schedule in 2019, deli meats can be served from April 28 to June 23. If the one-day fast coincides with a church holiday, it is allowed to add fish dishes to the menu.

Summer carnivore

In the summer, the ban on restricting meat products is lifted before the Dormition Fast. In 2019, it will start on July 12th and end on August 13th. The meat-eater begins with the holiday of the Apostles Peter and Paul, which was traditionally accompanied by wide feasts and merry festivities.

Autumn carnivore

The last carnivore of the year, great for a wedding, starts on August 28 in 2019 and runs until November 27. During this period, weddings were played in Russia, since the holiday of the Intercession, which falls on the autumn meat-eater, is considered the patron saint of marriages.

Having studied the calendar of Orthodox fasts for 2019, and having decided to strictly follow the precepts of the church, you must remember that restrictions apply not only to the body, but also to the soul. During fasting, it is necessary to reduce the flow of information received daily, control its quality, and abandon noisy companies, entertainment events and lengthy conversations. You need to spend time in seclusion, opening your heart to prayer. Nothing should distract you from the main goal of any fast, which is to curb earthly passions, realize your spiritual nature and repentance.