Night service for Christmas - how to “stand”? When do they go to church on Christmas Day?
Orthodox Christmas service from January 6 to 7 takes place in churches and temples around the world.
Christmas services begin on January 6th in the morning, ending at 1-3 am on the 7th, but from time to time already at dawn - with a Liturgy with carol singing...
On Christmas Eve, parishioners go to church for evening service, confess, and receive communion. The ministers in the church know approximately their own parish; the duration of the service depends on the number of people.
Therefore, the starting time is determined differently - the All-Night Vigil occurs on the eve of major church holidays, the beginning in various Temples is from 17:00 to 23:00.
Great Vespers (Great Compline) begins with hymns, then from time to time they confess almost until midnight, and then at 00:00 the night Christmas liturgy, and from time to time, on the contrary, first the whole service, then confession and communion, there are no strict rules...
The service for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ begins late in the evening on January 6th. Usually at 11 o'clock after midnight in all Orthodox churches a special festive service is held, which lasts until approximately 3 - 4 o'clock in the morning.
On the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, on the night of the event, an all-night vigil, hours and the Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom are served. The All-Night Vigil begins not with the usual Vespers, but with Compline. Most of the liturgical texts of this service are proofread. However, at Christmas Compline there is a main solemn festive hymn. It involves singing in chorus verses from the prophetic book of Isaiah about how God himself is now present with people, who is great and mighty. The Lord is called in this hymn the Father of the future age. This chant begins with the words “God is with us, understand the pagans and repent, as God is with us.” The holiday chant itself is briefly named after the first words of Isaiah’s prophecy - “God is with us.”
noname writes: I went to church this morning and asked what time the Christmas service would start, they told me it was at twelve. Wow! I have never been to a Christmas service, and in connection with this the question is: how long does it last? 2 hours? Or more? Who was it?
As I understand it, at 12 at night, not at 12 in the afternoon. You have two options: 1) from 12 at night the Christmas all-night vigil is served, consisting of Great Compline, Matins and the 1st hour, then, as usual: 3, 6 o’clock and Liturgy, 2) or the all-night vigil is served in advance, in the evening , and at 12 the hours, confession and Liturgy begin. I'm almost sure that you have option 1, although anything can happen in our kingdom. According to the 1st option, 3-4 hours minimum, according to the second - 1.5-3...
I’m telling you, we had something to do - we finished in the morning, an hour before transport, but we had to leave the entrance to the monastery and the Great Cathedral open - many without cars, and there was no way to leave. Then they stopped doing this - apparently, they decided that it wasn’t a good thing, after all, for strangers to hang around the monastery at night.
When we had a smaller parish, we always served at night and finished in the morning. And before the first transport, everyone just had time to break their fast together. But now there are a lot of people, it’s more difficult to organize a general breaking of the fast. In addition, previously those who prepared tea and sandwiches were actually unable to fully participate in the service (and these were not other people’s mercenaries, but our parishioners and church employees). Therefore, now the general holiday no longer takes place after the night service, but in the afternoon of the next day, when people have already rested and slept well.
But if someone does not have time to leave at night for some reason (for example, traveling far and with transfers), they calmly stay overnight in the temple, there is no one in the cold...
At night, festive services were held in all churches and temples in Russia. The center of these celebrations was the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Over 5 thousand people gathered there last night. Despite the fact that entrance to the temple was free, it could not accommodate everyone.
An icon of the Nativity was installed in the center of the temple; this was a gift from Bethlehem for the 2000th anniversary of Christianity. The Christmas service was led by Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II. He served Compline, Matins and the Divine Liturgy.
On the night of January 6th to 7th, the Nativity Fast also ends. Therefore, all believers have a festive meal in the morning. Usually they bake a goose with apples, and instead of dessert they bake a cake in the shape of a clock with hands approaching midnight.
In the villages they sing carols and exchange gifts. But, perhaps, the most important tradition of Christmas is to do good deeds on these days, so that no one on this bright holiday feels...
The solemn liturgy also took place in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Poikovsky.
Nikolai Savin is always on duty on Christmas Eve. Helps lead the service. For him, this holiday gives special joy.
When a child is born in the house - what feelings can there be? Anticipation of the birth of a new man, and here Christ himself appeared. Life itself has appeared for all of us, believers and non-believers. Savior of all who are waiting for salvation, - Nikolai Savin, head of the household of the Church of the Holy Trinity, shares his joy
Dozens of Poikovo residents came to the all-night vigil to pray for the birth of the savior of the world. But it is precisely on this world-saving holiday that there are always a lot of young people in the church. Moreover, they come to the temple of the urban settlement even from other cities.
On this bright holiday, it is customary to wear white clothes and give Christmas gifts. And also go caroling.
According to the Bible, Jesus Christ...
yesterday at 02:15
RIA Voronezh
About 1.5 thousand people came to Christmas services in the churches of Pavlovsk
Festive services dedicated to the Nativity of Christ were held in the Kazan and Intercession churches of Pavlovsk on Thursday, January 7. ...In the churches, the Christmas messages of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill, the head of the Voronezh Metropolis, Bishop Sergius, and the ruling bishop of the Rossoshan diocese, Bishop Andrei, were read out.
Kommersant-Online
Christmas in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior
On January 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the most important Christian holidays - the Nativity of Christ. How the service took place in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior - in the Kommersant photo gallery. On January 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the most important Christian holidays - the Nativity of Christ.
Festive services were held across the planet
Festive services...
Bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the inner lining (mucous membrane) of the bronchi. The bronchi are the air passages that carry air into the lungs. They are lined with fine tiny hairs called cilia. The cilia eliminate foreign substances such as dust so that they do not enter the lungs.
When the bronchi are inflamed, the work of the cilia goes astray, and coughing will be the main symptom of a disease such as bronchitis. A cough is the body’s response to cope with irritants and infections. It also prevents the accumulation of excess mucus in the bronchi and helps expel it from the air passage.
What are the main symptoms of bronchitis?
One of the most distinctive signs of bronchitis is an expectorant cough that produces an excess of yellowish phlegm.
Other symptoms include:
Sore throat; Slight increase in temperature; Dyspnea; Headache; Cough followed by chest pain; Chills; ...
Druzhinina Elena, 2-"B" class, MBOU Secondary School No. 4, Lensk
Head: O.N. Plakhova, primary school teacher, Municipal Budgetary Educational Institution Secondary School No. 4
Orthodox holidays. Christmas.
One of my favorite Orthodox holidays is the great twelfth feast of the Church, the Nativity of Christ.
At the time when Mary was destined to give birth to a baby, a census of the population of the Roman Empire was taking place by order of Emperor Augustus. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, because according to the same decree of the emperor, in order to facilitate the census process, each resident had to come to “their” city. Both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David, so they had to go to Bethlehem.
After Mary and Joseph were unable to stay at the inn because all the places were occupied, they were forced to spend the night in a cave intended to shelter livestock for the night. It was in this cave (later called the Cave of the Nativity) that Mary went into labor. She gave birth to a son, whom she named...
For Orthodox Christians who celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, Christmas Eve began on Wednesday. By tradition, the Orthodox Church celebrates it two weeks later than representatives of other Christian denominations.
Christmas Eve is the eve of the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany, respectively. On Christmas Eve, Christmastide begins - two weeks of winter holidays, continuing until Epiphany, which is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on January 19. According to tradition, on Christmas Eve it is customary to refuse food until the first star.
In Lithuania, services began on the morning of January 6th, and on the night from the 6th to the 7th, an All-Night Vigil service will be held at the Prechistensky Cathedral in Vilnius.
In the morning, the service of the Eve of the Nativity of Christ began in Orthodox churches. In different temples it begins at different times.
In Lithuania today there are about 130,000...
Nativity of Christ is the largest Orthodox holiday after Easter (Resurrection of Christ). Celebrated on the evening of January 6th (this day is called “Christmas Eve”) and on the afternoon of January 7th. (These dates correspond to December 24 and 25, old style).
The Nativity of Christ is preceded by the Nativity Fast, which lasts 40 days; from November 28 to January 6 (according to the new calendar). January 6—Christmas Eve—is a day of strict fasting, during which one is supposed to completely abstain from food “until the first star.” The fast ends with the end of the service on January 7th.
The story of the birth of Christ. During services, readings and songs mention the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world (Luke 2:1-21), which was predicted by many prophets. In particular, it is mentioned how this historical event took place: “The Roman Emperor Augustus ordered that...
On the night of January 6 to 7, according to the new style (December 25, according to the old style), the Orthodox Church celebrates with a solemn service perhaps the most joyful Christian holiday - the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. This great holiday is dedicated to the remembrance of the coming to our earthly world of the Limitless and Beginningless Divinity - one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity - God the Son.
The assignment of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ to December 25 according to the old style is not due to the historical correspondence of this date to the true birthday of the Lord, which remains unknown both in antiquity and to this day.
Christ was born more than two thousand years ago from the Most Pure and Immaculate Virgin Mary, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, who lived in the town of Nazareth with her imaginary husband, but rather a guardian,...
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, the church calendar is divided: the Orthodox Church celebrates holidays and days of remembrance of saints according to the old style (Julian calendar), the Catholic Church - according to the Gregorian calendar (this is due to astronomical phenomena).
Regarding the Nativity of Christ, the Gregorian calendar is more convenient: after all, the week of holidays begins on December 24-25 with Christmas and continues with the New Year, but Orthodox Christians must celebrate the New Year modestly and calmly in order to observe fasting. 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 have become truly popular, signs were associated with them, people 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 days dedicated to the most important events in the earthly life of Christ and the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as the most important historical events of the Church.
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 is a 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, on various 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 the Most Holy Theotokos were forced to come to Bethlehem, Joseph’s homeland. 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 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.
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 is impossible until the first star” does not mean the appearance of heavenly stars, but the singing in the church of the words of the troparion, a prayer 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 about church prayer during 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 in the 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. The main service in the church, the main sacrament, is the Liturgy. The most powerful prayer 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 strength 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
Please note that not every Orthodox church holds night services 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 churches and cathedrals open at different times, services are held 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 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, vegetable oil (oil), wheat and wine are blessed. 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 on most images of the 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 Virgin Mary “The 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 path in life, 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!
On Sunday, January 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Nativity of Christ. The holiday was initially considered a church holiday, but has long become simply a folk holiday, because pagan traditions on this day are closely intertwined with the rules established by the church. Many who are not familiar with the instructions are wondering whether they need to go to church on Christmas and when exactly to go. We will talk about this in our material.
Let’s answer the first question right away - you definitely need to go to church on Christmas. First of all, this is a church holiday that honors the date of the Birth of the Son of God, which means fun and festivities should be postponed until later and the holiday should begin with prayer and forgiveness of all sins.
On Christmas night from January 6 to 7, a festive Divine Liturgy is celebrated. On Christmas Day itself, believers celebrate and feast - break their fast (now it is allowed to eat not only fasting food, but also fasting food). The twelve days after Christmas are called holy days, or Christmastide.
When to go to church on Christmas
On Christmas Day, as well as on Easter, services are held in churches and temples all night - from the evening of January 6 until the morning of January 7. Believers must be present at the service - some stand throughout the entire time, and some come after midnight, having met the first star at home with loved ones at a Lenten dinner, which, according to biblical legend, told about the birth of Christ, bringing the Magi to him with gifts.
The evening before Christmas is called Christmas Eve and it must be spent either in church or at home - in prayer, with loved ones.
On Christmas Day, two liturgies are celebrated. Participation in them is considered the main element of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ.
Communion of the Holy Mysteries is the main joy and main event for those who are preparing for the holiday with a forty-day Nativity fast. It is very important to take communion on January 6, the day of Christmas Eve, and to be at the service, if possible, from Great Vespers itself, in order to hear the wonderful stichera - the highest example of church poetry.
If you still didn’t go to church for good reasons, you can pray at home. Be sure to light candles that symbolize the warmth that envelops the faith and blessing of heaven on all people on earth.
What to bring to church
On the Nativity of Christ, there is no lighting of food or water in the church, and therefore there is no need to take anything special with you. It is important to have pure thoughts, a bright pre-holiday mood and an understanding of the importance of the holiday in the life of each individual and society as a whole.
Many take offerings with them to church - giving alms is considered the main tradition of Christmas Eve and Christmas, because on the holiday it is necessary to demonstrate all existing Christian virtues.
On the eve of Christmas, believers do not eat for the whole day - the last day of Philip's fast, which lasted a long 40 days, is considered the strictest. You can have dinner only after the first star rises in the sky, but all dishes must be lean. The main treat at Christmas is considered sochivo - grains of wheat or other cereals, to which all kinds of sweets are added (raisins, dried fruits, honey, fruit syrup, nuts, poppy seeds, etc.).
The end of Lent begins on the morning of January 7 - after the end of church hymns. Here all the prohibitions are lifted and believers break their fast with meat, sweets, dairy products and everything that was forbidden.
If you've been fasting, it's a good idea to start eating normally - don't overeat on Christmas Day, as this can be harmful to your health.
By the way, there is an interesting and important sign associated with food on the holiday - on Christmas Eve you should try a little of all the dishes, but you should not fill yourself up and eat everything cooked, as this can bring emptiness and hunger into your home for the entire next year.
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 properly spend Christmas Eve.
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, they often ask whether it is not a sin for a young man, not infirm, without children, to 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 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 the Orthodox tradition of the Christmas meal.
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.
On major holidays, the so-called twelve, every Orthodox Christian tries to visit the temple and take part in the solemn service.
Are services long in Orthodox churches?
On Christmas Eve, everyone waits for the star to rise, eats nothing, prepares 12 ritual dishes, and reads or listens to prayers.
The day off, according to the calendar, falls on January 7, and everyone is looking for the star heralding the coming of the Savior into the world in the sky on the evening of the 6th. There is some strange paradox and some inconvenience in this.
What if you want to bring your child to the holiday service?
When they go to church (on Christmas or some other bright holiday), they notice that all the services, although long, are very beautiful and solemn. There are a lot of people in churches, it can be stuffy, but you want to go with the whole family, with children. If an adult can make an effort and make at least such a sacrifice to the Lord, then children cannot do this. And is it necessary for them to have unpleasant feelings from observing Orthodox traditions? Good parents want Christian holidays and church visits to be the most enjoyable days for their children. What if kids have to stand on their feet for hours in a crowded and dense crowd of people?
During the service it is not customary to walk, talk or engage in extraneous activities. You need to stand with your head down and listen to church texts. In addition, you should prepare in a special way for visiting the temple. It is very important to plan everything correctly and teach children to attend church on a major holiday. If you see that the child cannot stand it, quietly go outside with him. Let him not perceive visiting the temple as an unpleasant duty. He is not so sinful as to make such a difficult sacrifice, which not everyone can afford.
The main thing is that children understand for what purpose and to whom they come when they go to church.
Visiting temples by unchurched Christians
Unchurched people, when they go to church on Christmas, treat this event with particular reverence. Many even refuse to participate in a Christian holiday if they have desecrated themselves the day before or if there is a ban on visiting the Abode of the Holy Spirit. Many are stopped by the fear of being judged because they do not know the text of prayers or do not know how to behave correctly in church. This is a whole science. And on a major holiday, churches are filled with a variety of people, and there is no fear that the most zealous and fanatical believers will drive them away or condemn them. It’s no secret that on ordinary days, when there are few people in church, this happens.
How to find out the schedule of services
If an unchurched person asks in a church: “When do they go to church on Christmas - January 6 or 7?”, he may not be given a definite answer. After all, those who serve in the temple are present at all services on this day. They have a lot of other worries at this time. After all, it is necessary to quickly turn around behind the candle box, and maintain cleanliness in the House of God, and there are plenty of other, most often voluntary, responsibilities. Those people who work in the temple do not receive wages for their work. Accordingly, parishioners cannot demand anything from them. So, if you come across an intelligent and free person working in the temple and in this way making his sacrifice to God, consider yourself lucky.
If you come to the Temple the day before and inquire in advance about the order of services, ask when they go to church on Christmas from 6 to 7, then, again, they may not answer you, because usually the schedule appears no more than a few days before the holiday, and Services in all churches do not begin at the same time.
In post-Soviet times, there were few operating churches, and the difficulties in participating in holiday services were much greater than now, when there are so many churches, large and small, as well as chapels that you don’t need to travel across the whole city to defend the holiday Mass.
What affects the duration of service?
What determines the beginning of the solemn service? For example, from such a factor as the sacrament of confession. Before holiday services, so that parishioners approach them cleansed, priests conduct confession. It is impossible to predict how many people will participate in it and how long they will repent. The duration and start time of the next service is also affected by the number of communicants. Usually, when they go to church on Christmas, they try to both confess and receive communion on this day. In order for the holiday to bring joy from joining the great sacrament, peace to the soul and prosperity to the family, you need to prepare for it in advance.
To understand when people go to church on Christmas, you need to find out what services are held at this time. Moreover, it is impossible to know this once and for all, because this holiday is moving, and it can happen on any day of the week.
Christmas Dress Colors
There is a certain system and hierarchy in the annual circle of the most important Christian holidays. All of them are divided into the Lord's, that is, most related to Jesus Christ, and the Theotokos, dedicated to his Most Pure Mother. The Lord's are the most important.
Made from yellow brocade and decorated with gold embroidery and braid, they are associated with power and might and symbolize God. Orthodox Christians, when they go to church on Christmas Day from January 6 to 7, note that the priests' festive vestments are painted in the colors of the Virgin Mary, symbolizing purity and purity - white and blue. Although this is the Lord's holiday. He is the second most important. The first one is Easter. Resurrection of Christ is the main holiday, and Christmas is the largest in terms of the number of days during which holiday services are held.
The longest holiday
The church and the entire Orthodox people prepare for great holidays long ago, making sacrifices through fasting, cleansing the soul with repentance and prayers. A joyful event also does not end in one day. After the most significant dates, the obligatory fasts on Wednesdays and Fridays are canceled, and entertainment events are allowed. It is no coincidence that weddings are always planned for this time.
The twelve holidays also differ in the number of days on which the great event is celebrated. The Nativity of Jesus Christ is the longest of all. Each celebration is divided into three stages - pre-celebration, post-celebration and giving. All together it continues for almost two weeks.
The pre-Christmas celebration lasts five days. People go to church on Christmas Day on the eve of the Great Event, on the 6th, on the 7th, and throughout the next week. After-feast lasts from one to eight days, depending on the proximity to fasting or the next holiday, and ends with giving.
This is the most solemn service. It recalls all the most significant circumstances of the celebrated event.
When is it better to go to temple - before or after the rising of the Star of Bethlehem?
Do people go to church on Christmas after the appearance of a star in the sky announcing the birth of the Child Christ? This question doesn't make sense. Of course they do. Visiting churches during Christmas is like visiting a close relative in the maternity hospital who has successfully given birth or is about to give birth to a child. If it is permissible to draw such a parallel.
The coming of each of us to the temple is an expression of gratitude to the Creator for the fact that on this day He gave us all, all of humanity, His Only Begotten Son to save us from death in fiery hell. And to the question of whether people go to church on Christmas before the star, and if they do, then what is the point of visiting church before the birth of the Infant God, we can answer the following.
Preparing for any holiday, we choose elegant clothes for ourselves, do a beautiful hairstyle, etc. Waiting for the arrival on earth of an immaculate child (a future sacrifice for our sins), we try to cleanse ourselves as much as possible from our sins, hoping that the less vicious we are, The purer the soul, the less suffering the Savior will experience in His earthly incarnation.
Thus, the question “when do they go to church on Christmas: the 6th or 7th” cannot be considered significant.
The Lord is stronger, kinder and smarter than we think
Of course, this day is shrouded in many secrets, superstitions and signs. This reveals our spiritual immaturity. The Lord sees the soul of each of us individually. And He sees whether we came to the temple to meet and communicate with Him, or because someone said that on this day all the desires of those who visit the church will certainly be fulfilled. Or maybe this is actually true? After all, God’s mercy is so great!
When they go to church on Christmas Day on January 6th in the morning, they don’t eat or drink anything until confession. Having received absolution and blessing for Communion, parishioners participate in Great Vespers and the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. Before communion, you should not put anything in your mouth, not even water. If you do not take communion on this day, then until the first star rises in the sky you are allowed to drink only water.
Finally, we note that many instructions are announced by the priest looking after the temple at the end of the sermon. You just need to listen carefully.
