For Orthodox believers, the six-week Christmas fast began today, which precedes the most joyous Christian holiday, the Nativity of Christ – Christmas.
Preparation for Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7, is complete if the believer approaches the holy mysteries of confession, repentance and communion at the end of the six-week fast.
Fasting is the foundation of the Christian path and the first necessity on the path of salvation, so it is considered very important for the spiritual life of its believers, but also a powerful tool for achieving full salvation.
According to the interpretation of the Holy Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović, fasting consists in abstaining from greasy food, evil thoughts, lustful desires and evil deeds, as well as in multiplying prayers, charity and zealous exercise of Christian virtues, because the feat of fasting is physical and spiritual.
The goals, Bishop Nikolaj teaches, are to cleanse the body, strengthen the will, and elevate the soul above the body, all for the sake of glorifying God and honoring his saints.
The fast is based on the example of Jesus Christ himself, who fasted on bread and water for 40 days before confronting Satan.
During this fast, the use of oil is permitted on all days, except Wednesdays and Fridays, when food prepared on water is eaten.
Fish and wine may be consumed every Saturday and Sunday, as well as on the feast of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos /December 4/, Saint Nicholas /December 19/, and Saint Ignatius the God-bearer /January 2/, even if the feast falls on a Wednesday or Friday.
The last week before Christmas is a stricter fast, without the use of fish and oil, with food prepared only on water.
The Church has established four multi-day fasts a year – Christmas, Easter or Holy on the eve of the Resurrection of Christ, Peter’s Day before the feast dedicated to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul /July 12/ and Our Lady’s Day on the eve of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos /August 28/.
One-day fasts are on the Beheading of St. John the Baptist /September 11/, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Epiphany /September 27/, Epiphany /January 18/ on the eve of the Epiphany, as well as every Wednesday and Friday, except for the so-called Lazy Weeks, Srna news agency writes.
