Sticking posts - a tradition so old that a clear answer, when and why it appeared, did not exist.Someone said about the peculiarities of seasonal biorhythms, someone claims that led to restrictions banal lack of food.Over time, the nature of the rite took the post, and then it appeared and religious meaning.One way or another, but in the modern civilized world, where food in excess, the posts - a good thing.Moreover, in preparing for the sacrament of the Christian tradition there is a spiritual side of man must not only abandon fasting foods, but also to renounce the passions and vices.
Each year after the end of Shrovetide fun begins Lent for the laity.What can I eat and what is not during this period, of interest to many believers.We will talk about this in our article.
What is fasting for the laity?
food restrictions during the Christian Lent the Church is governed by the charter, which strictly adheres to the clergy.All the other people living in the world, in general, should follow the same rules.But the orthodox position for the laity is less severe.Priests and monks prescribed longer limit yourself to food and pleasure, often to pray and indulge in spiritual contemplation.
strict fasting provides xerophagy, eating once a day during the week (in the evening), and twice - on Saturday and Sunday.Prohibited sweet and fatty (even vegetable oil), and cooked food should be cold.Power for the laity in the post is not so severely limited: on certain days can be eaten hot, eat fish.Permission is granted to drink a little wine on holidays and Sundays.You can eat several times a day, but to start is still desirable in the afternoon.
four multi-day fasting
Each year, Lent begins and ends at different times, as the holiday is preceded by the Resurrection of Christ, and he has no fixed date.This is a long, seven-week post.
duration and start time Petrovsky preparing for the sacrament depends on what day of the fall festival of the Resurrection: the earlier Easter, the longer the post.He begins a week after Trinity and ends on July 12 on the day of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
Next time have to give up skoromnogo from the 14th to 28th of August.It Uspensky post, it is timed to the holiday of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin.The common people called Spassky.
Forty Days of Christmas fast lasts for laymen - from 28 November to 6 January.
Post before the Resurrection of Christ
Lent in the church has appeared in apostolic times.It is dedicated to Jesus Christ, which is forty days praying and fasting in the desert before the sermon.
Lent for the laity, not only the longest but also the most severe.On the first day you can not eat at all.Likewise, should abstain on Good Friday (before Easter).On this day the Savior was crucified and believers remember their suffering and read special prayers.
Lay people can eat cold food cooked in the 1st and 4th week of Lent, there are hot in the other week except Easter: last Week before the holiday is prescribed strict observance of all restrictions.
What can not eat?
V can not eat meat, milk (even dry), eggs (and egg powder), animal fats.It is forbidden to eat meals that contain these products.The store will have a long time to linger at each shelf to read carefully the composition of what is supposed to buy.Today, many manufacturers offer special Lenten foods, and even fast food restaurants make individual menu without Skoromniy dishes.
Post laity prohibits eat chocolate - even one that does not have milk and other ingredients of animal origin.The reason for this taboo lies in the fact that during this period should be restricted to itself in pleasures.
What is possible?
food that can be consumed in a post depends including the week.In the first, fourth and seventh Week strict fasting is prescribed to use on weekdays raw food and bread - so called xerophagy.In the second, third, fifth, sixth week, is allowed to cook food.
V can eat anything that has a vegetable origin - a variety of cereals, fruits, vegetables, pickles, bread, lean.Be sure to include in the diet of beans and greens.Lenten meal mushrooms are also considered.Useful preservation: jams, apples, apricots and pears in syrup.
rather strict limitations, which sets Lent for the laity on weekdays.For example, Monday, Wednesday and Friday - the strictest days.They can not be eaten hot, even in the 2 nd, 3 rd, 5 th and 6 th week.Vegetable oil is allowed on Saturday and Sunday, the big church holidays - Annunciation (April 7) and on Palm Sunday (a week before Easter) - you can eat fish.On Lazarus Saturday (before Palm Sunday) is allowed to fish roe.
Alcohol, which tells the post for the laity generally refrain is allowed only in the form of wine on Sundays.The amount of its should be very moderate.
controversial products
clergy still have not reached a consensus about the seafood.Some believe that their use is possible, because the shrimp and shellfish in the tradition of the Church are not considered living creatures.Others are inclined to believe that you can eat seafood at the same time, when, and vegetable oil, - at weekends and on public holidays.The Old Testament calls all this food, "unclean," it is prohibited to eat - Orthodox Jews do not eat seafood.The Christian religion is largely departs from the Old Testament principles and statutes of a number of Orthodox monasteries have cherepokozhnyh allow even during Lent.Eat it or not - this is largely a personal choice fasting.
Body and Spirit
should remember that Lent for the laity - it's not just a diet, but a reason to purify the soul and thoughts from worldly and sinful thoughts and feelings.Cleansing the only body without soul contradicts the meaning of fasting, which is designed to bring man to God.At this time, it should give up not only delicious food, but also on other pleasures: not to attend entertainment events, not to make noisy parties.
During Lent in the church is crowned - religious people have to suffer with the wedding.Strict govene prescribes to abstain from conjugal duties, as well as addictions and other destructive passions.The post can not be a cakewalk, a feat in the name of the Lord.Believers must confess spiritual mentor, attend church services and the communion.
Post - is primarily a time for doing good, strict observance of the commandments of Christ, abstinence from worldly cares.Be sure to help your neighbor, give alms to the needy.
Fasting and health
Doctors believe a post useful: unloading of the body from foods of animal origin has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and metabolism.It is important during this period to maintain a balance of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.Plant foods give such an opportunity: a large number of proteins include beans and mushrooms, a lot of carbohydrates in each of vegetables and fruits, and fats provide essential oils, particularly unrefined, fish and seafood.Fasting diet should be balanced, especially for people whose health is faulty.
Post laity permits exemptions for the elderly, children, pregnant and lactating women.If there are any diseases, consultation with a physician is necessary.Keep in mind that remove restrictions on their own church is not recommended: in each case it is necessary to receive the blessing of their spiritual mentor.
How to leave the post without harm to health?
important to know that the post for the laity makes certain changes in the body.It produces more enzymes designed to digest plant food, and the body of the animal to wean.Therefore, from the need to go right post.On the day of Easter is not pounce on the food skoromnaia: one or two pieces of consecrated cakes and eggs more than enough to break the fast.Not every organism survive if after a long diet immediately get a lot of fatty meat, a dozen eggs and two kilograms of sweet muffins.The number of acute cholecystitis and pancreatitis in the Easter days is increasing dramatically due to the fact that some unwise to lay out of the post.
