Orthodox tradition has developed largely thanks to the monastic movement of the early centuries of Christianity.Therefore, in particular, the number of posts in the Orthodox calendar, according to conservative estimates close to one hundred and twenty days, ie one third of the year.In addition to this, many priests are not satisfied with the softness of the general church canonical rules governing the ascetic practice of the faithful, introduce additional days of fasting, especially before (or sometimes after!) Communion, thereby imposing on the people "burdens grievous", against whom he has playedJesus - the disgraced Jewish preacher and founder of the Christian church.Still alive, however, another, more luminous tradition, coming from the past, when the Christians were able to not only mourn and repent, how to love and enjoy life, each other and God's presence among them.A special expression of this state of mind the first followers of Jesus in the ascetic tradition is a solid Week.What is it, will help you understand more profound definition of the post.So post in Orthodoxy - this time designed for introspection, deep prayer and religious feats, like reading scriptures, almsgiving, and the like.Gastronomic background of this practice is the physical abstinence from certain foods.In the most strict fasting failure to be all animal products (meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk) and vegetable oil.
total of Orthodoxy, there are four multi-day fasting: Christmas, Peter, Assumption and Great Orthodox position.In addition to these, there are many one-day periods of abstinence.Most among the last occupied Wednesdays and Fridays, by default, are meatless days every week (Week - at the old Church Slavonic terminology) a year.There are, however, exceptions.Some weeks post Wednesday and Friday removed because of certain circumstances.They are something we know how solid the days of weeks.What does this mean in practical terms?Firstly, at that time allowed to use the so-called skoromnaia food: meat, milk and everything else that is usually considered nepostnym.Secondly, what is especially important, in these weeks can partake without fasting, at least, so relies on a fixed rate of writing liturgical regulations.
Continuum of weeks in the year, only five:
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the Christmas week and the Christmas holidays.
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Sedmitsa Publican and the Pharisee.
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Cheese Week, aka Mardi Gras.
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Easter, better known as the Bright Week.
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Trinity Week.
Each is preceded by a multi-day fasting, or, conversely, marks a period of rest and relaxation after thereof.
the Christmas Week
Christmastide, strictly speaking - it is not a week, it is eleven days between Christmas and Epiphany.They always come to the same number - from 7 to 18 January on the Gregorian calendar, or from December 25 to January 5 - on the old.Thus, the Christmas days immediately following the Advent until Epiphany Eve.
Week of the Publican and the Pharisee
before Lent is followed by several so-called preparatory Week.Among them is a solid week of the Publican and the Pharisee.Because the date of Easter and the period of fasting prior to her every year fall on different numbers, the week of preparation and are not tied to specific days.Specifically Week Publican and the Pharisee allocated time two Week before Lent.
famous Mardi Gras Carnival - a relic of the pagan festival of the meeting of spring.Today, it is actually merged with cheese week.So (or otherwise - Cheese-fare) is another solid preparations Week.What is the time?In general, it is the last seven days before the fasting period of sorokavosmidnevnym that precede Easter.
distinctive feature of Shrovetide from other continuous Weeks is that it is already forbidden to eat meat products, however, are allowed to eat fish and dairy.
Bright Week the first week after Easter is also a solid, due to the special significance of the holiday.In fact, the Resurrection of Christ is celebrated forty days, so it is not surprising how the special scale of solemnity and joy, this is different solid Week.What does it mean?The fact that the Easter week is strictly prohibited any post, penance and prayer, even kneeling.
Trinity
week after Pentecost should be the last in the church calendar continuous Week.What is this holiday?Otherwise, it is called Pentecost and celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter.Its roots go back to the Jewish eortologiyu and strictly Christian meaning is based on the story from the New Testament about how the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire descended upon the apostles, giving them the knowledge of other languages and other supernatural gifts.The event is considered the birthday of the Church, so in honor of the Holy Trinity follows him devoid of meatless days a week.But after the end of Petrovsky begins long post, so this Week is also a preparation for the period of abstinence, which ends every year on the same day - July 12, the feast day of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
