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Church calendar for each year. Orthodox prayers of the saints and the mother of God. Fasting on the Day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Most of the Orthodox calendar year is fasting days, therefore, for most believers, fasting is an integral part of their life. Below you can download the Orthodox calendar of fasting for each day of 2017, and find recommendations and tips on how to fast.

Christianity proceeded from this and still believes that there was a violation in human nature, namely, harmony between the spiritual and bodily principles, since the flesh wants and strives to rise (prevail) over the spirit. Therefore, clergymen recommend observing fasts with the aim of raising spiritual and moral principles in people over sensual and physical aspirations. This is an important period of time when not only the soul, but also the body of a believer is able to obey the spirit, and therefore, accordingly, to God, since during any fasting, faith is strengthened and the soul is purified.

Fasting is good not only for the soul, but also for the body, since in the usual food in early spring, our body lacks plant proteins, trace elements and vitamins. And so, switching to plant foods, we thereby make up for this deficiency, and also simultaneously remove toxins, toxins, unnecessary body fat... As a result, with cleansing, the body is rejuvenated at the same time, and this, in turn, is the prevention of joints, liver, as well as atherosclerosis. Along the way, the Orthodox is freed from sins and basic vices such as anger, pride, envy, gluttony, lust, laziness, and greed.

All fasting, according to strict church rules, accounts for about more than half of the days a year, when it is not recommended to eat meat and dairy products, eggs, and fish is allowed only on holidays. This does not mean that you need to give up food and starve for a long time, but you can simply make your usual food lean and taste the gifts of Mother Nature to your heart's content. Fasting is a great opportunity to indulge yourself in delicious and very healthy foods.

What foods to eat during fasting

• There are more vegetables and fruits, as they are rich in fiber and therefore will be digested faster in the stomach. You can increase your daily diet by one serving.
• Soups, for example, cabbage soup, should be rich and thick, for this you can add beans to them during cooking, which in terms of protein content in them is practically not inferior to meat.
• We prepare the second courses mainly from cereals boiled in water or fruit syrups. Rice goes well with vegetable gravy, buckwheat - with tomato sauce, millet and semolina - with fruits and sweet vegetables, as a side dish.
• You can use pasta that hasn't been mixed with eggs.
• We prepare a variety of sauces, for example, you can fry vegetables in soy sauce or ketchup, and prepare the white sauce from mashed potatoes with the addition of lemon juice.
• For dessert, prepare as many fruit mousses, jellies as possible, various drinks in the form of fruit drinks, healing infusions, compotes, sbitney and all kinds of kvass, which can charge you with energy for a long time, give you vigor and protect you from vitamin deficiency.

What are the posts

One-day fasts

1. Fish is not allowed every Wednesday and Friday (weekly), but vegetable oil is allowed.
2. Epiphany Eve - January 18
3. Beheading of John the Baptist - September 11
4. Exaltation Of the Life-giving Cross Lord's - September 27

Multi-day fasting

1. Rozhdestvensky - cold (celebrated from November 28 to January 6, inclusive), which precedes a joyful meeting with Christ, as well as the great holiday of Christmas, and is more loyal in the strictness of fasting. On odd days of the week, it is allowed to use vegetable food, but without oil, on even days - with vegetable oil, but on Saturdays and Sundays, until January 2, and on major holidays that occur during this period, fish is also added. The most severe day is Christmas Eve, since on this day they refrain from drinking and eating until the first star (Bethlehem), which flashed at the hour of the appearance of Christ the Savior on our Earth. It is believed that when Christmas comes, your soul will shine in all its purity.
2. Great- the main and most severe (rolling - it begins 49 days before the greatest Orthodox Easter). In 2017 - from February 27 to April 15... The most severe week is the last (Holy Week), when the incredible sufferings of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross and burial are remembered. This is the time for dry eating (bread, vegetables, raw fruits, water) and prayers, because fasting without repentance and prayer simply turns into a diet. Therefore, visit church more often, forgive those who offended you, help your neighbor, provide people in trouble with all possible help, try to do something good.
   According to the Orthodox charter, these days are prohibited: meat, milk, eggs and fish, and from Monday to Friday you cannot use lean oil. The fish is supposed to be eaten only on the seventh in April (Annunciation Holy Mother of God), the sixth Sunday of fasting (the celebration of Palm Sunday), and on Saturday of the same week (the day of the resurrection of the righteous Saint Lazarus) - fish caviar. On Maundy Monday (beginning, first day, fasting) and Great Friday (penultimate), complete abstinence from food is advised.
3. Petrov (Apostolic)- hungry (carry-over, starts 58 days after Easter). In 2017, the Apostolic Fast - from June 12 to July 11... They observe it in honor of the supreme apostle Peter, who was executed by order of Nero (the Roman emperor) for preaching Christianity.
   The most used products at this time are any greens. After all, how nice it is to taste lean cabbage soup, cold okroshka, botvinya or green spices on such days. This fast, among other things, is also advisable from the point of view of medicine, since it coincides in time with the hottest period of the year. By eliminating from your diet those foods that are most poorly absorbed by your body, you only benefit it.
4. Uspensky - gourmet (from 14 to 27 August)... It precedes the feast of the Mother of God (Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos), marking the end of her earthly life and presentation to heaven. In terms of the severity of abstinence, it corresponds to Great Lent. Only vegetable products can be used in food, but without the addition of vegetable oil, which is allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays. At the same time, Uspensky is the easiest and most enjoyable, since you can add a new crop of vegetables and fruits to your food.

If you nevertheless decided to fast for the first time, then talk first with the priest and the doctor, their advice will not be superfluous for you and, of course, useful. Remember that fasting is beneficial only if it does not lead to severe exhaustion and weakening of the body, therefore, fasting should be gradually achieved with a real calculation of your strengths and capabilities.

And one more piece of advice: eat in moderation and let your body gradually get used to fatty, heavy and meaty foods. And then you will not have health problems after a long fast.

Orthodox holidays in 2017 are detailed in the church calendar, which can be viewed by everyone. Church holidays play a very important role in the life of an Orthodox person, they are surrounded by some mystery and are significantly different from the daily chores. As a rule, major holidays are preceded by certain preparations, fasts, which the believers try to observe according to all the rules.

What is the church calendar for?

The number of church holidays, important fasts and memorial days is quite large, it is almost impossible to remember all this. Many people remember only the most important holidays, getting confused about the dates of everyone else. Only church ministers can say for sure on what date a particular holiday falls, given that many do not change their dates, and some holidays are celebrated annually at different times. Thanks to the church calendar, the Orthodox have the opportunity to clarify the following information:

• what date are the main, great holidays;
• on what number the rolling Orthodox celebrations fall;
• when the enduring holidays will be celebrated;
• the calendar also shows the periods of all major fasts;
• the calendar has dates for memorial days.

What can you learn from the 2017 Church calendar?

Great Orthodox holidays in 2017 are indicated in the calendar, it is very convenient and practical. Everyone will be able to properly plan their time, attend a solemn service in the church. The most important holiday that believers look forward to every year is Easter. Its date is calculated separately annually. In 2017, Bright Easter falls on April 16. Significant, long-awaited holidays can also be called the Nativity of Christ, the Day of Remembrance of Peter and Paul, the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Other religious holidays are divided into twelve, they are directly related to the life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. In the church calendar there are two circles of holidays - the first refers to the fixed ones, and the second the Easter ones. The enduring holidays are celebrated on the same date every year. The passing holidays directly depend on when Easter is celebrated.

Orthodox people are very responsible for the great holidays, they prepare for them, they must fast. During this period, through the refusal of favorite food and entertainment, a person seeks his way to the Lord, purifies himself spiritually and meets the holiday with a pure heart. The strictest fasting precedes Bright Easter - Great Lent lasts until Easter. The bang accepts some hardships and limitations humbly, wanting only to clear his mind, soul and heart before an important day. Petrov post is also strict. Many adhere to the Dormition and Nativity fasts. They are also very strict, therefore, for a number of reasons, many cannot fully adhere to them, but after all, the main thing is mental cleansing, not physical. The church calendar also lists one-day fasts that should be observed.

Believers pay special attention to the days when it is customary to commemorate the dead. Ecumenical parental Saturday is a day of obligatory remembrance, just like Radonitsa, on the days of Great Lent, as well as on Trinity Saturday and on the day of Dmitriev's parental Saturday.

The church calendar is a personal assistant for every believer, thanks to which a person has the opportunity to mark all important holidays, not to confuse dates and to plan their time correctly. Dates of holidays and periods of fasting are detailed in detail, so it is worth buying for yourself church calendar for 2017.

Orthodox Holidays Calendar 2017

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

September

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30

Mon	W	Wed	Th	Fri	Sat	Sun
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Orthodox today religious holiday:

Tomorrow is a holiday:

Holidays Expected:
02.02.2020 -
03.02.2020 -
04.02.2020 -

Orthodox Saints of God

The holy saints of God reveal special love and mercy on those who honor their holy memory.

It seems to many that the saints are far from us. But they are far from those who have departed themselves, and are very close to those who keep the commandments of Christ and have the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The holy saints in their earthly life turned to God for help in healing their ailments, sorrows and deliverance from temptations, they asked God that He, even after death, would deserve their gift to help people in various cases of life.

The saints have reached the Kingdom of Heaven and there they see the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ; but by the Holy Spirit they also see the suffering of people on earth. Many saints of God received special grace from God, and He deigned them to be intercessors before Him in deliverance from our sorrows and bodily ailments, in which they themselves were tempted.

The saints rejoice at our repentance and grieve when people forsake God and become like foolish cattle. It is a pity for them that people on earth live without knowing that if they loved each other, then on earth there would be freedom from sin: and where there is no sin, there is joy and joy from the Holy Spirit, so wherever you look, everything sweet, and the soul wonders why it is so good, and praises God. The saints hear our prayers and have the power from God to help us. The whole Christian race knows about it. It must be remembered: in order for the prayer to be heard, one should pray to the saints of God with faith in the power of their intercession before God, with words coming from the heart.

In our prayers, we turn to the Lord God, to His Most Pure Mother - our Intercessor and Helper, to the holy Angels and holy people - the saints of God, because for their sake the Lord God will sooner hear us sinners, our prayers. Holy Pleasants have different names: prophets, apostles, martyrs, saints, saints, unmercenaries, blessed, righteous, confessors.

The Lord says: “Having lit a candle, they do not put it under a vessel, but on a candlestick, and it shines on everyone in the house. So let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Heavenly Father ”(Matthew 5: 15-16). Saints are bright stars that show us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let us treasure the closeness of God's saints to God and turn to them for help, remembering that they love us and care about our salvation. It is good to pray to the saints of God even on those days when the Church celebrates their memory.

« Holy Accents of God, pray to God for us!»

Orthodox prayers and icons of the Mother of God and the saints

The word "icon" comes from the Greek language and means "image", "image". The image of the icon is consecrated with holy water and special prayers, through this consecration the grace of the Holy Spirit is communicated to the icon, and the icon is already venerated by us as a saint.
According to the Orthodox dogma of veneration of icons, approved by the VII Ecumenical Council, "the honor given to the icon refers to its prototype, and the one who worships the icon worships the hypostasis depicted on it." The Council especially emphasizes that we give veneration to icons, and not worship that befits God alone. "The icon mysteriously contains the presence of the one whom it depicts, and this presence is the closer, more gracious and stronger, the more the icon corresponds to the church canon."

Prayer in the Christian life. What is prayer. About prayer

Prayer- the most important part of the spiritual life of every believer. Through prayer, a person turns to God, asks him and asks for forgiveness from him. In other words, prayer is nothing more than a way of a person's conversation with God.

The basis of the life of an Orthodox Christian is fasting and prayer. Prayer, said St. Philaret of Moscow, "is a conversation between the soul and God." And just as in a conversation it is impossible to listen to one side all the time, so in prayer it is useful sometimes to stop and listen to the Lord's answer to our prayer.

Prayer does not require a specific time, place, circumstance, or specific form. It can be wordy - long, and laconic - short. The prayer can be said at any time of the day or night, and anywhere. A person can pray under any circumstances of his life: when he is sick or healthy, when he is cheerful or sad, when he succeeds or fails, when he is in the company of his enemies or in the circle of his friends, when he is abandoned by everyone, or when he is in the midst of his beloved family. But God's temple is a special place for prayer. On Sundays, as well as on weekdays, if time permits, we should go to prayer in the temple, where our brothers and sisters in Christ, Christians, gather to pray together, all together. This prayer is called church prayer.

Every Orthodox Christian should pray daily, morning and evening, before and after eating food, before the beginning and at the end of any business (for example: before teaching and after teaching, etc.).

In the morning we pray to thank God for keeping us last night, to ask for His Fatherly blessing and help for the day that has begun.

In the evening, before going to bed, we also thank the Lord for a safe day and ask you to keep us during the night.

Before and after meals, we pray to thank God for His gifts and ask Him to bless and sanctify the food.

In order for the work to be done successfully and safely, we must also, first of all, ask God for blessings and help for the work ahead, and at the end, thank God.

Unfortunately, many people forget about the necessity and importance of prayer, and resort to it only in cases of a feeling of hopelessness. However, even in these cases, as practice shows, God does not forget about a person and gives him his love and support. But, not a single prayer will bring a person anything good if he simply reads it without thinking about what was said. Therefore, it is extremely important, turning to the Creator in prayer, to truly feel every word you say.

God is the best of interlocutors, he will always hear a person and help him. You should not be ashamed to talk with God even about the most intimate that is in your soul. The main thing is to do it with true faith in God.

“True prayer does not consist of words and their uttering, but true prayer consists“ in spirit and truth ”(John 4:23). When we pray to God, we must stand before Him not only in body, but also in spirit; and say a prayer not only with your lips, but also with your mind and heart; and not only bow our head and knees, but also our heart before Him; and to Him to raise up our clever eyes with humility. For all prayer must come from the heart; and what language speaks, mind and heart must speak. " Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

And no matter what happens during the day - everything happens according to the will of God; all without exception - the circumstances in which the Lord wished to place you, so that you would be His presence, His love, His compassion. His creative mind, His courage ... And, besides, whenever you meet with this or that situation, you are the one whom God put there to carry out the ministry of a Christian, to be a part of the Body of Christ and the action of God. If you do this, you will easily see that sometimes you will have to turn to God and say: "Lord, enlighten my mind, strengthen and direct my will, give me a fiery heart, help me!" At other times, you may be able to say, "Lord, thank you!"

In the Christian catechism, that is, in the instruction on the Christian faith, it is said about prayer as follows: "Prayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God and is the reverent word of man to God." Prayer is incredibly powerful. “Prayer not only conquers the laws of nature, not only is an insurmountable shield against visible and invisible enemies, but even holds the hand of the Most Powerful God, raised to defeat sinners,” writes St. Demetrius of Rostov.

In the New Testament, prayer is a living connection of the children of God with their infinitely good Father, with His Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Kingdom is “the unity of the whole Holy Trinity with a complete spirit. " Thus, the prayer life is a constant and natural stay in the presence of the Trisagion God and in communion with Him. Such vital communication is always possible, because through baptism our being has become one with Christ. Prayer is Christian because it is communion with Christ and grows in the Church, which is His Body. Its dimensions are dimensions of Christ's love.

"Prayer is not informing God about our needs. Prayer is a condition in which divine power can come into contact with our spirit and act in us. God is omniscient and knows us better than we do ourselves." Archimandrite Raphael (Karelin) (XX century).

Holy fathers about prayer

"Prayer is a great weapon, an inexhaustible treasure, wealth never depleted, a serene haven, the foundation of tranquility; prayer is the root, source and mother of innumerable blessings and more powerful than royal power." St. John Chrysostom.

"Prayer in its order is higher than alms." Venerable Isaac the Sirin.

"Prayer is the emergence in our hearts, one after another, of reverent feelings for God." St. Theophan, the Hermit Vyshensky.

"During prayer, let our speech and prayer be combined with decency, tranquility and modesty. Let us think that we are standing before the face of God and that we need to please the eyes of God both by the position of the body and by the sound of our voice." Schmch. Cyprian of Carthage.

"We must be abolished from conjugal affairs in order to engage in prayer; abolish from concern for wealth, from the desire for earthly glory, from the enjoyment of pleasures, from envy and every evil deed against our neighbor, so that when our soul is in silence and is not indignant with any passion, in her, as in a mirror, God's illumination was pure and unclouded. " St. Basil the Great.

Among the important holidays celebrated in 2017, the Orthodox calendar will be a convenient reference point for believers. Everyone chooses for himself - to believe him or not, and if you believe, then in what. According to statistics, Orthodoxy is the most widespread religion in Russia and the majority of believers, according to polls, celebrate not only the most recognizable holidays from the Orthodox calendar, but also those that many simply do not remember. We decided to write this article with explanations about each Orthodox holiday that is celebrated in 2017.

The "richest" months for Orthodox holidays, as always, are January, February and April. In total, 27 are celebrated during these months. Orthodox holidays, 9 for each month. In total, the Russian Orthodox Church will celebrate 65 memorable dates some of which last more than 1 day. Let's analyze each of them on a monthly basis with explanations regarding each specific holiday.

List of all Orthodox holidays 2017 with explanations by month

January

December 28 - January 6- Christmas post
Christian fast, which was established in honor of the Nativity of Christ and included by Orthodox leaders in the list of the main Orthodox posts it should be noted, remembering that this is not only a fast concerning restriction in food intake, but as John Chrysostom said - "fasting is removal from evil, curbing the tongue, deferring anger, taming lusts, stopping slander, lies and perjury." On all days of fasting, meat, dairy products and eggs should be excluded from food. Wine should be consumed in moderation these days; hot fish dishes and plant foods are well suited. The Old Believers are especially sensitive to the observance of the Christmas fast.

6th January- Christmas Eve (Eve of the Nativity of Christ)
On this day, the Orthodox are intensively preparing for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. According to the traditions of Orthodoxy, on Christmas Eve one must refuse food until the end of the fast and start taking it with sochiv (kutya) - soaked wheat grains, which are usually served with honey and fruits (can be dried). The end of the fast is considered to be the moment when the candle is brought into the center of the temple, which is accompanied by a troparion about Christmas.

Jan. 7- Nativity
One of the most revered Orthodox holidays. On this day, the birth of Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary is celebrated. The main Christmas symbol is the decorated fir tree. You can hang garlands and balls on it, as well as sweets and gifts. On this day, believers visit each other with their families, give gifts, cover up past grievances and quarrels.

7 to 17 January- Christmastide
Christmastide is a whole complex of Orthodox holidays, the main part of which is inextricably linked with Christmas festivities. Christmastide lasts 12 days "from star to water", which means from the appearance of the first star on Kolyada to the Epiphany illumination of the water. On Christmastide it is customary to have fun, carol, dress up for performances and entertain the owners of houses who are ready to visit the carols. Usually a lighted candle on the window is a sign of such readiness.

14 january- Circumcision of the Lord
This Orthodox holiday is combined with the feast of memory of St. Basil the Great. Believers read the Jesus Prayer. An all-night vigil is celebrated in the divine service.

January 18- Epiphany Eve (the second name is the Eve of the Epiphany)
The last evening is preparation before Epiphany. On this day, the great water illumination is performed, believers large groups queuing up for holy water. Lit water is eaten on an empty stomach, one small sip, one spoon at a time.

January 19- Baptism of the Lord (Holy Epiphany)
A major Orthodox holiday celebrated in honor of the baptism of Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River. On this holiday, ice holes are cut and water is blessed on rivers and lakes. Water consecrated at Epiphany is considered healing. Swimming in the ice hole at Epiphany is a recent Russian tradition; it is celebrated only for a few dozen.

The 25th of January- Memorial Day of Great Martyr Tatiana (Tatiana's Day)
It is customary in Russia to associate Tatyana's Day with students, but its roots go back to Orthodoxy. On this holiday, it is customary to light candles for academic success, pray to the martyr Tatyana, ask for help in understanding the sciences.

January 20 to February 26- Winter Meat Eater
This holiday in Orthodoxy cancels the restrictions on food for the Orthodox. It is customary to meet the beginning of Lent with the winter meat eater. The Meat Eater remains lean on Wednesdays and Fridays of the week, but fish can also be eaten.

February

February, 15- The desire of the Lord
The Presentation of the Lord completes the full cycle of Christmas holidays and therefore is obligatory celebrated by Orthodox Christians all over the world, starting from the 5th century AD. e. The church and believers commemorate the meeting of Elder Simeon with the baby Jesus in the Jerusalem temple on the fortieth day after Christmas. Meeting is a meeting of winter with spring.

5 to 26 February- Lean Triodi
Triodi - three weeks (weeks) of preparation for Great Lent. The five subsequent holidays are directly related to the lean triodes.

- 6 to 12 February- Week of the Publican and the Pharisee
- 12th of February- Week of the Prodigal Son
- 13 to 19 February- Meat week
- February 18- Ecumenical meat-eating Parent's Saturday
- February 20 to 26- Shrovetide (Cheese week)
On Shrovetide, it is customary to treat yourself to tea and pancakes. Accompanied by fun with folk festivities and outdoor activities. The end of Shrovetide is celebrated by burning a straw effigy. People are helping spring overcome winter.

26 february- Forgiveness Sunday
On this day, they ask for forgiveness from all loved ones and people with whom you were in a quarrel. If you have been asked to forgive, you need to do it urgently. It is also the last day before the beginning of Lent.

February 27 to April 15- Great Lent
Lent is the main fast in all historical churches, including the Orthodox, its purpose is to prepare a Christian for the celebration of Easter. It is also the longest running post.

March

9th of March- Finding the Head of Ion the Forerunner
A holiday in honor of one of the main relics of the modern Orthodox Church- the head of John the Baptist - the closest predecessor of Jesus Christ, executed by Herod Antipas at the request of his wife Solomei.

22 march- Forty Martyrs of Sebastian (Larks)
The Sevaisti martyrs are Christian warriors who were martyred for their faith in Christ Jesus in Sebastia (the territory of modern Turkey). Refers to Orthodox holidays.

April

7 april- Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos
The holiday of the announcement by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of the future birth in the flesh from her of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

8 april- Lazarev Saturday
On this day, Orthodox Christians remember the miracle of the resurrection by Jesus Christ of his deceased friend - the righteous Lazarus, which was performed as a proof of the coming resurrection of all the dead.

9 april- The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)
Or Palm Sunday. It was the willows in Russia that were used as palm leaves, which were thrown at the feet of Jesus, who entered Jerusalem, since palm trees never grew in Russia.

April 16- Bright Resurrection of Christ (Easter)
Easter is the oldest and most important holiday in Orthodoxy. It was installed in honor of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - the main character all who is the son of God.

April 16 to 22- Solid Light Easter Week
A period of seven days, including Easter Sunday and six consecutive days until St. Thomas' Week.

May

May 9- Day of remembrance of the departed

June

June 1st- Semik (seventh Thursday after Easter)

July

6 to 7 July- Holiday of Ivan Kupala

July, 12- Day of the Holy Primate Apostles Peter and Paul
The day Jesus called his first disciples.

August

August 2- Ilyin's day

September

11 September- Beheading of the Head of Ion the Forerunner

September 21- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Birthday of the Virgin Mary in the family of the righteous Joachim and Anna.

October

October 8- Memorial Day of St. Sergius

October 14- Blessed Virgin Mary
It has been celebrated for over 1200 years in honor of the vision that appeared to Andrew the Fool in the Blakherna Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Constantinople.

November

November 4th- Dimitrovskaya Parental Saturday

December

4 december- Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos

The church calendar is full of important dates and some of them are celebrated at different times from year to year. To avoid confusion, we suggest that you contact Orthodox calendar holidays and don't miss a single Christian holiday.

The Orthodox holiday calendar is divided by month. In each of them important Christian events are celebrated, about which you will find information here: you will find out when the holidays are celebrated and with what they are connected. Holidays are divided into twelve and non-twelve (great).

Twelve holidays include:

• Nativity of Christ - January 7
• Baptism of the Lord (Epiphany) - January 19
• Presentation of the Lord - February 15
• Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos - March 7
• The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem - April 9
• Ascension of the Lord - May 25
• Holy Trinity Day - June 4
• Transfiguration of the Lord - August 19, people - Apple Savior
• Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos - August 28
• Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos - December 4

According to the Orthodox calendar Easter in 2017 will be celebrated on April 16th. This holiday is considered the most important of the year, so it is staged separately. In addition to the listed holidays, there are others called great ones. Including believers celebrate parental Saturdays, or days of remembrance of the dead, and observe fasting, which you can find out about below.

January

In the first month of the civil year, there are holidays dedicated to the infancy of Jesus Christ: Christmas and the Circumcision of the Lord. Also in January, believers celebrate baptism, traditionally bathing in an ice-hole and collecting Epiphany water, which is considered consecrated on this day.

Nativity of Christ - January 7

New Years - September 14

On this day, the church begins New Year and the whole cycle of holidays is repeated from the very beginning. The tradition of celebrating the new year in autumn came with the adoption of Christianity from Byzantium. If we consider this date according to the old style, then the New Years holiday is celebrated on September 1.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - September 21

In September they celebrate twentieth holiday Nativity of the Virgin. The very birth of the Virgin Mary turns out to be an omen of the coming to earth of the Messiah. Moreover, it is believed that the Virgin Mary was born without firstborn sin. It was from him that Jesus Christ saved mankind, accepting death on the cross.

Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord - September 27

It is about the Life-giving Cross, on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The twelveth Feast of the Exaltation has several interpretations. First, believers mark the very acquisition of the Life-giving Cross. On the other hand, on this day, the return of the Cross to Byzantium from Persia is celebrated.

October

In October, the soldiers who died on the Kulikovo Field are commemorated. Thus, this month, the last commemoration of deceased relatives takes place in a year. In addition to Parental Sabbath, believers celebrate the holiday of the Intercession.

Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos - October 14

The Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is associated with the event of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to Andrew the Holy Fool. The event took place in Constantinople during the war. The Mother of God, together with the saints who surrounded her, appeared in the temple during prayer. Her robe was kept in this temple. Andrew the Fool describes in his Life that the Virgin Mary covered the worshipers with her omophorion (a scarf covering the shoulders). Her defense made it possible to drive off the enemy troops.

Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday - October 28

Parent's Saturday October 28 is the last day of remembrance of the dead of the year. It falls on the Saturday before the day of the great martyr Dmitry Thessaloniki. Like many saints, he accepted death for Christ's faith, not wanting to deny God. Also, this day is associated with the commemoration of the soldiers who died during the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

November: Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal heavenly Forces - November 21

On this day, an event is remembered that put an end to the heresy, which did not correctly honor the angels. This incorrect teaching called angels the creators and rulers of the world. Nine angelic ranks were established, which are still considered traditional for the church. Actually, the word "Forces" is called the angels, who are considered a heavenly army.

December: Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos - December 4

According to legend, at the age of three, the Virgin Mary was transferred to the temple, since her parents promised to give the child to serve God. According to the biblical description, she herself ran the stairs, without crying and without turning to her parents, without calling them. It is believed that the Virgin Mary lived in the temple, eating food that the angels brought her.

Calendar of Continuous Weeks and Fasting Days in 2017

Continuous weeks in the calendar of Orthodox holidays are called days (there are no more than seven) in which there are no restrictions on food on Wednesday and Friday. These include:

• Christmastide: from January 7 to January 17
• The week of the publican and the Pharisee: from 6 February to 11 February.
• Cheese week (carnival): from February 20 to February 26. Since that time, believers have already given up meat on the eve of Great Lent.
• Easter week: from April 17 to April 22
• Trinity week: from July 05 to July 11

One-day fasts

In addition to the fact that every week believers fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, there are one-day fasts dedicated to special events or holidays.

• Epiphany Eve (Epiphany Eve) - January 18
• Beheading of Ion the Forerunner - September 11
• Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord - September 27

Also, the church calendar includes four multi-day fasts before important celebrations. Depending on the year, each post may have a different start and end date.

• Great Lent - from February 27 to April 15
• Petrov Post - from 12.06.2017 to 11 July
• Dormition Fast - from August 14 to August 27
• Nativity Fast - from November 28 to January 06

In addition to these holidays, there are also local ones associated with miraculous icons or saints, which are widely celebrated in each separate region. Also, each temple can have its own special holiday, which only local parishioners know about. In order not to miss them, visit the church closest to you often.