Night service at Christmas - how to "survive"? What everyone needs to do in Lent: the Divine Liturgy of the Nativity Lent.

The Divine Liturgy of the Nativity of Christ: Traditions, the Sequence of the Liturgy, and the History of the Feast of the Nativity. Read more on the Pravmir portal.

Christmas Traditions: The Divine Liturgy of the Nativity of Christ

Κοντάκιον. Ποίημα Ῥωμανοῦ τοῦ Μελῳδοῦ.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ ἡ γῆ τὸ Σπήλαιον, τῷ ἀπροσίτω προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι μετὰ Ποιμένων δοξολογοῦσι. Μάγοι δὲ μετὰ ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι. Δι´ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός.

(E parfenos semeron ton uperousion tiktei, kai e ge to spelaion tw aprositw prosagei. Angeloi meta Poimenon doxologousi. Magoi de meta asteros oidoporousi. Di emas gar egennete Paidion neon, O pros aiwnwn Teos.)

Today the Virgin gives birth to the superexistent, and the earth brings a cave to the Unapproachable; The angels glorify together with the shepherds, while the magi travel after the star, because for our sake the young Infant, the Eternal God, was born.

Kontakion, the creation of Roman the Melodist

Christmas is a holiday celebrated by people all over the world. Why are they happy? Just because that day began new era"from the Nativity of Christ", because the Christmas tree is decorated, because we receive gifts? But what does this event, which happened 2000 years ago, have to do with people living today? What are the traditions of celebrating Christmas.

Christ is the Savior, but do we need to be saved from something, do we face any danger? And can we really meet God? How the liturgical tradition of the Church answers these questions, says Nikolai DERZHAVIN, who has been commenting on television broadcasts of festive services for 20 years now.

What is the meaning of Christmas

The great ecumenical teacher calls the Nativity of Christ "the beginning of all holidays." “Whoever calls this holiday the mother of all holidays will not sin ... In this holiday, both the Epiphany, and the sacred, and have their beginning and foundation. If Christ had not been born according to the flesh, then he would not have been baptized, and this is the feast of the Epiphany; and would not have suffered, and this is the Passover; and would not send the Holy Spirit, and this is Pentecost. So, from the feast of the Nativity of Christ, our holidays began, as from the source of various streams.

The birth of Christ - the Messiah - the Anointed One, who will save the world, was predicted by the Old Testament prophets and was expected for centuries. This joyful event took place more than 2,000 years ago: Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea. We, Christians, annually again and again experience this joy, proclaimed by the Angels to the shepherds: “I proclaim to you great joy that will be to all people: for today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, has been born to you in the city of David,” says the Holy Gospel.

God becomes Man so that man becomes God by grace. But, at the same time, the Creator, taking the image of His creation, "is humiliated." What is being done is what in Greek is called "kenosis", and in Slavic - "exhaustion" of the Son of God. And his highest point it reaches on the Cross. And yet, at Christmas we rejoice, for we know what rich fruits this exhaustion has borne. We rejoice, for the day has dawned for the beginning of our salvation, salvation from sin and death. And salvation from death and meeting with God, the source of life, is the greatest reason for thanksgiving and joy.

Christmas and Magi

According to the teaching of the Church, the fact that “for our sake a young child, eternal God was born” is a cause of joy for those who love God. By the fact that God wanted to be born in the form of a man, He gave deliverance from corruption and death, “healed the wounds of Eve”, “forgave sins”, “gave immortality”, “fulfilled the prophecies”, “attracted the fallen primordial Adam”, “replaced lies with faith” in the truth, “led everyone to the life-giving light,” as the Christmas service says.

So, what does this event have to do with each of the people living today? The Church speaks about this through the lips of her poets in church hymnography. The main and most frequently sung hymns on the holiday are. Troparia - short chants glorifying the holiday belong to the very ancient look church chants, from which Christian hymnography began its development in ancient times. The troparion of the Nativity could have been created as early as the 4th century. In Russian, the text of this chant sounds like this: Your birth, O Christ our God, shed light of knowledge on the world: for those who served the stars were taught by the star to bow to Thee, the Sun of Truth, and to know Thee, O East from on high. Lord, glory to Thee".

Kontakion "The Virgin Today" was written by St. Roman the Melodist, and is considered one of the pinnacles of church poetry. In ancient times, lengthy theological poems that were part of the Christian liturgy were called kontakions. But, over time, they were replaced by another genre of church hymnography - the canon. Kontakions were preserved in worship in the form of the initial stanzas of previous poems (and also gave rise to – a hymn during which one is not supposed to sit, "non-saddle singing").

Let's get acquainted with the text of the kontakion : “Today the Virgin gives birth to the super-existent, and the earth brings a cave to the Unapproachable; The angels glorify together with the shepherds, while the magi travel after the star, because for our sake the young Infant, the Eternal God, was born. The invisible God became incarnate and became a Man - this is what the feast of the Nativity of Christ, the feast of the Incarnation, proclaims.

If we turn our attention to the texts of chants, we will notice one salient feature: frequent repetition of the words "today" and "now". Today, now, "The Virgin of the Substantial gives birth." The event happened more than 2000 years ago, but what happened then has a direct bearing on us living today. Therefore, the Church, with her hymns and all her divine services, introduces us into a special reality. We become spiritual participants and witnesses of events taking place before our mind's eye.

Birthday of Christ

Christians have been celebrating Christmas since ancient times. How did they do it before? Modern liturgists believe that Christmas is one of the oldest Christian holidays, along with the Annunciation and Easter. It is celebrated exactly 9 months after the Annunciation, on December 25, according to the old style. Initially, it was connected with the feast of the Epiphany, which appeared in the 3rd century, and this common feast was called the Feast of Lights in a different way. Christmas has separated from the West. In the ancient Roman calendar, dating from the year 354, under December 25 (or January 8 calendar) it is written: “ Birthday of Christ in Bethlehem».

The church charter calls Christmas the "second Easter" and gives it an exclusive place among the days of the liturgical year. This is a holiday twelfth, belonging to the category of the most important 12 Christian holidays. Usually before these holidays one day of forefeast is supposed, before Christmas there are five such days. For the sake of the Nativity of Christ, fasting is canceled, even if the holiday falls on weekly fast days - Wednesday and Friday. After the holiday comes "", which will last until Epiphany Eve (January 18). The period of Christmas time, from the point of view of the liturgical charter, is, as it were, one day, joyful and jubilant. On Christmas time, however, as at any other time, and especially on these holidays, people are called to “sanctify”, to sanctify the holiday with good deeds.

Our history knows many examples of truly Christian celebration of holy Christmas days. In pre-Petrine Russia, pious sovereigns visited prisons on the very night of the Nativity of Christ and freed repentant criminals, distributed alms with their own hands, but did all this in such a way that royal mercy was not made public. The exits of the sovereign from the palace these days were called "secret".

The feast of the Nativity of Christ, perhaps like no other, brought to life many folk customs. Christmas, the glorification of the Divine Infant, the arrangement of nativity scenes - likenesses and images of the Bethlehem cave - all these are indispensable signs of the holiday, and it is wonderful that many of these customs are being revived today.

reflection star of bethlehem illumined our secular culture. And today it is especially appropriate to recall the lines of our wonderful writer, who in his book “Summer of the Lord” showed Christmas morning in old Moscow through the eyes of a child: “Christmas ... This word seems to have strong frosty air, icy purity and snowiness. The very word seems bluish to me. Even in the church song - Christ is born - praise! Christ from heaven - hide!- a frosty crunch is heard. The bluish dawn turns white. The snowy lace of trees is as light as air. The church rumble floats, and in this frosty rumble the sun rises like a ball. It is fiery, thick, more than usual: the sun at Christmas. Floats out in flames behind the garden. The garden is in deep snow, brightens, turns blue. Here, it ran along the tops, the hoarfrost turned pink, the checkmarks turned black pink, they woke up; splashed with pinkish dust, the birch trees turned golden, and fiery golden spots fell on the white snow. Here it is, the morning of the Holiday - Christmas.

On the Slavic and Russian languages ​​in worship

We will repeatedly refer to liturgical texts dedicated to the Nativity of Christ, both in Church Slavonic and in Russian. And in this regard, I would like to say a few words about ours. The whole world knows the beauty of Orthodox iconography, this “theology in colors”, and our churches have become national symbols harmony and perfection.

These masterpieces are joined by a huge poetic heritage - hymnography and Ancient Russia. The works of Byzantine religious poetry, such as canons, stichera, troparia and kontakia, are distinguished by a special theological depth and expressive language. Indeed, their perception is often hampered by the language barrier. And in connection with these difficulties, some people have a question: “Why doesn’t the Church abandon the Church Slavonic language, why doesn’t it switch to Russian?” But the easiest way is not always the best one. The Slavic texts were themselves translated from Greek by the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers Cyril and Methodius, but they are consecrated by the thousand-year-old tradition of Slavic literacy.

To solve the language problem, it is not necessary to sit down at a desk, it is enough to visit the temple regularly and participate in divine services. After all, many of the texts that we heard today are constantly present in our worship. Gradually, these texts will become recognizable to us. Then you can turn to translations, clarify incomprehensible words and expressions. The texts of the festive services are also quite accessible today. They come out in separate editions, with a parallel text in Russian. It would be useful and correct if our preparation for the holiday (and most people go to church on holidays) included a preliminary acquaintance with the liturgical texts and their deep theological content. And you can start with those prayers that are read daily: from the morning and evening rules.

All-night vigil

How is the Patriarchal Christmas Liturgy celebrated?

Let's say a few words about the order and sequence of its celebration on Christmas Day using the example of the main Christmas service performed by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in Moscow. The patriarchal service is slightly different in form from the usual parish service, but in essence it is one and the same service, so our story is also applicable to the parish service. We will talk about these differences in those places where they will appear.

The service of the Orthodox Church consists of services of the daily circle: Matins, Vespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Hours and liturgies. Before the holidays, morning and evening worship is combined into the so-called "", that is, a prayer that continues all night. In practice, such a prayer happens only twice a year, on the greatest holidays - Christmas and Easter. The All-Night Vigil is a liturgical service that consists of Vespers and Matins. These church services got their name from the time they were performed. But today the composition of the All-Night Vigil is changing: the place of Vespers is taken by great compline- a service that takes place after Vespers, hence its name.

According to the tradition that has developed over the past 20 years, before the start of the service, the Patriarch, who is in the altar, addresses the viewers with Christmas greetings.

Here the veil and the holy gates open, we see how the clergy, led by the Patriarch, come out of the altar into the middle of the temple. The archdeacon with candles goes to the pulpit and proclaims: Bless the lord". Vladyka blesses those assembled and exclaims: Blessed be our God always now and forever and forever and ever The all-night vigil begins.

The primate, who is preceded by an archdeacon or protodeacon with a candle, burns the feast icon, which is located in the center of the church on the lectern. The prayer "King of Heaven" is addressed to. This prayer begins many liturgical services of the Orthodox Church. The patriarch burns the throne and the altar incense. This is an ancient form of worship that existed in the Old Testament, before the coming of the Savior into the world. The spiritual meaning of incense is revealed to us by verses from the Psalms: May my prayer be corrected, like a censer before you”- let my prayer, like incense smoke, ascend to heaven, and the prayerful uplift of hands will be like the evening sacrifice.

After the exclamation follows the litany and the famous hymn " God is with us". This song is based on the prophecy of Isaiah. This prophet, who lived 700 years before the birth of Christ, announced the future birth of the Savior from the Virgin, prophesied about the events of His earthly life, as well as about the suffering that the Son of God would have to accept for the salvation of the human race. The prophet, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, saw with spiritual vision the coming events of the New Testament so clearly that he is often called the "Old Testament Evangelist." At the end of Compline, the troparion and kontakion of the Nativity are sung.

A hymn is heard in the temple, completing the rites of Compline. This is the song of the holy righteous Simeon the God-bearer, sung by him at the time of the Infant Jesus, brought by the Virgin Mary and the righteous Joseph on the fortieth day after birth to the Jerusalem temple for consecration to God, as custom required. The righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna are an example of the last righteous of the Old Testament era, who lived in the hope of the coming into the world of the Messiah - Christ, and at the end of the day they saw this hope come true. The text of the hymn is taken from the Gospel. In Russian translation, it sounds like this: “Now you release Your servant, Lord, according to Your word in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, the Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people, Israel.” This episode from the Gospel narrative is the meeting of the Divine Infant in the Jerusalem Temple, due to its special significance, it is celebrated by the Church as a great holiday. It is celebrated on February 15 according to the new style. And the event itself, according to the Gospel chronology, took place after the shepherds worshiped the Born Divine Infant, but before worshiping Him, Eastern sages came from a distant country.

people of good will

Meanwhile, Matins begins in the temple. It, of course, should be performed in the morning, but since the Church prays to God at night on Christmas Day, it begins around midnight. At the beginning of the Six Psalms, the famous words of the Angelic Song are sung, which we will hear many times today in a variety of hymns both in the gospel and in the sermon: Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill towards men.

Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria, father of the Church, who lived in the 12th century, interprets this part of the Gospel of Luke in this way: “What does the song of the Angels mean? Without a doubt, the gratitude of the high ranks and the joy that we, who live on earth, have been blessed. For they say: thank God, peace has now come on earth. Previously, human nature was at enmity with God, but now it has become so reconciled that it has become in union with God and united with Him in incarnation. So, do you see God's peace with man? It can be understood in another way. The Son of God Himself is the world, just as He speaks of Himself. And so, the very world, the Son of God, appeared on earth. And “good will in men,” that is, the repose of God. For now God has rested and found pleasing God in people, while before He did not favor and did not find pleasing in people.”

These words of an angelic song have the most interesting fate in the history of mankind. The fact is that in different Christian traditions of recording these gospel verses, the word "favor" - good will - was used in two forms - in the nominative case, and then the words meant that God's favor is in people, as we just read. But this word can be in the genitive case, and then the meaning changes a little, it turns out “in people of good will”, or in another way, in people of good, good will, there is peace. This expression "in people of good will" has become winged. It is used by both Christians and non-Christians, and even people far from religion.

After the solemn proclamation and singing of "God the Lord and appear to us" begins polyeles(in translation - "many mercy"). This part of Matins got its name from the content of Psalms 134 and 135, which glorify the mercy of God. The verses from these psalms are sung by the choir during the polyeleos: Praise the name of the Lord, praise the servant of the Lord. Alleluia. Blessed be the Lord from Zion, who lives in Jerusalem. Alleluia.

Majesty sounds under the vaults of the temple - a short chant glorifying the celebrated event: “We magnify, we magnify Thee, Life-Giver Christ, for the sake of us now in the flesh Born of the Blessed and Most Pure Virgin Mary.”

Patriarch Kirill descends from the pulpit - a special elevation in the middle of the temple, where he has been since the beginning of the service, in order to burn the icon of the holiday incense.

The image of the Nativity of Christ, which is now on the lectern, is special. In the anniversary year of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ, he was brought His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Bethlehem, the city where Christ was born. This icon is an exact copy of the image located in the cave of the Nativity of Christ.

We see how the deacon enters the altar and takes the Gospel from the throne. Choir performs degree and power antiphon. These hymns are part of the festive matins. They are compiled in imitation of the so-called. "power psalms" (Ps. 119-133), which at times Old Testament pilgrims sang on the steps of the Jerusalem temple. antiphons- chants performed alternately, in imitation of the incessant angelic choir that glorifies the Creator, the name indicating the way the chants are performed (from the Greek - “to sing alternately, alternating into two choirs”).

05.01.2014

January 6 - Eve of the Nativity of Christ, or Christmas Eve,- the last day of Advent, the eve of the Nativity of Christ.
On January 6, Orthodox Christians are especially preparing for the upcoming holiday, the whole day is filled with a special festive mood.
On the morning of Christmas Eve, at the end of the Liturgy and the evening after it, a candle is brought to the center of the church and the priests sing the troparion to the Nativity of Christ in front of 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 site about how to spend Christmas Eve correctly.
Most frequently asked questions:
When does the night service begin on the feast of the Nativity of Christ?
Night worship begins, as a rule, at 23:00 on January 6. After the Vespers, the Liturgy begins, where many believers receive communion.
— How can I find out the schedule of Christmas services in the churches of the city of Togliatti?
You can find out the schedule of Christmas services by calling all the churches of the city of Togliatti, posted on the websites of the deaneries of the portal "Orthodox Togliatti": central deanery, Tikhonov Deanery, Preobrazhenskoye Deanery, Neva Deanery.
As a rule, believers try to celebrate the Nativity of Christ at the nightly festive liturgy. But in many churches, the Vespers and Liturgy are also served at the usual time - 17 pm and in the morning.
In this regard, people often ask, is it not a sin for a young man, not weak, without children, to go to the service not at night, but in the morning?
Solemn night services contribute to a deeper prayerful experience and perception of the Holiday.
visit night service or morning - you need to look at your strength. Meeting the holiday at night is, of course, a special joy: both spiritual and spiritual. 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, until what time should you refrain from eating food?
Christmas Eve- the name comes, it is believed, from the word "sochivo" (the same as "kolivo" - boiled grains of rice or wheat).
It is supposed to eat “sochivo”, or “kolivo”, on the eve of the holiday only after the liturgy, which is combined with the vespers. Thus, part of Christmas Eve passes in complete non-eating.
- What does "post to the first star" mean?
The tradition of not eating food until the first evening star is associated with the memory 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 Typicon prescribes fasting until the end of Vespers. However, the Vespers service is connected with the Liturgy and is served in the morning.
Therefore, we fast until the moment when a candle is brought to the center of the temple and a troparion to the Nativity of Christ is sung in front of the candle.
- Is the measure of abstinence the same for those who work and those who do not work on this day?
It is obvious that people in the temple are fasting, many commune on this day. It would be good if those who cannot be in the service in the temple, who work, honor this day with a more strict 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 is fasting before communion?
Those who receive communion at the night Liturgy on January 7 church tradition, eat food for the last time at least 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 border is established, a measure of abstinence that helps us to comply with 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 the intake of medicines and with the prescriptions of doctors. This is not about putting a weak person in a hospital, but about strengthening a person spiritually. Illness is already a difficult post and a feat. And here a person should already try to determine the measure of fasting according to his own strength. Any thing can be brought to the point of absurdity. For example, imagine that a priest who comes to give communion to a dying person asks when the person last ate?!
- At the Christmas Liturgy, many take communion. And people are somewhat embarrassed: you have just received communion, the books of the holy fathers say that in order to retain grace, you need to try to protect yourself from talking, especially laughter, and try to spend time after communion in prayer. And here festive feast, even with brothers and sisters in Christ...People are afraid to lose their prayerful spirit.
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 meet the holiday with joy, prayer and gratitude to God, then we fulfill the apostolic covenant.
Of course, this issue must be considered individually. Of course, if a person feels that he is losing his fertile mood behind a noisy celebration, then perhaps he should sit down at the table for a while, leave earlier, preserving spiritual joy.
– Is it obligatory to attend the evening service on the very day of the holiday - the evening of the Christmas holiday?
This is for everyone to decide for themselves. After the night service, you need to recuperate. Not everyone, due to age, health and spiritual level, is able to go to the temple and take part in the service. But we must remember that the Lord rewards for every effort that a person makes for Him.
The evening service on this day is not long, especially spiritual, solemn and joyful, the Great Prokeimenon is proclaimed at it, so, of course, it’s good if you can visit it.
— Issues related to Orthodox tradition meals at Christmas.
The foundations for celebrating Christmas Eve were established by the Orthodox Church as early as the 4th century. According to tradition, on Christmas Eve it is customary to refuse food until the first star. This tradition is connected with the tradition of the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of Christ, but it is not recorded in the charter of the church.
For the Orthodox, the Christmas meal began with a reception of kutya. The order of eating was determined by strict rules: appetizers were served first, then red borscht, mushroom or fish soup. To borscht mushroom soup ears or pies with mushrooms were served, and for Orthodox sochni - flour cakes fried in hemp oil. At the end of the meal, sweet dishes were served on the table: gingerbread, roll with poppy seeds, honey cakes, apples, nuts, cranberry jelly, dried fruit compote.

Christians celebrate it on January 7, or more precisely, the celebration begins on January 6 on Christmas Eve, this day is usually called Christmas Eve.

What do they do on Christmas in the church: what kind of holiday, when to go to church?

Christmas is a special holiday. And the service on this day is special. Or rather, at night… After all, in many of our churches the Liturgy (and it happens that both Great Compline and Matins) is served precisely at night.

The liturgy is a divine service that practically does not change in connection with the holidays. The main liturgical texts, the main hymns that explain the event remembered on this day and set us up on how to properly celebrate the holiday, are sung and read in the temple during Vespers and Matins.

Church ministers remind: “If we talk about the Christmas service, then this, if you like, is one of those gifts that we can bring to the manger of the born Savior. Yes, the most important gift to God is the fulfillment of His commandments of love for Him and love for one’s neighbor.” , but all the same, various gifts are being prepared for the birthday, and one of these can be a long prayer at the service.

Those who want to properly follow the example of our ancestors - ancient Christians, saints, celebrate the Nativity of Christ, should, if work permits, on the eve of Christmas, January 6, at the morning service. On Christmas itself, you should come to Great Compline and Matins and, of course, to the Divine Liturgy.

Christmas Eve (Nativity Eve) is the last day of Advent, the eve of the Nativity of Christ. The date of the holiday is January 6th.

On this day, Orthodox Christians especially prepare for the upcoming holiday, the whole day is filled with a special festive mood. On the morning of Christmas Eve, at the end of the Liturgy and the evening after it, a candle is brought to the center of the church and the priests sing the troparion to the Nativity of Christ in front of it. Services and the post of Christmas Eve have a number of features.

On the morning of January 6, Christmas Vespers are celebrated in churches. It sounds strange: Vespers is in the morning, but this is a necessary deviation from the Rule of the Church. Previously, Vespers began in the afternoon and continued with the Liturgy of Basil the Great, at which people took communion.

The whole day of January 6 before this service was a particularly strict fast, people did not eat food at all, preparing to take communion. After dinner, Vespers began, and Communion was already at dusk. And soon after this came the solemn Christmas matins, which began to be served on the night of January 7th.

If you decide to bring children to the temple at night, then the main criterion for attending such long services should be the desire of the children themselves to come to this service. No violence or coercion is allowed!

To visit a night service or a morning one - you need to watch it according to your strength. Meeting the holiday at night is, of course, a special joy: both spiritual and spiritual.

Solemn night services contribute to a deeper prayerful experience and perception of the Holiday.

What do they do on Christmas in the church: how to fast, celebrate?

If for some reason you didn’t get to the liturgy on Christmas Eve, for example, you were cleaning, were at work or cooked meatless dishes y and so on, then already, please, eat after the “first star”. Since you did not bear the feat of prayer, at least bear the feat of fasting.

We remember that, according to the Russian proverb, “A full belly is deaf to prayer,” and therefore a more strict fast prepares us for the coming joy of the holiday.

Regarding how to fast before Communion, if it is at a night service, then according to existing practice, the liturgical fast (that is, complete abstinence from food and water) in this case is 6 hours, but this is not directly formulated anywhere, and there are no clear instructions in the charter, how many hours before communion you can not eat.

On a normal Sunday, when a person is preparing for Communion, it is customary not to eat food after midnight, but if you are going to take communion at a nightly Christmas service, then it would be correct not to eat food somewhere after 21.00.

In any case, it is better to coordinate this issue with the confessor.

Christmas Day just like Epiphany Christmas Eve, is a fasting day, moreover, a day of strict fasting. According to the charter, boiled food without oil and wine are put on this day.

Christmas Eve in in large numbers materials appear in which attention is focused on some dubious pre-Christmas and post-Christmas traditions, eating certain dishes, fortune-telling, festivities, caroling, and so on - all that husk, which is often very far from the true meaning of the great holiday of the advent of our Redeemer into the world .

If it is a priority for someone to sit at a rich table, then all day on the eve of the holiday, including when the festive vespers are already being served, the person is preparing festive dishes.

If it is more important for a person to meet the born Christ, then he, first of all, goes to worship, and already in his free time he prepares what he has enough time for.

In general, it is strange that a tradition has appeared that it is mandatory to sit on the day of the holiday and absorb a variety of plentiful dishes. It is neither medically nor spiritually useful. It turns out that we fasted the whole Lent, missed the Christmas Vespers and the Liturgy of Basil the Great - and all this in order to just sit down and eat. You can do it at any other time...

By this day, our ancestors prepared something that does not require special efforts in preparation, and in the afternoon a more festive meal was being prepared.

Spotted a typo or mistake? Select the text and press Ctrl+Enter to tell us about it.

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

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

Many Orthodox people are wondering when to celebrate Christmas. In fact, they celebrate Christmas, and 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 memory of saints according to the old style ( julian calendar), Catholic - according to Gregorian (this is associated with astronomical phenomena).

Concerning Christmas 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 the New Year modestly, calmly, in order to observe the fast. Nevertheless, an Orthodox person can also have fun on New Year's Eve, trying not to eat meat or any especially tasty things (if he is visiting). Also, children in Orthodox families should not be deprived of the New Year holiday, 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.

Note that Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and a number of Orthodox Local Churches, but Easter is celebrated by all Orthodox on the same day (this holiday shifts depending on the phases of the moon). The point is that only Orthodox Easter convergence is made Holy Fire in Jerusalem.

Christmas - the twelfth holiday

Each church holiday has a special instructive, educational meaning. The holidays of the Church preserve the true purpose of the 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, omens were timed to them, they began to bring certain seasonal fruits for consecration, that is, the blessing of God in the church, to pray for certain things related to the holiday.

In the annual church cycle there are twelve holidays, called "twelfth" (in Church Slavonic duodecimal). These are the days dedicated to the most important events of the earthly life of Christ and the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as the most important historical events Churches.

The traditions of their celebration have evolved over the centuries, and today they are celebrated all over the world, and, due to their prevalence, they cover even 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 each Orthodox country these holidays reflect traditions, national mentality and historical culture. So, in Russia and Greece, on different holidays, earthly fruits are brought for blessing. Elements of Slavic ritualism have been preserved, for example, in the traditions of caroling on the Christmas holiday in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

Thanks to the tolerance and love of the Orthodox Church, many ancient good traditions have come down to our days.

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 take communion on the Twelfth Feasts.

The twelfth holidays are divided according to their content:

• Lord's (Lord's) - eight holidays,


• Mother of God - four,


• commemoration days of sacred events.

It is interesting that Christmas belongs to the Lord's holidays, and the priests' robes on this day are Mother of God, that is, blue and silver. This is a tribute to the Mother of Christ, because this is Her holiday.

What is celebrated on Christmas - history

Christmas is the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Gospel tells that due to the census, Joseph-Obrochnik and Holy Mother of God were forced to come to Bethlehem, the home of Joseph. Due to a simple household detail - the overflow of hotels for the poor, there was no money for expensive rooms - they were forced to take refuge in a cave along with livestock, with domestic animals. 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 bow to the Child, and wise magicians led by the Star of Bethlehem.

It is historically attested 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 heaven 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 came thanks to it to worship the Son of God and bring their gifts to Him.

At Christmas, they ask the Lord for the gift and upbringing of children, remember the simplicity of the Birth of the Divine Infant and try to do good deeds during Christmas time - the week between Christmas and Epiphany.

Christmas Eve

The day before Christmas, January 6, is Christmas Eve. On this day, until the "evening star", that is, until dusk, according to the Charter of the Church, they did not eat at all, they could only drink water or tea. In our time, it is difficult to fulfill such a strict fast. Try, especially if you did not fast during the Christmas fast, to make a small sacrifice to the Lord - refrain from meat and dairy products, from fish (even from at least one thing, including sweets) this morning. Interestingly, there was a historical joke when Count Suvorov did not eat anything during dinner with Catherine II 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 of the words of the troparion in the church, prayers in honor of the feast of the Nativity of Christ, where the word star is mentioned.

“Your Christmas, our God of Christ, shone to the world as the light of reason: in it the servants of the stars (magicians) learned to worship You with a star, the Sun of Truth, and to know You, Coming from the height of the East. Lord, glory to Thee."

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, many people spend December 31st, forced to fast: the wife does not have time to eat in the chores in the kitchen, and the family, looking into the refrigerator, hears from her mother: “Don’t touch it, it’s for the New Year!” But fasting on Christmas Eve on the eve of Christmas has a deeper meaning, a spiritual purpose that is different from just “creating a festive mood”.

How to get ready for Christmas?

Looking forward to Christmas, it is worth paying more attention to meaningful preparation for the holiday, rather than dinner. Prepare, for example, for Confession and Communion by prayer and remembrance of sins. Confess the day before, because on the night of January 6-7 and even on the morning of January 7, churches are crowded. It will be difficult to confess, but to take communion is a doubly holiday, a double grace.

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

How to enter the church

Many people who do not yet know a lot about the Church are getting used to being "goers" - to come in when it is convenient, put candles and not pray at divine services. However, the Lord Himself speaks of church prayer for a common worship: "Where two or three gather in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

The original meaning of the word "Church" is a gathering of Christ's disciples, Christians; in translation - "meeting". It is interesting that the first Christians often gathered not only in buildings, it is important that they were together even under open sky and could perform the Sacraments, pray.

Therefore, try not only to come to church on Christmas Day, but also to pray, and even better, prepare and take communion at the Liturgy. Home Service in the church, the main Sacrament is the Liturgy. The most strong prayer- this is any commemoration of a person at the Liturgy and, of course, communion itself. During the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the whole Church prays for a person. Communion, people receive great power and grace from God.

The Church blesses to take communion at least once a year: about once a month is better.

Length of service in the church

Note that not every every Orthodox church night service is performed from 6 to 7 January. There may be options, and you can go to the temple that is more convenient for you to visit, on the schedule that you are ready for. 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;


• At the monastery whether the temple or the parish;


• Seasons - in small, rural temples.

Before Christmas, a solemn evening service will be performed - the All-Night Vigil. The name is just a tradition, the service does not go on all night, but for about 2-3 hours in different churches.

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

The next day in the morning, at about 9 or 10:00 will be made Divine Liturgy, behind 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 divine service of the saint will begin at 23:30. Then during the night they will perform an all-night vigil, hours and Divine Liturgy.

The All-Night Vigil begins with Compline, at which prophecies and psalms are read, and in the middle the choir sings the solemn festive chant "God is with us." It includes the singing of verses from the prophetic book of Isaiah that the great God himself, the Father of the future age, is present with people today. This hymn begins with the words "God is with us, understand the nations (that is, peoples) and repent (submit to the power of God), as (because) God is with us."

Immediately following Great Compline, a festive Christmas Vespers is served. It begins with a litia, a part of the service, at which bread is consecrated, vegetable oil(oil), wheat and wine. Then the divine service of the festive matins is performed, at which the choir performs many solemn hymns. At Matins, an excerpt from the Gospel is read, which tells about the event of the Nativity of Christ. “Hours” (short services consisting of reading three psalms and some prayers) join Matins. Thus ends the festive All-Night Vigil. It will take about one and a half hours.

You will understand that the All-night Vigil is over, because after that the priest will proclaim "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Thus begins the festive Liturgy. It will last about one 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 denotes the Nativity or Bethlehem. It is historically attested 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 heaven 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 came thanks to it 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 interpreted on the icon “The Savior in Strength”, 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, the octogram is an equilateral star. You can see it 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 garment of the Mother of God, the maforium, has an image of gold embroidery of the three stars of the Mother of God: above the forehead and on the shoulders. They mean that the Mother of God before, during and after the birth of the Son of God by Her remained and remained the Virgin, shining with the virtue of chastity and others.

On the icon of the Virgin "The Burning Bush" Her image with the Son is inscribed in an eight-pointed star (but this is not the "star of the Virgin"). This is a fairly late iconographic type; it carries the same symbolism as the icon of the Savior in Power.

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 consecrates many icon cases, church utensils, and decorations of pious Christian women. There is no sin in using it in home decor at Christmas, on the contrary, it is a very pious and beautiful custom. You can make it with your own hands by gluing, for example, a paper icon of the Nativity of Christ to 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. One must be able to become a guiding star for people in this world with the help of good deeds.

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

For everybody Orthodox person Christmas is the brightest and most significant holiday of the year. Perhaps only Easter can be compared with it in terms of importance. Christmas is both a warm family celebration and one of the main church holidays. Therefore, most of the Orthodox seek to visit the temple on this day and devote time to their loved ones. However, how to combine both, and more, many simply do not represent. They are especially concerned about when they go to church at Christmas. After all, the service on this great day in some churches lasts almost a day and can be very tiring. Today we will tell readers how many people go to church at Christmas and how to do it right, separating the original Christian traditions from those that were invented much later. ordinary people.

The history of the formation of Christmas

All Christians know that on this great day it is customary to glorify the coming of the baby Jesus into this world. That is why believers go to church on Christmas night and stand for long services to pay tribute to the Savior and end the long fast, which lasts for forty days.

However, modern inhabitants do not even suspect that for the first Christians, Christmas was not such a significant celebration as it is now. They focused all their attention on the Resurrection of Christ and tried on this very day to pray to the Savior for as long as possible and thank him for everything he had done for mankind.

Around the fourth century, Christians combined Christmas and Epiphany into one celebration. It was celebrated on the sixth of January, and this day became very significant for the church. However, after a few decades, it became necessary to separate these dates. After much doubt, Christmas was moved to the twenty-fifth of December, which has been preserved by Catholics to this day.

It is interesting that our ancestors firmly believed in certain oddities and miracles that accompany this date. For example, everyone believed that on Christmas two opposing forces reign on earth - good and evil. They are fighting a battle for human souls, and only the Christian himself is responsible for how it ends. If he adjoins the forces of good, then he begins to glorify Christ, carol and spend time at the festive laid table in the circle of loved ones. Otherwise, the person became part of dark forces, and witches could take him to the Sabbath.

Today, Christmas is a celebration of the unity of man with God and the glorification of what he has done for each of us. Therefore, it is believed that on this day we must visit the temple, in order to bring a gift to Christ in the form of prayer and gratitude. Despite the fact that this celebration is always celebrated on the same day when they go to church at Christmas, few people know. We will talk about this in the following sections of the article.

The duration of the Christmas service, where did this tradition come from

We think why they go to church at Christmas, we have already explained. But nevertheless, we repeat once again - on this day it will be right to pray, take communion and thank God for everything that he has given us this year. But far from all Christians can hold out on their feet throughout the entire service. Many believers doubt whether they can stand all night in the temple. After all, leaving the service is considered an unacceptable sin.

People, when they go to church on Christmas, often complain that it is quite difficult for them to endure the lack of food due to fasting and long worship. However, in fact, earlier festive service could last for a day. This is how the early Christians glorified the Lord at the dawn of religion.

By the way, this tradition has its own quite understandable reasons. The fact is that Christians were severely persecuted by the authorities of all the cities where they appeared, so they could pray only at night, away from prying eyes.

In addition, during that period of time, Christians were so ardent with faith that they could spend more than a day in prayer. It was in a common impulse that they achieved unity with God, which is inaccessible to most modern Orthodox. The clergy say that the tradition of long solemn divine services has been preserved in many monasteries. For example, on Mount Athos, when they go to church at Christmas, they are ready for the service to last at least twenty-one hours. Of course, the brothers are given a short rest, but still the service never ends before eighteen hours.

Do people go to church on Christmas for a short time? Until the beginning of the twentieth century, no one even asked such a question, since believers were accustomed to long worship. However, after the revolution, this tradition completely lost its relevance and now has not been revived. After all, the clergy themselves do not consider the night service to be long, and besides, it is not the most important on this holiday.

Can I go to church before Christmas?

Most believers believe that it is imperative to attend the service, which begins on the night of the sixth to the seventh of January. However, in fact, this opinion is erroneous, because the holiday begins exactly on 6. When do they go to church for Christmas in this case? It is believed that this day precedes the holiday.

If you want to do everything according to the rules, then keep in mind that the Christmas service begins on the morning of the sixth of January. Exactly at morning hours Vespers is served, followed by the Liturgy. On it, a person can take communion and then proceed to other matters. Therefore, if for some good reason you cannot defend the night service, then visit the church before Christmas - on the morning of January 6th. This visit will be much more beneficial for your soul and is in line with ancient Christian traditions.

Where did the custom to start celebrating on the morning of the sixth of January come from?

If our contemporaries cannot accurately answer whether they go to church on Christmas from the very early morning, then in pre-revolutionary times this question did not even arise in the heads of the Orthodox. They were ready to spend the whole day of the sixth of January in prayer work and at the same time did not even eat food, since the fast ended only on the seventh day.

Usually the Orthodox came to church in the early morning, but the solemn service began only after dinner. During this period, the priests began to serve vespers, and with the onset of twilight, it passed into the liturgy. Until that moment, no one could afford to leave the temple or start eating. After communion, Christians began to serve Matins, which became the most festive moment over the past day. At the end of the service, the Orthodox congratulated each other and went to the festive table, which also served as a symbol of the end of a long fast.

When do people go to church on Christmas Day?

So, modern Christians no longer adhere to the old customs. They find hundreds of reasons for this, including extraordinary employment at work. But you can go to church at Christmas according to modern traditions. If you want to do everything right, then you should follow the following rules:

• attend the morning service on the sixth of January;
• defend the liturgy and take communion;
• to attend the solemn Vespers, which ends on the morning of the seventh of January.

Of course, it is difficult to endure such prayer work. But some clergy give a number of tips to help you cope with long worship services on a holiday.

At Christmas, you can and should go to church, but this visit requires careful preparation. The clergy are ready to give all Orthodox some advice on this matter:

• Be sure to rest before the service. You should not come to the temple after hard work, because you will still struggle with sleep and will not be able to withstand the entire service. Such an attitude is not pleasing to Christ, so if possible, sleep for a few hours and only after that go to church.
• Fast properly. If you attend the morning service on January 6 and take communion before evening, then you can start eating in the evening. Those who plan to defend only the night service from the sixth to the seventh of January will have to wait until the end of the service.
• Confess before Christmas. You should not hope for confession on the holiday itself, this is impossible in an ordinary church, since there is usually one priest serving there, who physically cannot do everything at the same time.
• Read prayers mindfully. Prepare for the service: select psalms, find their translations and information about the service itself. It is necessary that each person consciously perceives everything that is happening around. Otherwise, there will be no point in being present in the temple.
• Do not try to put candles in the church on Christmas and kiss the icons. Since there are always a lot of people in the temple on a holiday, there is no need to push the crowd and make your way to the icons. It is better to do it on another day and not overshadow the celebration, causing discontent among the parishioners.

Priests also advise believers to take communion. This moment should not be omitted, even if you are very busy.

Children and going to church

Can children go to church on Christmas Day? Believers often ask the clergy about this, because if it is difficult for adults to endure a solemn service, then it will be even more difficult for children to do this.

So, what if you want to take your child with you? Ask for his opinion first. If the baby's eyes are burning and he sincerely wants to go with you to pray at night, then be sure to fulfill his desire. However, keep in mind that the child will not survive the entire service, and for him it is necessary to take a soft bed with him so that the baby can take a nap. You can wake him up right before the sacrament.

What can and should be done at Christmas?

Very often people get confused in the customs and rules of church holidays. Sometimes they do things they think are right and limit themselves in many ways. However, in reality, everything turns out to be much simpler. So, for Christmas, everyone can:

• visit the temple;
• glorify Christ;
• perform the daily work that is necessary to ensure the life of the whole family;
• work if it is extremely important for acquiring something;
• sew and knit, but only when you are preparing a gift for your loved ones;
• give alms;
• go shopping;
• marital relations are not prohibited if the couple really wants to have a child.

What can not be done on a holy holiday?

There are not so many Christmas prohibitions, so it’s easy to remember them:

• in no case should you swear and let any negativity into your life;
• you can not wear clothes of dark colors;
• drinking alcohol and participating in entertainment events is not welcome on this day;
• clergy condemn visits to cemeteries and fortune-telling.

On the last point, there are often disputes in society, because it is believed that Christmas divination belong to the most ancient Slavic tradition. However, the church categorically condemns the occult, which includes any attempt to look into the future.

The tradition of "12 stravas": is it necessary to cook so much for Christmas

Almost every housewife knows about the need to prepare twelve dishes for the holiday, and they are ready to spend a lot of time to adhere to this tradition exactly. However, the clergy themselves consider this rite invented and having nothing to do with Christian rites. In order to understand the whole inconsistency of the tradition of "12 Straves", it is necessary to remember that fasting is still on the sixth and seventh. Therefore, housewives should cook only lean dishes, and without adding oil. How many recipes for such dishes can you name? Most likely the smallest amount.

Therefore, do not neglect visiting the church for the sake of the festive table. Do not forget that Christmas is primarily a spiritual holiday.

If you really kept a fast, then ending it with a plentiful feast is not only harmful, but also dangerous to health. Therefore, the first meal after communion should be as light as possible. In the monasteries the brothers make do with fresh bread, cheese and warm milk. This was quite enough to get enough and already calmly start preparing a solemn meal.

Priests advise not to focus on this special attention. After a long service, you should not waste your last strength on festive table from several dishes. Involve all household members in the preparation of food and then, in a good mood, sit down at the table, on which there will be a simple and delicious food.

Worship Schedule

Before planning a trip to church on the sixth or seventh of January, be sure to find out what time the service is scheduled in your church. In each church, divine services are held according to their own schedule; there is no single regulation on this matter. Therefore, be careful and visit the temple on the eve of the holiday.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the Lord sees the soul of each of us and reads in it not only actions, but also intentions. Only He knows how difficult it was for you to cancel all your affairs, stand the liturgy and pray together with everyone. But only such actions make us better, purer and closer to Christ. Do not forget about this either on the bright holiday of Christmas or on weekdays.