Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

On Fasting

Question:

With Sviatiy Vechir Meal being a traditional lenten, Fast-Breaking Holy Dinner, is it correct to believe that the Day (and/or the period) leading to Holy Night, was traditionally a day of Fasting and Prayer?

Answer:

Dr. Alexander Roman alex.roman@unicorne.org

Yes, indeed, January 6th was always a very strict day of fasting in preparation for the Sviat-Vechir supper, the holy church services and the day of the Nativity according to the Flesh of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

The Nativity fast, that was formerly observed by the entire, once united, Church of Christ, East and West, is a forty-day fast that began at the end of November on the feast of St Philip the Apostle which is why it is also called the "St Philip's Fast" or "Pylypivka." Interestingly, the Coptic tradition has added three more days of the Nativity fast to its beginning in
honour of their Saint Samaan ("the Tanner").

And although the 12 day period between the feast of the Nativity and that of the Theophany on January 19th is a fast-free period, January 18th is also a strict fast-day in preparation for the Theophany Holy Eve (the Russians call it the "Sochelnyk").

Although not a fast-day, the eve of January 13th ("Malanka" after St Melania of Rome whose feast it is) that ushers in the New Year according to the Julian Calendar also has its "Sviat Vechir" supper that in areas of Ukraine outside of Galicia is called the "Schedry Vechir" while in Galicia this term is reserved for the eve of the Theophany on January 18th (by the way, January 18th is Christmas Day for Armenians who live in Israel!).

While the Orthodox Churches of Ukraine and Russia today are obliged to observe the New Year according to the civil calendar (for example, the Patriarch of Moscow celebrates the New Year Moleben service on January 1st) as the people observe it, January 14th is the feast of the Circumcision and Naming of our Lord Jesus (as well as the feast of St Basil the Great) and is therefore a most significant liturgical Feast quite apart from the "new year's hoopla" with which the Malanka is now, sadly, associated with.

It is a feast that calls to mind the spirituality of the Jesus Prayer - the constant meditation on and repetition of the words: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." The great "Monk of the Eastern Church"
Fr. Lev Gillet counselled the use of just the Holy Name of "Jesus" in praying the Jesus Prayer and January 14th can be a liturgical celebration of thanksgiving for the great Gift to us of the Name at which every knee shall bow. The centre of all our traditions etc. is, in fact, the Person Whom we invoke when we pray the Jesus Prayer." Jesus is our fulfillment, our
salvation and our sanctification.

May the constant invocation of the Name of our Lord Jesus be ever on our lips, in our minds and hearts. May it be our constant defence in all our temptations, troubles and trials throughout our lives. May the Name of Jesus possess us so thoroughly that we may repeat with St Paul, "It is not I who live, but it is Jesus Christ Who lives in me!"

[ Home ] [ Articles ] [ Prayer ] [ Saints ] [ Theophilus ] [ Q & A ] [About Us] [ ]