Nativity Fast
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The Nativity Fast, is a period abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches, in preparation for the Nativity of Christ, (December 25).[1] The fast is similar to the Western Advent, except that it runs for 40 days instead of four weeks. The fast is observed from November 15 to December 24, inclusively.
Sometimes the fast is called Philip's Fast (or the Philippian fast), as it traditionally begins on the day following the Feast of St. Philip the Apostle (November 14).[2]
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[edit] The purpose of fasting
Fasting with humility and repentance is believed to enable one to draw closer to God by denying the body worldly pleasure. Although the fast influences the body, the emphasis is placed on the spiritual facet of the fast rather than physical deprivation. The church teaches that it is not enough to fast from food; one must also fast from anger, greed and covetousness. In addition to fasting, almsgiving is also emphasized.[3]
[edit] Fasting rules
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the fast traditionally entails fasting from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine. Fish is allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, and oil and wine are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Nativity Fast is not as severe as Great Lent or the Dormition Fast: fish, wine and oil are allowed on the weekends and on feastdays that occur during the fast.[4]
There has been some ambiguity about the restriction of fish, whether it means the allowance of invertebrate fish or all fish. More detailed guidelines vary, but the rules strictly state that from the December 20 to December 24 (inclusively), no fish may be eaten.
The Eve of Nativity (December 24) is a strict fast day, called Paramony (lit. "preparation"), on which no solid food should be eaten until the first star is seen in the evening sky (or at the very least, until after the Vesperal Divine Liturgy that day). If Paramony falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day is not observed as a strict fast.
[edit] Liturgical aspects
In some places, the services on weekdays during the fast are similar to the services during Great Lent (with some variations). Many churches and monasteries in the Russian tradition will perform the Lenten services on at least the first day of the Nativity Fast.
As is true of all four of the Orthodox Fasts, a Great Feast falls during the course of the fast; in this case, the Entry of the Theotokos (November 21).
On December 24 the Royal Hours are celebrated in the morning. Then later, Vespers is served in conjunction with the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great.[5] During this service, there are eight readings from the Old Testament which either prefigure or prophesy the Incarnation of Christ.
On December 25, the Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ begins. From that day to January 4 (the day before Theophany Eve) is a fast-free Period. The Eve of the Theophany (January 5) is another Strict Fast Day (Paramony).
[edit] Coptic fast
In the Coptic Orthodox Church, an additional fast is observed on the three days before the beginning of the Nativity Fast, to commemorate the miraculous moving of the mountain of Mukattam (which lies within a suburb of Cairo) at the hands of Saint Simon the Tanner in the year 975, during the rule of the Muslim Fatimid Caliph Al-Muizz Li-Deenillah.
[edit] Notes
- ^ December 25 on the Julian Calendar falls on January 7 of the secular Gregorian Calendar.
- ^ Some churches have abbreviated the fast to start on December 10, following the Feast of the Conception by Saint Anne of the Most Holy Theotokos.
- ^ See "The True Nature of Fasting" in The Lenten Triodion, Tr. Mother Mary and Archimandrite Kallistos Ware (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 2002, ISBN 1-878997-51-3).
- ^ As is always the case with Orthodox fasting rules, persons who are ill, the very young or elderly, and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting. Each individual is expected to confer with their confessor regarding any exemptions from the fasting rules, but should never place themselves in physical danger.
- ^ If December 25 falls on a Sunday or a Monday, then the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom will be celebrated on the Eve.
[edit] See Also
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