Forefest of Christmas

January 2the beginning of the pre-celebration of the Nativity of Christ, which lasts until January 6.
In theselast days of fasting - with2 to 6In January, the fast is intensified: fish is prohibited on all days, food with oil is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday.

On Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve), January 6,custom requires not to eat until the appearance of the first evening star, after which it is customary to eat kolivo or sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins; in some areas sochivo is called boiled dry fruits with sugar. The name of this day comes from the word “sochivo” - Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve
Christmas Carols

January 6 – Forever Nativity of Christ , or Christmas Eve, - last dayNativity Fast , eve Nativity of Christ.

On this day, Orthodox Christians especially prepare for the upcoming holiday; the whole day is filled with a special festive mood.

In the morning on Christmas Eve, at the end of the Liturgy and the following Vespers, a candle is brought into the center of the church and the priests sing a troparion before itChristmas.

On the very same day Christmas Eve fasting is no longer as strict as in the previous days of the strictest week Nativity Fast.

The service of Vespers is connected with the Liturgy and is served in the morning, which is whyWe fast until the moment when a candle is brought into the center of the church and before the candle the troparion to the Nativity of Christ is sung.

Many on this daytake communion. It would be good if those who cannot attend church services and who work honor this day with a stricter fast. We remember that, according to the Russian proverb, “A full belly is deaf to prayer.” Therefore, a more strict fast prepares us for the coming joy of the holiday.

Those who receive communion at the night Liturgy, according to church tradition, eat food at last time no less than six hours before the time of Communion, or from approximately 6 p.m. And here the point is not in a specific number of hours, that you need to fast for 6 or 8 hours and not a minute less, but in the fact that a certain limit is established, a measure of abstinence,helping us to keep it in moderation.

Sick people, of course, must fast to the extent that this is consistent with taking medications and with doctor’s orders. It's about It’s not about putting a weak person in a hospital, but about strengthening a person spiritually. The disease is already hard post and feat . And here a person should try to determine the measure of fasting according to his own strength.

As a rule, believers try to meet Nativity at the night holiday liturgy. But in many churches there is also an all-night vigil and Liturgy at the usual time - 5 pm and in the morning.

Visit night service or morning - you need to watch it according to your strength. Celebrating a holiday at night is, of course, a special joy: both spiritual and emotional. T ceremonial night services contribute to a deeper prayerful experience and perception of the Holiday.

The Apostle Paul commanded us« Always rejoice. Continuously pray. In everything give thanks to the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).If we celebrate the holiday with joy, prayer and gratitude to God, then we are fulfilling the apostolic covenant.

IN Orthodox Church in the evening there are hours calledRoyal, because for a long time kings were present at this service, worshiping the newbornTo the King of Kings.

Royal watchbegin and take place with the open royal doors, in the middle of the temple, in front of the Gospel, placed on a lectern, as if as a sign that nowSaviorno longer lurks, as it once did in the darkness of the den, but shines for all nations. Before the Gospel, incense is burned in remembrance of the incense and myrrh brought by the Magi to the newborn Christ.

The day itself Nativity of Christ in the flesh, as the most important and solemn, in the liturgical books of the Orthodox Churchcalled Easter, a three-day holiday.

On this day, according to the voice of the Church,“All kinds of joy are filled. The angels rejoice in heaven, and men rejoice: all creation plays for the sake of the Savior of the Lord born in Bethlehem: as all flattery of idols ends and Christ reigns forever.”

Christmas Eve - evening meal on the eve of Christmas, accompanied by many traditions and rituals.

Kutya was cooked from wheat, peas, rice, and peeled barley. Seasoned with honey, poppy seed, hemp, sunflower or other vegetable oil. Grain was a symbol of resurrection life, and honey or sweet seasoning meant the sweetness of the blessings of a future blessed life.

The order of meals was regulated strict rules: appetizers (herring, fish, salads) were served first, then red (slightly warmed) borscht, mushroom or fish soup. To the borscht, mushroom soup ears or pies with mushrooms were served, and among the Orthodox sochni - flour cakes fried in hemp oil.

At the end of the meal, sweet dishes were served on the table: roll with poppy seeds, gingerbread, honey cakes, cranberry jelly, dried fruit compote (uzvar), apples, nuts.

The meal was non-alcoholic. All dishes were lean, fried and seasoned with vegetable oil, without meat base, without milk and sour cream. Didn't servedishes so that the hostess is always at the table.

Traditional ritual and ceremonial dishes
KUTIA

KUTIA. Recipes Kutya. Preparation Kutya. TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN...

preparing a big family dinner. The whole family sets the table.

There should be straw on the table (or hay, in memory of the den and manger),

and on the straw there is a snow-white tablecloth.

It is clear that in modern apartments You can’t bring hay, and it’s not so easy to get it in cities.

But recently, beautiful Christmas tablecloths with patterns of spruce paws and bells have appeared in stores.

They will also greatly decorate your table.

Kutya is placed in the center.

Then other dishes: pancakes, fish, aspic, jelly, suckling pig, pork head with horseradish, homemade sausage, roast, honey gingerbread, lomantsi with poppy seeds and honey, uzvar.

This set also included drinks, which depended purely on the taste and capabilities of the owner.

Culinary recipes for Christmas, dishes, menu. Kulinar.ru - more than 95...

At the table, kutya should be eaten first, i.e. to start their dinner, each of those present at the table must eat at least one spoon of kutya. According to legends, then this person will live in health and prosperity throughout the coming year.

Christmas Holidays

The holidays began with Christmas- holidays that lasted until Epiphany (January 19).All this time, Christmas rituals, fortune telling, entertainment, and mummers walking through the courtyards and streets took place. On Christmas Day, early in the morning, before dawn, the ritual of seeding the huts was carried out. The shepherd walked with a bag of oats and, entering the house, threw a handful of grain in all directions with the sentence: “For the living, for the fertile, and for health.”

Girls didn't tell fortunes at Christmas. There was a sign: if a stranger’s woman enters the house first, the women in that family will be ill all day. To avoid any troubles, the peasants observed quite strict prohibitions. On Christmas Day it was forbidden to do household chores. It was impossible to sew, otherwise someone in the family would go blind. You can’t weave bast shoes, otherwise you’ll end up crooked. But you cannot hunt in the forest until Epiphany, because then a misfortune will happen to the hunter.

At noon the whole family went to watch the sun play. If the sun is playing - dark forces They hide from him in the cracks. And if the evil spirits do get into the house, then on this day there is a short order with them - scald the corners with boiling water and sweep them with a nettle broom.

The father took his son to the barn to the barn with grain. Before that, the heir was solemnly dressed by the whole family. A sheepskin sheepskin coat was girded with an embroidered belt, a fur hat was put on the head, and felt boots were put on the feet. The father raised his son above the sap with grain, wanting him to grow up faster and become an assistant on the farm.

Second day of Christmas, which is called the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary,dedicated to the glorification of the Mother of Christ, Holy Virgin Maria. Glorifying the Mother of God, the Church remembers the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. It was caused by the fact that King Herod, having learned about the Birth of Christ and the worship of the Magi, became angry and ordered all the babies in Bethlehem to be beaten, hoping to destroy the Savior as well. But an angel appeared to Joseph and ordered him to hide in Egypt. After the death of Herod, Joseph and his Family returned and settled in Nazareth.

From that day on, girls' fortune-telling and mummers' rituals continued until Epiphany. Costumers in fur coats turned inside out, wearing masks or with faces stained with soot walked from house to house, singing songs and acting out various performances and scenes for an appropriate reward. Sometimes they took a horse or a bull with them.

And the girls were guessing. They guessed differently every day, and whoever knew what methods guessed that way.

Third day of Christmas called Stepan's day.According to custom, on Stepanov’s day they cut stakes, placed them in the corners of the yard, sticking them into the snow so that evil spirits scare away. Stepan is seasoned in danger, therefore he is not afraid of any evil spirits and on this day he uses stakes to fence himself off from them. Stepan is associated with the image of a peasant farmer, and therefore a boy born on this day will be a kind, caring, zealous and strict owner. Even on this day, the whole village chose a shepherd, concluded an agreement with him, and arranged a treat.

Christmas is preceded by fasting, which lasts forty days and is therefore called in the Church Charter the “little Pentecost”, just like Lent. The Feast of the Nativity of Christ has five days of pre-celebration (only this Lord's feast has such a large pre-celebration) and 6 days of post-celebration.

Compline is served during the five days before the feast. At Compline, a special three song and canons similar to the three song and canons are sung Holy Week. “These hymns reflect the basic theological idea that the incarnation of the Son of God was for Him the Cross, the first Cross, perhaps no less easy than the last Cross, i.e. crucifixion." On some days of the Nativity Fast, which are marked with the word “Alleluia,” a divine service similar to the divine service of Great Lent is performed and the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian “Lord and Master...” with bows to the ground. With the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple, the singing of the Christmas catavasia begins (this is a cycle of irmos, which are sung at the end of each song of the canon at the festive service): “Christ is born, glorify...”. The Nativity of Christ is preceded by the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers; on these days those Old Testament righteous people are remembered who were saved by faith in Christ who had to be born. Following this is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers. On the Sunday of the Holy Fathers or the Week before the Nativity of Christ, in which people who belonged to the family from which the Savior came are remembered, a supplement to the Sunday service from Octoechos is performed, special service from the Menaion, and the special Apostle and Gospel are read. Christmas Eve is called the Eve of the Nativity of Christ or Christmas Eve from the word “sochivo” - wheat with honey. This is a day of strict fasting. The service of the Nativity of Christ consists of a number of services performed on the eve, on the night of Christmas and in the evening on the very day of the Nativity of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ. These services include: the Royal Hours, the Liturgies of Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, Vespers, Compline, Litia, Matins. The order of services is determined by the day of the week on which Christmas Day falls.

If Christmas Eve of the Nativity of Christ falls on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, then on this day the following are celebrated: Royal Hours with Fine Hours. After them, it is immediately performed Great Vespers with the reading of proverbs, the Apostle and the Gospel, after which the Liturgy of Basil the Great is celebrated. After entering with the Gospel and “Quiet Light” is read 8 proverbs:

1. Gen. 1:12-14 - the content of this proverb indicates that the incarnation of the Son of God was a new creation 2. Numbers 24: 2-18 - prophecy of Balaam about the star from Jacob 3. Micah 4: 6-8, 5:2-8 – prophecy of Micah about the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem 4. Isaiah 11:1-10 – prophecy of Isaiah about the rod from the root of Jesse, on which the Spirit of God rested 5. Jer.3:36-38, 4:1- 4 – Baruch’s prophecy about the appearance of God on earth among people 6. Dan.2:31-45 – Daniel’s prophecy about the uncut stone 7. Isaiah 9:6-7 – Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of the royal Youth 8. Isaiah 7:11- 15; 8:1-4, 8-10 – Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of Immanuel from the Virgin.

After the first three paremias, a special troparion is proclaimed, the end of which is “Have mercy on us with them” (sung by the reader), after the 6th paremia another troparion, the end of which is “Giver of Life, glory to Thee”, after the 8th paremia a small litany is pronounced, then the Trisagion follows and the usual order Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. (Apostle Heb. 1:1-12; Gospel of Luke 2:1-20) After the liturgy, a festive glorification takes place: a candle is brought to the middle of the temple and the troparion and kontakion for the holiday are sung before it. The lit candle signifies the star that appeared in Bethlehem, i.e. in a sense, Christmas is already coming (since Vespers is associated with two days, and at Vespers the stichera of the holiday are already sung, then in a sense, Christmas Day stretches out, becoming a longer church day than all the others). On the occasion of the holiday itself, an all-night vigil is served. But it is not ordinary, because... it does not consist of Great Vespers and Matins, but of Great Compline (since Vespers has already taken place) and Matins with the first hour. Compline ends with the reading of the Great Doxology, then the lithium. At Great Compline, instead of the troparions “Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,” the kontakion of the holiday is sung. According to polyeleos - magnification. According to the 50th psalm, instead of “Through the prayers of the saints our fathers...” it is sung “Every day joys are filled, Christ was born of the Virgin”, the stichera “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, this day Bethlehem will receive Him who sits ever with the Father...”. Instead of “The Most Honest Cherub...” - the refrain “Glorify, my soul, the Most Honest and Most Glorious of the hosts of the mountains, the Most Pure Virgin Mary.” At the end of Matins, the dismissal of the holiday “He who was born in a den and lay down in a manger...”. On the very day of the Nativity of Christ, which falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is celebrated. (Apostle Gal. 4:4-7; Gospel Matthew 2:1-12). Special holiday antiphons are sung, “entrance”; instead of the Trisagion, “Be baptized in Christ…” is sung, instead of “It is worthy...” - Zadostoynik “Glorify, my soul, the Most Honest and Most Glorious of the hosts on high, the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God...”. If Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday, then the Royal Hours are not celebrated on this day, they are moved to Friday. However, the liturgy is not celebrated on Friday. The Liturgy is celebrated on Saturday or Sunday, on the day of Vespers, during which the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is served, after which the 9th hour and Great Vespers are celebrated with the reading of parimia. At Vespers the Trisagion is not sung, because There is no liturgy behind it, the Apostle (Gal.3:15-22), the Gospel (Luke 2:1-20) is read, special litany, petitionary litany, the usual dismissal, after which the troparion and kontakion are sung. The All-Night Vigil takes place on the evening of Christmas Eve and consists of Great Compline (the usual Vespers was already performed after the Liturgy), Matins with 1 hour. After the All-Night Vigil, on the night of January 6-7, the Liturgy of Basil the Great is celebrated. The day after the holiday, January 8, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated. Vespers is great with an entrance and a great prokeme: Who is a great God, like our God, You are God, work miracles, but Matins is only doxological. On the next Saturday, called Saturday after the Nativity of Christ, there is a special Apostle and Gospel. The next week (Sunday) is called the Week of the Holy Fathers. On it the memory of the saints is celebrated and righteous Joseph Betrothed, King David, Jacob, brother of the Lord. Twelve days after the Nativity of Christ are called Christmastide, i.e. holy days because these days are consecrated to the events of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany. Since ancient times, the Church has sanctified these days, according to the Charter, on the days of Christmastide: “there is no fasting, there is lower kneeling, lower in the church, lower in cells,” and it is forbidden to perform the sacrament of Marriage. Contents of proverbs, the Gospel and the Apostle, some holiday hymns.

When the All-Night Vigil begins with Great Compline, the solemn song of the prophet Isaiah is sung: “God is with us, understand, O Gentiles, and repent, for God is with us!” Frequent repetition in this song: God is with us! - testifies to the spiritual joy of believers who recognize the Lord God among themselves.

Book of the prophet Micah (4:6-8, 5:2-8): “And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are you small among the thousands of Judah? from you will come to me one who is to be a ruler in Israel and whose origin is from the beginning, from the days of eternity. Therefore He will leave them until the time when she who is about to give birth gives birth; then their remaining brothers will return to the children of Israel. And He will stand and feed in the power of the Lord, in the greatness of the name of the Lord His God, and they will live in safety, for then He will be great to the ends of the earth.” This proverb, read in the first hour, is dedicated to Micah’s prophecy about the birth of Christ in the city of Bethlehem. Bethlehem, one of the oldest cities, is the birthplace of David. It is located 10 versts south of Jerusalem. It was originally called the house of Ephrathah, since one of the ancestors of the inhabitants of this city was Ephrathah, the great-grandson of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:1-4). The prophet predicted the birth of the Savior 700 years in advance, so that people would live in hope. This prophecy is read both at the first hour and at Vespers, where a few more lines are added about mercy to the “daughter of Zion,” that is, to the entire Israeli people.

Book of the prophet Isaiah (7:11-15; 8:1-4,8-10):

“...So the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel......before the child can say: my father, my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria will be brought before the king of Assyria . And it will go through Judea, flood it and rise high - it will reach the neck; and the spread of her wings will be throughout the entire breadth of Your land, Emmanuel! Enmity, peoples, but tremble and listen, all distant lands! Arm yourself, but tremble; arm yourself, but tremble! Make plans, but they fail; speak the word, but it will not come to pass: for God is with us!” This proverb, read at the sixth hour, includes Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of Immanuel from the Virgin, which translated means “God is with us!”: God will be with His people, God will be a descendant of David, God will be the Son of the Virgin, His appearance into the world will be marked miraculously. Given name The Savior is Jesus. Emmanuel is a common noun and has many other meanings (for example, “Angel of the Great Council” or “Father of the Future Age”, etc.). "God is with us!". These words and those that follow them sound like a hymn, which is especially close to those who hope for God’s help. This must be remembered both by those who rebel against the faithful of God, and by those who seek this fidelity, which is not in words, but in the power of faith.

Contents of the Gospel (Morning - Matt. 1:18-25). “The birth of Jesus Christ was like this: after the betrothal of His Mother Mary to Joseph, before they were united, it turned out that She was pregnant with the Holy Spirit. Joseph, Her husband, being righteous and not wanting to make Her public, wanted to secretly let Her go. But when he thought this, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: Joseph, son of David! Do not be afraid to accept Mary your wife, for what is born in her is from the Holy Spirit; She will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. And all this happened, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying: Behold, a virgin is with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel, which means: God is with us. Rising from sleep, Joseph did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him, and received his wife, and did not know her. [How] at last She gave birth to Her firstborn Son, and he called His name Jesus.” Contents of the Apostle (Lit. - Gal. 4:4-7)

“...but when the fulness of the time had come, God sent forth His [Only Begotten] Son, who was born of a woman, made subject to the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons. And since you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Jesus Christ.”

The words of the Apostle Paul addressed to the Christians of Galatia indicate the door to salvation for every person through adoption to God, through His Son in communion with the Holy Spirit.

Contents of the Gospel (Lit. - Matt. 2:1-12).“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” for we saw His star in the east and came to worship Him. Hearing this, King Herod became alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. And, having gathered all the high priests and scribes of the people, he asked them: where should Christ be born? And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judah, for thus it is written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means the least of the provinces of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod, secretly calling the wise men, found out from them the time of the appearance of the star and, sending them to Bethlehem, said: go, carefully investigate about the Child and, when you find it, notify me, so that I too can go and worship Him. After listening to the king, they left. [And] behold, the star that they saw in the east was walking before them, when it finally came and stood over the place where the Child was. Seeing the star, they rejoiced with very great joy, and, entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary, His Mother, and, falling down, they worshiped Him; and having opened their treasures, they brought Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another route.”

In those days, the eastern sages, whom the Gospel calls the Magi, saw a new star shining in the sky. According to their teachings and traditions, this meant the coming into the world of a great man. The Magi knew that the Jewish people were awaiting the appearance of the Messiah, their true King and Savior, and therefore they headed to Jerusalem to ask where they should look for Him. The words of the Evangelist Matthew are read on the feast of the Nativity of Christ as a certificate of the birth of the true Messiah - the Savior. The Magi brought gifts to the Christ Child: gold, incense and myrrh. These gifts had deep meaning: gold was brought as a tribute to the King, incense as to God, and myrrh as to a person who was about to die (myrrh in those distant times was anointed with the dead).

Great Compline for the Nativity of Christ. Stichera on lithium.

“Heaven and earth have come together today, and Christ has been born. Today God has come to earth, and man has ascended to Heaven. Today, what is visible is in the flesh, what is invisible by nature, for man’s sake. For this reason, we too will cry out to Him in glorification: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, for Thy coming is granted, O our Savior, glory to Thee.” Translation: Heaven and earth were united on this day at the birth of Christ. On this day God came to earth, and man ascended to heaven. Today we see the Invisible One by nature in the flesh for the sake of man. Therefore, we too, glorifying, will exclaim to Him: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace: Your coming has given it to us; Our Savior, glory to You!”

The main theme of this text is the Appearance of the Savior on earth in the flesh. Dogmatic idea: Christ became man while remaining God. He came into the world to save people and for this he became a man (the meaning of Christ’s coming to earth is revealed). The words “heaven and earth united” serve as an artistic image, showing the union of two seemingly distant concepts, the union of God and man, and these same words show the union of the Divine and the human in one Person. If the Lord had not come to earth, not a single person could have ascended to heaven. “On this day God came to earth, and man ascended to heaven.” Only with the coming of Christ did it become possible to enter Heavenly Kingdom. The next sentence explains what God did to make this opportunity possible: He became a man.

Irmos of the canon of the Nativity of Christ.

Song 1. “Christ is born, glorify: Christ from heaven, descend: Christ is on earth, ascend. Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with joy, O people, for you have been glorified.” Translation: “Christ is born, glorify!” Christ from heaven, welcome! Christ is on earth - ascend! Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with joy, O people: for He is glorified.”

The main theme of the Irmos of the first song is the calling of everyone to share the great spiritual joy - the Celebration of the Nativity of Christ. Dogmatic idea: Those who have accepted Christ should ascend in mind from the earthly to the Heavenly, meet and accept Christ who descended from Heaven and give Him glory as the Savior of the human race. Recognize God’s love for you, be encouraged, fallen ones, and triumph, transporting your thoughts to heaven, which becomes accessible to you. Artistic image s - a variety of grateful actions in relation to Christ: glory and singing to Him, a joyful meeting with Him, joining His saving path.

Song 3. “First of all ages to the Son born incorruptible from the Father, and in the last from the Virgin incarnate without seed, let us cry out to Christ God: Our horn is lifted up, holy art thou, O Lord.” Translation: “Before the ages, from the Father incorruptible to the begotten Son, and in the last (times) to the seedless incarnation of the Virgin, let us exclaim to Christ God: Thou who has exalted our dignity, holy art Thou, O Lord!”

The main theme of the irmos of the third song of the canon is the foundation of our faith: “in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, born of the Father before all time; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one being with the Father, by whom all things became.” Dogmatic idea: Timelessness of Christ, seedless incarnation of the Son of God. The artistic image is the consonance of the words of the irmos with the words of the Creed.

05.01.2014

January 6 - Eve of the Nativity of Christ, or Christmas Eve,- the last day of the Nativity Fast, the eve of the Nativity of Christ.
On January 6, Orthodox Christians especially prepare for the upcoming holiday; the whole day is filled with a special festive mood.
On the morning of Christmas Eve, after the end of the Liturgy and the following vespers, a candle is brought into the center of the church and the priests sing the troparion to the Nativity of Christ before it.
The services and fasting of Christmas Eve have a number of features, so it is on these days that many questions come to our website about how to spend Christmas Eve correctly.
Most frequently asked questions:
— When does the night service on the feast of the Nativity of Christ begin?
Night services usually begin at 23:00 on January 6. After the All-Night Vigil, the Liturgy begins, where many believers receive communion.
— How can I find out the schedule of Christmas services in churches in the city of Togliatti?
You can find out the schedule of Christmas services by calling all churches in the city of Togliatti, posted on the websites of the deaneries of the portal “Orthodox Togliatti”: Central Deanery, Tikhonovsky deanery, Preobrazhenskoye Deanery, Neva Deanery.
As a rule, believers try to celebrate the Nativity of Christ at the night festive liturgy. But in many churches, the All-Night Vigil and Liturgy are also served at the usual time - 5 pm and in the morning.
In this regard, people often ask whether it is a sin young man, not infirm, without children, go to service not at night, but in the morning?
Solemn night services contribute to a deeper prayerful experience and perception of the Holiday.
Attending a night service or a morning service is something you should be able to watch. Celebrating a holiday at night is, of course, a special joy: both spiritual and emotional. There are very few such services a year; in most parish churches, night liturgies are served only on Christmas and Easter - especially solemn services are traditionally performed at night.
— How to fast on Christmas Eve correctly, until what time should you abstain from eating food?
Christmas Eve- the name is believed to come from the word “sochivo” (the same as “kolivo” - boiled grains of rice or wheat).
It is customary to eat “sochivo” or “kolivo” on the eve of the holiday only after the liturgy, which is combined with Vespers. Thus, part of Christmas Eve is spent in complete non-eating.
— What does “fast to the first star” mean?
The tradition of not eating food until the first evening star is associated with the remembrance of the appearance of a star in the East (Matthew 2:2), which announced the birth of Christ, but this tradition is not prescribed by the charter.
Indeed, the Typikon prescribes fasting until the end of Vespers. However, the service of Vespers is connected to the Liturgy and is served in the morning.
That’s why we fast until the moment when a candle is brought into the center of the church and before the candle the troparion to the Nativity of Christ is sung.
— Is the measure of abstinence the same for those who work and those who do not work on this day?
It is obvious that the people in the church are fasting; many take communion on this day. It would be good if those who cannot attend church services and who work honor this day with a stricter fast. We remember that, according to the Russian proverb, “A full belly is deaf to prayer.” Therefore, a more strict fast prepares us for the coming joy of the holiday.
— How long does the fast last before communion?
Those who receive communion at the night Liturgy on January 7 - according to church tradition, eat food for the last time no less than six hours before the time of Communion, or from about 6 pm.
And here the point is not in a specific number of hours, that you need to fast for 6 or 8 hours and not a minute less, but in the fact that a certain limit is established, a measure of abstinence that helps us keep the measure.
Many questions come from sick people who cannot fast, asking what they should do?
Sick people, of course, must fast to the extent that this is consistent with taking medications and with doctor’s orders. The point is not about putting a weak person in a hospital, but about strengthening a person spiritually. Illness is already a difficult fast and feat. And here a person should try to determine the measure of fasting according to his own strength. Any thing can be taken to the point of absurdity. For example, imagine that a priest who comes to give communion to a dying person will ask when the person last ate?!
— At the Christmas Liturgy, many receive communion. And people feel some embarrassment: you have just received communion, in the books of the holy fathers it is written that in order to retain grace you need to try to protect yourself from conversations, especially laughter, and try to spend the time after communion in prayer. And here is a festive feast, even with brothers and sisters in Christ... People are afraid of losing their prayerful mood.
The Apostle Paul commanded us to “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks to the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). If we celebrate the holiday with joy, prayer and gratitude to God, then we are fulfilling the apostolic covenant.
Of course, this issue needs to be considered individually. Of course, if a person feels that behind the noisy celebration he is losing his gracious mood, then perhaps he should sit down at the table for a while and leave earlier, maintaining spiritual joy.
– Is it necessary to attend the evening service on the day of the holiday itself - the evening of the Christmas holiday?
Everyone must decide this for themselves. After the night service you need to recuperate. Not everyone, due to age, health and spiritual level, is able to go to church and take part in the service. But we must remember that the Lord rewards for every effort that a person makes for His sake.
The evening service on this day is short, especially spiritual, solemn and joyful; the Great Prokeimenon is proclaimed at it, so, of course, it’s good if you manage to attend it.
— Questions related to Orthodox tradition meals at Christmas.
The foundations for celebrating Christmas Eve were established by the Orthodox Church already in the 4th century. According to tradition, on Christmas Eve it is customary to refuse food until the first star. This tradition is associated with the legend of the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of Christ, but it is not written down in the church charter.
For the Orthodox, the Christmas meal began with eating kutya. The order of meals was determined by strict rules: appetizers were served first, then red borscht, mushroom or fish soup. Borscht and mushroom soup were served with abalone or pies with mushrooms, and the Orthodox sochni served flour tortillas fried in hemp oil. At the end of the meal, sweet dishes were served on the table: gingerbread, poppy seed roll, honey cakes, apples, nuts, cranberry jelly, dried fruit compote.

Many Orthodox people are interested in when to celebrate Christmas. It is celebrated from December 4 to 25, and from January 6 to 7 - when to visit the temple and what traditions to observe?

Christmas service from January 6 to 7 - when to visit the temple

Many Orthodox people are interested in when to celebrate Christmas. In fact, Christmas is celebrated from December 4 to 25, and from January 6 to 7 - so when to visit the temple and how to do it, what traditions to observe?
We will talk about this in our article.

Why is Christmas celebrated on different days?

In the main Christian Churches is divided church calendar: The Orthodox Church celebrates holidays and days of remembrance of saints according to the old style ( Julian calendar), Catholic - Gregorian (this is associated with astronomical phenomena).

Regarding the Nativity of Christ Gregorian calendar more convenient: after all, the week of holidays begins on December 24-25 with Christmas and continues with the New Year, but the Orthodox should celebrate New Year modestly, calmly, to observe the fast. However, an Orthodox person can also have fun on New Year's Eve, trying not to eat meat or any particularly tasty things (if he is visiting). Likewise, children in Orthodox families should not be deprived of the New Year holiday and the joy of Santa Claus. It’s just that many Orthodox families try to emphasize the significance of Christmas with more expensive gifts, more active joint visits to events, etc.

Let us note that Christmas is celebrated on December 25 by a number of Orthodox Local Churches, but all Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on the same day (this holiday shifts depending on the phases of the moon). The fact is that only on Orthodox Easter does the descent of the Holy Fire take place in Jerusalem.

Christmas - the twelfth holiday

Each church holiday has a special edifying, educational meaning. Church holidays preserve the true purpose of holidays - it is a renewal of life, a reminder of special events, and not just drunken fun, unbridled fun.

Many church holidays became truly popular, signs were associated with them, they began to bring certain seasonal fruits for consecration, that is, God’s blessing in the church, and to pray for certain things related to the holiday.

In the annual church circle there are twelve holidays, called “twelve” (in Church Slavonic duodecimal). These are the days dedicated the most important events earthly life of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as the most important historical events Churches.

The traditions of their celebration have developed over centuries, and today they are celebrated all over the world, and, due to their prevalence, even cover the lives of non-religious people. This church sermon, the glory of the name of Christ, which goes beyond the church fence.

In every Orthodox country, these holidays reflect traditions, national mentality and historical culture. Thus, in Russia and Greece in different holidays earthly fruits are brought for blessing. Elements of Slavic ritualism have been preserved, for example, in the traditions of caroling on Christmas Day in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

Thanks to the tolerance and love of the Orthodox Church, many good ancient traditions have survived to this day.

These days are like spiritual bright milestones of the year. Remembering this or that event, praising the Lord and the Mother of God, we rejoice in God’s love for people and again look at ourselves from the outside, trying to be worthy of this love. Believers try to confess and receive communion on the twelve feasts.

The twelfth holidays are divided by content:

• Lord's (God's) - eight holidays,


• Theotokos - four,


• days of remembrance of sacred events.

It is interesting that Christmas refers to the Lord's holidays, and the priests' vestments on this day are the Theotokos, that is, blue and silver. This is a tribute to honoring the Mother of Christ, because this is also Her holiday.

What is celebrated on Christmas - history

On Christmas Day the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is celebrated. The Gospel tells that because of the population census, Joseph the Obrochnik and Holy Mother of God were forced to come to Bethlehem, the homeland of Joseph. Due to a simple everyday detail - hotels for the poor were overcrowded and there was no money for expensive rooms - they were forced to take refuge in a cave along with their livestock and pets. Here the Virgin Mary gave birth to the Son of God and laid him in a manger, in straw. Simple shepherds, called by the Angels, came here to worship the Baby, and wise wise men led by the Star of Bethlehem.

It is historically testified that at the time of the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ there was a certain new star, a celestial phenomenon - possibly a comet. However, it lit up in the sky as a sign of coming to earthly life Messiah, Christ the Savior. The Star of Bethlehem, according to the Gospel, showed the way to the Magi, who, thanks to it, came to worship the Son of God and bring their gifts to Him.

On Christmas, they ask the Lord for the gift and upbringing of children, remember the simplicity of the Birth of the Infant God, and try to do good deeds during Christmastide - the week between the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany.

Christmas Eve before Christmas

The day before Christmas, January 6, is Christmas Eve. On this day, until the “evening star”, that is, until twilight, according to the Charter of the Church, they did not eat at all; they could only drink water or tea. Nowadays it is difficult to perform such a strict fast. Try, especially if you did not fast during the Nativity Fast, to make a small sacrifice to the Lord - abstain in the morning on this day from meat and dairy products, from fish (even from at least one thing, including sweets). Interestingly, there was a historical joke when Count Suvorov did not eat anything during dinner with Catherine the Second before Christmas. When she asked why, the courtiers explained that it was impossible to reach the first star. The Empress called the servants and bestowed an order - “a star to Count Suvorov.”

In fact, in the Charter and the saying “it’s impossible until the first star” does not mean the appearance heavenly stars, and singing in church the words of the troparion, prayers in honor of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, where the word star is mentioned.

“Your Nativity, our God of Christ, shone to the world as the light of reason: in it those who served the stars (magi) learned with the star to worship You, the Sun of Truth, and to know You, Coming from the heights of the East. Lord, glory to You."

That is why on Christmas Eve it is advised to fast until the evening Christmas service, visit the temple, and then break the fast at the festive table.

This is not as difficult as it seems: after all, this is exactly how many spend December 31, forcedly fasting: the wife, busy in the kitchen, does not have time to eat, and the family, looking into the refrigerator, hears from the mother: “Don’t touch it, this is for the New Year!” But fasting on Christmas Eve on the eve of Christmas has a deep meaning, a spiritual purpose that is different from simply “creating a festive mood.”

How to get ready for Christmas?

While waiting for Christmas, you should pay more attention to meaningful preparation for the holiday, and not to dinner. Prepare, for example, for Confession and Communion with prayer and remembrance of sins. Confess the day before, because on the night of January 6-7 and even in the morning of January 7, churches are crowded. It will be difficult to confess, but to receive communion is a double holiday, double grace.

If you do not plan to receive communion, read the Gospel aloud with the whole family or tell your children about the worship of the Magi, the singing of the Angels and the joy of the shepherds looking at the Infant Christ - the King of the World, humbly lying in the manger. The writer Ivan Shmelev wrote about the traditions of preparing for Christmas and festive pre-revolutionary customs in his amazing novel “The Summer of the Lord,” written from the perspective of a child. You can also read the Christmas chapters from it yourself on Christmas Eve.

How to enter the church

Many people who don’t yet know much about the Church get used to being “goers” - coming in when it’s convenient, lighting candles and not praying during services. However, the Lord Himself speaks of church prayer for general worship: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them.”

The original meaning of the word “Church” is a meeting of Christ’s disciples, Christians; translated as “meeting”. It is interesting that the first Christians often gathered not only in buildings; it is important that they were together even under open air and could perform the Sacraments and pray.

Therefore, try not only to come to church on Christmas, but also to pray, and even better, to prepare and receive communion during the Liturgy. Main service in the church, the main sacrament is the Liturgy. The most strong prayer- this is any commemoration of a person during the Liturgy and, of course, communion itself. The whole Church prays for a person during the Sacrament of the Eucharist. By receiving communion, people receive great power and grace from God.

The Church blesses us to receive communion at least once a year: preferably about once a month.

Duration of church service

Note that not in every Orthodox church Night services are held from January 6 to 7. There may be options, and you can go to the temple that is more convenient for you to visit, according to the schedule for which you are ready. Be sure to check at the temple stand

It must be said that temples and cathedrals open in different time, services are performed at different times depending on

• Region, location;


• Is it a church or a parish church at the monastery?


• Seasons - in small, rural churches.

Before Christmas there will definitely be a solemn vespers service - the All-Night Vigil. The name is only a tradition; the service does not last all night, but for about 2-3 hours in different churches.

The all-night vigil begins either at 17:00 or 18:00. Sometimes - in in rare cases, in a village, in a remote monastery - at 16:00. In monasteries, services for both the Liturgy and the All-Night Vigil last longer.

The next day in the morning, at approximately 9 or 10:00, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated, during which you can partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Accordingly, you can go to both services, or just one.

However, there is another option. On the evening of January 6, the service of the saint will begin at 23:30. Then, during the night, an all-night vigil, hours and Divine Liturgy will be celebrated.

The all-night vigil begins with Compline, at which prophecies and psalms are read, and in the middle the choir sings the solemn holiday chant “God is with us.” It includes singing verses from the prophetic book of Isaiah about how the great God himself, the Father of the next age, is now present with people. This chant begins with the words “God is with us, understand the Gentiles (that is, nations) and repent (submit to the power of God), as (because) God is with us.”

Immediately after Great Compline, the festive Christmas Vespers is celebrated. It begins with a litia, a part of the service in which bread is consecrated, vegetable oil(oil), wheat and wine. Then the service of festive matins is performed, at which the choir performs many solemn chants. At Matins, a passage from the Gospel is read, telling about the event of the Nativity of Christ. Matins is joined by “hours” (short services consisting of the reading of three psalms and some prayers). Thus ends the festive All-Night Vigil. It will take about one and a half hours.

You will know that the All-Night Vigil has ended because afterward the priest will exclaim, “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” This is how the festive Liturgy will begin. It will last about another hour and a half to two hours. If you get tired, you can leave the Liturgy.

Star of Bethlehem

Initially, the eight-pointed star on the icons signifies the Nativity or Bethlehem. It is historically testified that at the time of the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ there was a certain new star in the sky, a celestial phenomenon - perhaps a comet. However, it lit up in the sky as a sign of the coming into earthly life of the Messiah, Christ the Savior. The Star of Bethlehem, according to the Gospel, showed the way to the Magi, who, thanks to it, came to worship the Son of God and bring their gifts to Him.

The Star of Bethlehem is an elongated rhombus inscribed in a square, this is how its eight rays are formed. Such a sign was theologically meaningful on the “Savior in Power” icon, becoming a sign of the power of Christ - it is no coincidence that the star of Bethlehem became His star.

The eight-pointed star of the Virgin Mary, the octogram is an equal-pointed star. She can be seen in most images Mother of God. On the one hand, this is an image of the Star of Bethlehem, on the other -

Most often, the icon of the Mother of God is painted on a golden background, symbolizing the Divine Light, or on a heavenly background - symbolizing Heaven, where She is located. The dark cherry outer robe of the Virgin Mary, maforium, has an image of gold embroidery of the three stars of the Virgin Mary: above the forehead and along the shoulders. They mean that the Mother of God, before, during and after the Birth of Her Son of God, remained and remained a Virgin, shining with the virtue of chastity and others.

On the icon of the Mother of God " Burning bush» Her image with her Son is inscribed in an eight-pointed star (but this is not the “star of the Virgin Mary”). This is a fairly late iconographic type; it carries the same symbolism as the icon of the Savior in Powers.

DIY Christmas or New Year's toy

Today, the eight-pointed star is one of the most beautiful and bright symbols of Orthodoxy. She illuminates and sanctifies many icon cases, church utensils, and jewelry of pious Christian women. There is no sin in using it in home decoration for Christmas; on the contrary, it is a very pious and beautiful custom. You can make it yourself by gluing, for example, a paper icon of the Nativity of Christ in the center.

The eight-pointed star reminds us of the power of God, and of the radiance of the Kingdom of God, and of our life path, along which we must follow the Bethlehem guiding star, like the Magi towards the Infant Christ. You need to be able to become a guiding star for people in this world with the help of good deeds.

May the Lord protect you with His grace, may the Infant Christ bless you!

Christmas for a Christian is much more than a decorated tree and gifts. This day is considered the second most important day after Easter, which is called the “Feast of Holidays.” The Nativity of Christ is both a global event that does not lose importance despite the passing centuries, and a very personal holiday for every Orthodox person. After all, Christ was born for everyone and for everyone.

Those who are well acquainted with Christianity understand that the incarnation of God on earth is a unique event that brought man closer to the creator. This holiday is filled with amazing joy and peace, but at the same time with some sadness, because this baby was born for a difficult mission.

Therefore, the main thing in celebrating Christmas is not the table laden with food, although this is an important part of any holiday, but the Christmas service.

Many who come to this night service for the first time are concerned with questions about how long the Christmas Divine Liturgy lasts and what is read and sung at this service. This article is intended to answer such questions.

What does the Christmas service consist of?

The service begins late in the evening on Christmas Eve, that is, January 6. At 11 pm the festive service begins, which lasts until 3-4 am. From the All-Night Vigil, hours and Divine Liturgy Basil the Great and the Christmas service takes shape. The liturgy is usually celebrated in the morning, but holiday liturgies occur at night, immediately after the All-Night Vigil and the Hours. The same thing happens at Easter.

The All-Night Vigil includes Matins and Compline. It should not be surprising that the names of services do not correspond to the time of day. There is a daily cycle of services in the church, but on great holidays the morning and evening service unite in the All-Night Vigil. Matins is performed according to the rite of the great holidays. The canon “Christ is born…” is sung on it.

The liturgy itself does not last that long and completes the entire cycle of festive services. Most likely, people who ask the question of how long the Christmas liturgy lasts in church mean the Christmas service as a whole. After all, those who pray come for the whole night, and not at the end.

The text of the Christmas liturgy is in many ways similar to the texts of the liturgies in common days. The Nativity is distinguished by the festive antiphons sung on it: “The Lord will send a rod of power from Zion, and rule in the midst of Your enemies. The beginning is with You in the day of Your power in the brightness of Your saints.”

Communion at Christmas

Celebrated during the Christmas liturgy and communion. For many Christians, a very joyful event is not only the presence of holiday services, but also Communion on them.

Confession at this service does not take place in all churches, because it is long and intense, many people come to the church, and in some places only one or two priests serve.

Most often, confession before the Christmas liturgy is held in advance, 1-2 days in advance. In some churches there is even the opportunity to receive communion twice after one confession. For example, they confess on the evening of January 3, and communion occurs at the liturgies on the morning of 4 and at night on 7. It is important to read both times the Follow-up to Holy Communion.

Getting ready correctly

How to prepare for the Christmas liturgy? Christmas Eve is held on strict fasting, it is not at all necessary to starve until the first star. This tradition has been going on since the time when Vespers began after dinner, and after it followed the Liturgy of Basil the Great, which ended in the dark. After it, one could eat food, and this is what meant “before the first star.”

So it is much more important to visit the temple on January 6, if possible, and not to go hungry. The opposite tradition is to cook 12 on this day Lenten dishes- is also not established by the church, and it is better to spend this day calmly, prayerfully and focused, and not in the bustle. But you can prepare sochivo - a dish made from wheat grains and honey. The best preparation for the Christmas liturgy in church will be reading spiritual literature and studying the upcoming service. This will give you strength to long service, because everything that is sung and read will become understandable.

But it is not at all necessary to light candles and venerate icons when the church is crowded.

Symbolism of the holiday

All Christmas traditions, which were later transferred to the New Year celebration, have a deep meaning. For example, a Christmas tree is a symbol eternal life thanks to its evergreen needles. On top of it is an eight-pointed star, usually silver or gold, which is reminiscent of Bethlehem. This is in Soviet time it was replaced with a five-pointed and red one. On Christmas Eve, it is customary to place a burning candle on the windowsill - a sign that we are waiting for Christ, illuminating the way in the winter darkness.

Gifts of the Magi

At the Christmas liturgy, an excerpt from the Gospel about the worship of the Magi is read. By the way, the custom of giving gifts at Christmas is associated with this episode. Holy Scripture. Just as the Magi presented their gifts to the Christ Child, so we give gifts to each other. These gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh (myrrh) - are symbolic. Gold was presented to the Baby as a King, incense - as God, myrrh - as a Man who would suffer and die, because this substance was used in the embalming of buried bodies.

Symbolism of preparation for Christmas

To dive even deeper into the meaning of the holiday, let's go back a little. The pre-festivity of Christmas, that is, special church services, preceding the holiday, lasts from January 2 to January 6. For other holidays, the forefeast lasts only 1 day. And what’s interesting is that church services during the preparation for Christmas have a parallel with the texts of the services of Holy Week. This reminds us that the Incarnation of the Savior is the first step towards His redemptive mission.

Moreover, birth itself in the form of a defenseless child is a huge step of God towards people, a temporary renunciation of his limitless power, as it is called in Theology - kenosis (from the Greek: Condescension).

The Baby was born not in the royal chambers, but in a manger; there was no place for Mary and Joseph even in the hotel. The world did not greet him well. The persecution of the future Messiah began from birth. King Herod, who learned from the wise men about who was born in Bethlehem, carried out the massacre of the infants because he was afraid that new Tsar will take away his power. Mary and Joseph and the baby managed to escape to Egypt.

Peace in the soul

No one knew that Jesus was not born for earthly power. “My kingdom is not of this world,” said the Savior. The Kingdom of Heaven will not come to earth until the end of time. But we can open our hearts to Christ, and then He will reign in our hearts, and peace will come in them. After all, according to Christ, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”

You can strive for this at any time of the year and at any period of life, and Orthodox holidays they will remind you of the most important thing - about God, about love, about our own soul. If the Nativity of Christ left just such a mark on a person, it means that it was not in vain for him and he met it correctly, regardless of whether he followed any traditions.