On the eve of the great holiday of Christmas, in the media there is a lot of information about how the Orthodox Russians spend the Holy Supper January 6 and how to prepare for it.One gets the impression that these rules are recorded somewhere, and all the believers perform them, or at least aspire to accomplish.
What is the meaning of Christmas holiday?
comes to the world of God - the Creator of heaven and earth, visible and invisible world - an event of universal scale.In the Bible there is a story: Ilya, which we are now revered as a great prophet, was persecuted by the Israelis.In a moment of desperation, he turned to God for help.And he was given the answer: "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but not in the wind;and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord is not in the earthquake;After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord is not in the fire;and after the fire a still small voice, and there is the Lord. "
No one has ever seen, it looks like Creator of all things, for he is never himself to people in material form.The only time he came into the world of man - the weak and defenseless babies who had to hide, because he could be killed.In the Holy Supper the Lord came to the people, to show that he loved them, that there is in him a drop of evil, that he understands their hardships, dangers and temptations.Whatever we may be, he will save everyone and help those who need his help and asks about her.All infants helplessness alike.The Lord came into the world a baby, gave each of us to understand the birth of Christ and affirmed that does not separate himself from us, he created us all in His image and likeness.
Christmas - the most joyful holiday
humanized God in Jesus Christ we celebrate January 6 after sunrise in the sky the first star.For the Orthodox - a joyous and holy night.Congratulations and gifts for him are prepared in advance.This is often the symbols of Christmas.The history of the birth of the divine Infant, described in the Gospel, popular rumor and talented writers painted touching details, which sometimes is given a mystical and superstitious sense.
The Holy evening nightfall people start to go out and look at the sky.It is considered bad luck to look out the window that day.Christians are looking for the first star, and found, taken to rejoice, congratulate each other on the holiday, and then hurry to go home to the family table, to begin the festive meal.
What were the traditions
What is the Holy Supper?Traditions of the meeting changed and are still changing.There are reasons.Before the separation of churches in the Catholic and Orthodox, Christmas celebrated in spring, in May.In the IV century, Pope Julius I moved the celebration to the winter time.Prior to transfer, the Julian calendar to the Gregorian in Russia celebrated Christmas before the New Year.This holiday was more important, but the Soviet authorities to cancel it.
Preparations for the celebration of Orthodox
begin to prepare for Christmas in advance.Not only that, they diligently attended church services, fasting and doing charity work, they also had planned what to cook for the Holy Supper.Believers specially fattened the livestock - the geese, chickens, calves and pigs, churned butter, to amuse the family lavish feast in this family celebration.
observe the fast or not?
Change calendar communist rule, the decline of Orthodox culture - all this destroyed the patriarchal traditions of our ancestors.Church changed the order of worship, and in the last two years allowed in the most severe period of Advent, which lasts a total of one week, eating fish, vegetable oil and alcohol.The priests explain the fact that people today are much weaker than their ancestors, and the New Year's table, as the table in the Holy Supper, can not do without these products.
From this point of view it is very difficult to accept.After all, our contemporaries have restored the ruined temples, built new churches and resumed service.And this despite the ordeal that befell our people in the last decade.Whatever it was, but like all Christians, and every year look forward to when it's the Holy Supper.The tradition endured and are changing constantly, but if we understand the sacred meaning of Christmas, that no change can not sadden the holiday.And the changes associated with Christmas, the history of Christianity knows a lot.
Can I have until the first star?
In the old days, before the change came with the revolution of 1917, in the Orthodox churches and monasteries throughout the day with small breaks continued service.They are now significantly reduced.The monks and priests, there is no tradition to eat food only after the rising star.This is understandable.If the central part of Russia in the Holy Supper the first star appears in the range of 17 to 18 hours, in the polar regions in this season continues polar night.The priests on this day, as in others, not partake of food until Communion.Well, since January 6 strict fasting is prescribed, then after Communion, they reinforce their strength sochivo only (little food).Festive feast arranged for the next day - January 7.
laity rarely entire pre-holiday is carried out in the temples to worship as they await the appearance of the first star.Up to this point, Christians can not afford to eat even a poppy-seed.
sochivo
sochivo - a raw corn or beans, soaked in water.In pre-Petrine era in Russia has been the most common cereal Amaranth.Peter I banned its cultivation, as introduced new crops.Today, amaranth can be found in stores.This useful grits may again become the basis for sochivo.In wealthy parishes and monasteries to sochivo add honey and milk lean - in ceramic ware porcelain pestle pound poppy seeds, or hemp nuts and add a small amount of water.This is lean milk.We lay on the Christmas table is always dish with sochivo.His first partake of all the festive dishes.
strict fast before Christmas
general, any strict fasting involves xerophagy, not more than once a day.A Holy night before Christmas - the time of strict fasting.To change the strict canons of the Orthodox Christmas fast begins in the last week, and an exciting new year.Neither fish nor firs (oil) in this period, there can not be.
Are for the Christmas feast 12 meatless dishes?
surprising to read 12 recipes of dishes in the Holy Supper, which are designed in accordance with the Lenten rules, ie without oil and heat treatment.If you take part in this day in the prescribed worship, when engaged in preparing two feasts - lean and skoromnogo?By the way, the food without oil and heat treatment, which the faithful ate during prolonged fasting, the feast can not produce happy feelings.Those who observe the fast, this can not disagree.But why waste time and energy on a large lean meal if Christmas is specially fattened and slaughtered cattle?Also interested in the question of when and who should prepare festive meals Skoromniy?If you contrive and make two large table, then there will be time for spiritual preparation for the holiday?
How to celebrate Christmas in the times of Soviet persecution
People worshiping Christ in the days when Christmas was banned, proceed as follows.After visiting the temple, if the area itself was a people prepared Skoromniy but hearty meals 12.In the Holy Supper at the table gathered all family members.After rising star, congratulating each other on the holiday and gave gifts, they proceeded to the feast.On the table is required to present sochivo, as a tribute to the ritual, and in addition, jellied pork or beef, meat salad, mushrooms in cream sauce, roasted poultry, boiled potatoes with butter, cold cuts, cheese, cake, candy, bread and wine - theThere are 12 dishes.
What to cook in the Holy Supper in each family decides on its own.The main thing that it was tasty and welcome.Next Day - January 7 was a worker, and ask for a day off or a holiday, would bring a lot of trouble for themselves and their families.Some very close relatives who have gathered together in the Holy Supper, congratulations and gifts made seven more cohesive and united.After all, this holiday could not be congratulated on the phone and send mailings.
what Scripture says about fun and self-control in a holiday
Do I need to cook meatless meals on holy evening of January 6?Those who conscientiously refrained all 40 days will not be pleased to be at the table, which is a ritual hay and placed a plate of twelve meatless dishes.It may be that the Lord Himself would have taken it for mindless bigotry.Why fasting after the fasting ended?
If you remember the Gospel parable of the miracle at Cana, it becomes clear that Jesus Christ was not a stranger to worldly pleasures and love when big holidays celebrated widely and cheerfully.Maybe meatless meals are prepared in the Holy Supper, those who could not resist the worldly temptations of the previous forty days?It is no secret that a lot of people votserkovlennyh its rejection of fasting due to the weakness of health.This is the answer in the Old Testament book of Daniel about four young men who, eating only raw vegetables and water, have become tighter health and sharper mind than those who ate skoromnaia food.
What Jesus fasted for 40 days?
Is there anyway to make any sense in the posts?Let us turn to history.After Jesus was baptized, he went into the desert, where in seclusion preparing for the mission for which came into the world.Within 40 days he was tempted by the devil, but do not succumb to provocations and its promises.All the while, the Lord prayed and ate only wild honey and locusts.We are also pursuing all sorts of temptation, but God's Providence given us great strength to resist them.Single people - nothing.In conjunction with God through baptism and communion, prayer and fasting, he becomes like the Creator Himself.This must be understood.If you understand the meaning of humanization of God if comprehend his earthly life, as described in the Gospels, the baptism, communion, prayer and fasting gain simple and intuitive sense.We are baptized in order to tell the Creator that consciously, his will, choose it in his travel guides.Thou shalt commune with the aim to connect with God in flesh and blood.Rejoice Christmas, because had the opportunity to join the Creator and escape from the darkness of worldly troubles and suffering.
recompense to God for His help
post before Christmas - this is our achievement, thanks to God.If he is for the salvation of us has sacrificed his only begotten Son, Himself, then are we not able to bring him to sacrifice his worldly passions?Yes, it is difficult, much more difficult than to give the money to charity.Praise for the generosity of others, and if you keep the post, then no one will notice.Pride this is not to amuse.That this is the meaning of abstinence.Fasting - a personal contact with God.He alone can appreciate your efforts.He alone knows how hard you little and eating poorly, limiting themselves all pleasures, do not walk listlessly, and work hard and have a good mood.
Everything changes.It becomes sad, if you imagine that in the Orthodox Russia, in Catholic countries, abolished Advent and Holy evening gala dinner will not be added to another joy - the eating of beef aspic, roast suckling pig with horseradish, goose, baked with apples and cranberries andSponge cake with chocolate cream and whipped cream.Who keeps and maintains the patriarchal establishment, he knows that after a long abstinence and restraint flesh merry Christmas mess gives no incomparable pleasure.
