Fasting, according to Christian tradition, is one of the means that allows believers to spiritually cultivate themselves on the path to achieving the "joy of heaven." The Orthodox are usually supposed to refrain from taking certain types of food in memory of any significant events in the history of salvation. Christmas post is no exception. He is dated, as can be judged by his name, to the date of the birth of the Savior.
So when does the Christmas fast begin? According to church traditions, believing Christians should refrain from eating certain types of food for 40 days before the celebration of Christmas. The Orthodox Church marks the birth of Jesus Christ, as you know, on January 7 in a new style. Accordingly, it will be easy to calculate the start time of the post.
Exact date
Thus, the beginning of the Christmas Lent, according to tradition, falls on November 28 according to a new style. This day according to the canons of the Orthodox Church is also dedicated to St. Philip. Therefore, the Christmas post is sometimes also called Filippov, or in common people - Fillipovka.
History of tradition
To comply with the Christmas post was adopted, as the researchers found, back in early Christianity - in the fourth century AD. e. Until 1166, fasting before the celebration of the birth of the Savior to Christians did not take too long - only 7 days. But later this period was increased to forty days. The decision to extend the Christmas post was made by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Luca Chrysergos.
