Orthodox holidays in March and April.

The movable part of the church calendar moves along with the date of Easter, which changes from year to year. The very date of the celebration of Easter is determined according to lunar calendar and a number of additional dogmatic factors (do not celebrate Easter with the Jews, celebrate Easter only after the spring equinox, celebrate Easter only after the first spring full moon). All holidays with variable dates are counted from Easter and move in the time of the "secular" calendar along with it.

Thus, both parts of the Easter calendar (movable and fixed) together determine the calendar of Orthodox holidays.

The following are the most significant events for an Orthodox Christian - the so-called Twelfth Feasts and Great Feasts. Although the Orthodox Church celebrates holidays according to the "old style", which differs by 13 days, the dates in the Calendar for convenience are indicated according to the generally accepted secular calendar of the new style.

Orthodox calendar for 2017:

07.01 - Christmas (twelfth)
14.01 - Circumcision of the Lord (great)
19.01 - The baptism of the Lord (twelfth)
02.15 - Meeting of the Lord (twelfth)
07.04 - Annunciation Holy Mother of God(twelfth)
May 21 - Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
May 22 - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, Wonderworker
07.07 - Nativity of John the Baptist (great)
12.07 - Holy First. Apostles Peter and Paul (great)
19.08 - Transfiguration of the Lord (twelfth)
28.08 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
11.09 - Beheading of John the Baptist (great)
21.09 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (twelfth)
September 27 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross (twelfth)
09.10 - Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
14.10 - Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (great)
04.12 - Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos (twelfth)
December 19 - St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, miracle worker

days special commemoration deceased

02/18/2017 - Universal parent saturday(Saturday before the week of the Last Judgment)
03/11/2017 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent
03/18/2017 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent
03/25/2017 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent
04/25/2017 - Radonitsa (Tuesday of the 2nd week of Easter)
05/09/2017 - Commemoration of the deceased soldiers
06/03/2017 - Trinity Parental Saturday (Saturday before Trinity)
10/28/2017 - Dmitrievskaya parent Saturday (Saturday before November 8)

ABOUT ORTHODOX HOLIDAYS:

TWENTH HOLIDAYS

In worship Orthodox Church twelve great feasts of the annual liturgical cycle (except for the feast of Pascha). Subdivided into Lord's, dedicated to Jesus Christ, and Theotokos, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos.

According to the time of celebration, the Twelfth Feasts divided into motionless(non-passing) and mobile(passing). The first are constantly celebrated on the same dates of the month, the second fall every year on different numbers, depending on the date of the celebration Easter.

ABOUT MEAL ON HOLIDAYS:

According to the church charter on holidays Christmas and Epiphany that happened on Wednesday and Friday, there is no post.

AT Christmas and Epiphany Christmas Eve and on holidays Exaltation of the Holy Cross and The Beheading of John the Baptist food is allowed vegetable oil.

On the feasts of the Presentation, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Assumption, the Nativity and Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which happened on Wednesday and Friday, as well as in the period from Easter before Trinity fish is allowed on Wednesday and Friday.

ABOUT LOSTS IN ORTHODOXY:

Fast- a form of religious asceticism, an exercise of the spirit, soul and body on the path to salvation within the framework of a religious outlook; voluntary self-restraint in food, entertainment, communication with the world. bodily fasting- restriction in food; spiritual post- restriction of external impressions and pleasures (solitude, silence, prayerful concentration); spiritual post- the struggle with their "corporal lusts", a period of especially intense prayer.

Most importantly, you need to be aware that bodily fasting without spiritual fasting brings nothing to save the soul. On the contrary, it can be spiritually harmful if a person, abstaining from food, becomes imbued with the consciousness of his own superiority and righteousness. “The one who thinks that fasting is only abstaining from food is mistaken. true post, - teaches St. John Chrysostom, - there is a removal from evil, curbing the tongue, putting off anger, taming lusts, ending slander, lies and perjury. Fast- not a goal, but a means to distract from the pleasure of your body, to concentrate and think about your soul; without all this, it becomes just a diet.

Great Lent, Holy Forty Day(Greek Tessarakoste; Lat. Quadragesima) - the period of the liturgical year preceding Holy Week and Easter, the most important of multi-day posts. Due to the fact that Easter may fall into different calendar numbers, great post also each year starts on a different day. It includes 6 weeks, or 40 days, therefore it is also called St. Forty-cost.

Fast for an Orthodox person is a set of good deeds, sincere prayer, abstinence in everything, including food. A bodily fast is necessary to perform a spiritual and spiritual fast, all of them in their union form post true, contributing to the spiritual reunion of fasting with God. AT days of fasting(days of fasting) the Church Charter prohibits modest food - meat and dairy products; fish is allowed only in some fast days. AT days of strict fasting not only fish is not allowed, but any hot food and food cooked in vegetable oil, only cold food without oil and unheated drink (sometimes called dry eating). The Russian Orthodox Church has four multi-day fasts, three one-day fasts, and, in addition, a fast on Wednesday and Friday (excluding special weeks) throughout the year.

Wednesday and Friday established as a sign that on Wednesday Christ was betrayed by Judas, and on Friday he was crucified. Saint Athanasius the Great said: "Allowing me to eat fast food on Wednesday and Friday, this person crucifies the Lord." In the summer and autumn meat-eaters (periods between the Petrov and Assumption fasts and between the Assumption and Rozhdestvensky fasts), Wednesday and Friday are days of strict fasting. In winter and spring meat-eaters (from Christmas to Great Lent and from Easter to Trinity), the Charter allows fish on Wednesday and Friday. Fish on Wednesday and Friday is also allowed when the feasts of the Meeting of the Lord, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Nativity of the Virgin, the Entrance of the Virgin into the Temple, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostle John the Theologian. If the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and the Baptism of the Lord fall on Wednesday and Friday, then fasting on these days is canceled. On the eve (eve, Christmas Eve) of the Nativity of Christ (usually the day of strict fasting), which happened on Saturday or Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.

Solid weeks(in Church Slavonic a week is called a week - the days from Monday to Sunday) mean the absence of fasting on Wednesday and Friday. They were established by the Church as an indulgence before a multi-day fast or as a rest after it. Solid weeks are as follows:
1. Christmas time - from January 7 to 18 (11 days), from Christmas to Epiphany.
2. Publican and Pharisee - two weeks before Lent.
3. Cheese - a week before Lent (allowed the whole week of eggs, fish and dairy, but without meat).
4. Easter (Bright) - a week after Easter.
5. Trinity - a week after the Trinity (week before Peter's fast).

One day posts, except Wednesday and Friday (days of strict fasting, without fish, but food with vegetable oil is allowed):
1. Epiphany Christmas Eve (Eve of Theophany) January 18, the day before the feast of the Epiphany. On this day, believers prepare themselves for the acceptance of the great shrine - Agiasma - baptismal Holy water, for purification and consecration by it at the upcoming holiday.
2. The beheading of John the Baptist - September 11. On this day, a fast is established in memory of the abstemious life of the great prophet John and his lawless murder by Herod.
3. Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27. This day reminds us of the sad event on Golgotha, when the Savior of the human race suffered on the Cross "for our salvation". And therefore this day must be spent in prayer, fasting, contrition for sins, in a feeling of repentance.

MULTI-DAY POSTS:

1. Great Lent or Holy Forty Day.
It begins seven weeks before the feast of Holy Pascha and consists of Forty days (forty days) and Holy Week (the week leading up to Pascha). Forty days was established in honor of the forty-day fast of the Savior Himself, and Holy Week - in remembrance last days earthly life, suffering, death and burial of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The total continuation of Great Lent along with Holy Week is 48 days.
The days from the Nativity of Christ to Great Lent (until Shrovetide) are called the Christmas or winter meat-eater. This period contains three continuous weeks - Christmas time, Publican and Pharisee, Shrove Tuesday. After Christmas time on Wednesdays and Fridays, fish is allowed, up to a continuous week (when you can eat meat on all days of the week), coming after the "Week of the publican and the Pharisee" ("week" in Church Slavonic means "Sunday"). In the next, after a continuous week, fish is no longer allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but vegetable oil is still allowed. Monday - food with oil, Wednesday, Friday - cold without oil. This establishment has the goal of gradual preparation for Great Lent. The last time before fasting, meat is allowed on the "Meat Week" - the Sunday before Shrovetide.
In the next week - cheese (Shrovetide) eggs, fish, dairy products are allowed all week, but meat is no longer eaten. They head for Great Lent (the last time they eat fast, with the exception of meat, food) on the last day of Shrovetide - Forgiveness Sunday. This day is also called "Cheesefare Week".
It is accepted with special strictness to observe the first and Holy Weeks of Great Lent. On Monday of the first week of fasting (Clean Monday), the highest degree of fasting is established - complete abstinence from food (pious lay people who have ascetic experience abstain from food on Tuesday as well). On the remaining weeks of fasting: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - cold food without oil, Tuesday, Thursday - hot food without oil (vegetable, cereal, mushroom), on Saturday and Sunday vegetable oil is allowed and, if necessary for health, a little pure grape wine (but in no case vodka). If a memory of a great saint happens (with an all-night vigil or a polyeleos service the day before), then on Tuesday and Thursday - food with vegetable oil, Monday, Wednesday, Friday - hot food without oil. You can inquire about the holidays in the Typicon or the Followed Psalter. Fish is allowed twice for the entire fast: on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos (if the holiday did not fall on Holy Week) and on Palm Sunday, on Lazarus Saturday (the Saturday before Palm Sunday) fish caviar is allowed, on Friday of Holy Week it is customary not to eat any food before taking out shrouds (our ancestors in Good Friday did not eat at all).
bright week(week after Easter) - solid - fast food is allowed on all days of the week. Starting from next week after continuous up to Trinity (spring meat-eater) fish is allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The week between Trinity and Peter's Lent is continuous.

2. Petrov or Apostolic post.
Fasting begins a week after the feast of the Holy Trinity and ends on July 12, on the day of the celebration of the memory of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, established in honor of the holy apostles and in remembrance of the fact that the holy apostles, after the descent of the Holy Spirit upon them, dispersed to all countries with the good news, always abiding in the feat of fasting and prayer. The duration of this post is different years different and depends on the day of the celebration of Easter. The shortest post lasts 8 days, the longest - 6 weeks. Fish in this post is allowed, except Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Monday - hot food without oil, Wednesday and Friday - strict fast (cold food without oil). On other days - fish, cereals, mushroom dishes with vegetable oil. If the memory of a great saint happens on Monday, Wednesday or Friday - hot food with butter. On the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist (July 7), according to the Charter, fish is allowed.
In the period from the end of the Petrov fast to the beginning of the Assumption fast (summer meat-eater), Wednesday and Friday are days of strict fasting. But if the holidays of a great saint fall on these days with an all-night vigil or a polyeleos service the day before, then food with vegetable oil is allowed. If temple holidays occur on Wednesday and Friday, then fish is also allowed.

3. Assumption fast (from August 14 to 27).
Established in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Herself Mother of God preparing to leave for eternal life constantly fasting and praying. We, the spiritually weak and weak, all the more should resort to fasting as often as possible, turning to the Blessed Virgin for help in every need and sorrow. This fast lasts only two weeks, but in severity it is consistent with the Great. Fish is allowed only on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), and if the end of the fast (Assumption) falls on Wednesday or Friday, then this day is also fish. Monday, Wednesday, Friday - cold food without oil, Tuesday and Thursday - hot food without oil, Saturday and Sunday - food with vegetable oil. Wine is prohibited on all days. If the memory of a great saint happens, then on Tuesday and Thursday - hot food with butter, Monday, Wednesday, Friday - hot food without butter.
The charter about food on Wednesdays and Fridays in the period from the end of the Dormition Fast to the beginning of the Christmas (autumn meat-eater) is the same as in the summer meat-eater, that is, on Wednesdays and Fridays, fish is allowed only on the days of the Twelfth and Temple holidays. Food with vegetable oil on Wednesday and Friday is allowed only if these days fall in memory of the great saint with an all-night vigil or with a polyeleos service the day before.

4. Christmas (Filippov) fast (from November 28 to January 6).
This fast is set for the day of the Nativity of Christ, so that we purify ourselves at this time by repentance, prayer and fasting and with a pure heart meet the Savior who has appeared in the world. Sometimes this fast is called Filippov, as a sign that it begins after the day of celebration of the memory of the Apostle Philip (November 27). The charter on food during this fast coincides with the charter of Peter's fast until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19). If the feasts of the Entrance into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos (December 4) and St. Nicholas fall on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. From the day of memory of St. Nicholas to the pre-feast of Christmas, which begins on January 2, fish is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, fasting is observed in the same way as on the days of Great Lent: fish is forbidden on all days, food with butter is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. On Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve), January 6, a pious custom requires not to eat food until the first evening star appears, after which it is customary to eat kolivo or sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins, in some areas boiled dry fruits with sugar. From the word "sochivo" comes the name of this day - Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is also before the feast of the Epiphany. On this day (January 18) it is also customary not to eat food until the adoption of Agiasma - baptismal holy water, which they begin to consecrate on the very day of Christmas Eve.

The spring month of March is difficult for Orthodox believers, because the foundations of Great Lent operate throughout the month. This restriction among believers is the most strict and long-term, it is mandatory for all Christians. There are no great church holidays in March 2017, but this does not mean that believers do not have important dates during the month.

Calendar of church holidays in March

Many Christian holidays in March 2017 are dedicated to the holy martyrs. In Orthodox churches, candles are placed in honor of the holy martyrs and prayer songs are sung. Every clergyman reveres with prayers important date. And what dates are generally significant?

To the calendar church holidays March included the basics of Lent. This restriction is complex and lengthy, so a certain category of believers is allowed to partially observe important rules. These people include travelers, old people, sick, pregnant women.

The main basis of Great Lent lies in the restriction of the usual menu. Thus, the believer is given to understand that food is not the main attribute happy life a person, it can be modest, but bring extraordinary joy. All products of animal origin are completely removed from the menu of believers.

On the above dates, believing Christians remember their deceased relatives or acquaintances. On such days, it is customary to visit church churches, pray for the repose of dead souls and light memorial candles.

It is known that the Catholic faith is in many ways similar to Christianity, these 2 religions differ only in the dates of the meeting of important church celebrations. What important Catholic church holidays in March 2017 are celebrated by Catholic believers?

March church holidays are remarkable, first of all, with the beginning of Great Lent, which lasts from 11th current month and ends at the end April (27-e number).

In 2019, the farewell to winter will begin with Maslenitsa, which we will celebrate March 4. A fun week is coming, full of jokes, festivities, songs, round dances, and of course, delicious pancakes. However, do not forget that meat products are not allowed on Shrovetide week, but you can enjoy dairy products and eggs. Each of the seven days of the Shrovetide week has its own name and corresponding rituals and customs that must be observed.

Forgiveness Sunday

March 10th of the month, on the last day of Shrovetide week, Forgiveness Sunday comes. Do not forget to sincerely ask everyone for forgiveness for all insults and bad words, as well as deeds. Also on this day, it is customary to visit the graves of loved ones, to leave pancakes there for the dead.

Discovery of the head of John the Baptist

On the March 9 one of the three Findings of the head of John the Baptist or John the Baptist falls out. He was the closest predecessor of Jesus Christ, preached his ideas even before the very appearance, and at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ was his Baptist, for which he was immortalized in the face of a Saint. Because of the queen of the Jews and her daughter, he was deprived of his head. In the folk calendar it is marked as Golovosek or Ivan-post.
This holiday teaches every Christian a grieving feeling, grieving for the death of the innocent righteous who died as violently as John. On this day, a strict fast is observed.
Parent ecumenical Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Great Lent.

Parents day

Next comes the memorial day, specially marked out among Great Lent, the first. The fact is that during the days of Great Lent, for the sake of cleansing the soul, it is impossible to hold full-fledged celebrations and rightfully grieve, for the rite of the Purification of the Lord takes place in every Christian. But it must also be taken into account that it is also impossible not to commemorate the dead. Therefore, on the day of Great Lent, the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after death are not celebrated, but are transferred to special Saturdays.
In addition to the general, each of these Parental Saturdays is designed to teach the Orthodox that it is necessary to unite in spiritual love not only with the living, but also with those who have already left us. Every soul that served and loved Jesus Christ needs to be known and remembered so that it does not remain forgotten and lost (the last line concerns, first of all, those people who did not die a natural death).
in 2019 parent Saturdays fall on 2 -e (Ecumenical Parental Saturday), 23rd (Saturday of the Second Week of Great Lent) and 30th number ( Saturday of the Third Week of Great Lent).

Forty Sebaiste Martyrs or Larks

This date has two shades - a memorial one, which is accepted in the Orthodox Church, and a celebrating one, which is present in the folk calendar.
Remember on this day March 22) forty martyrs who died in the 4th century defending the faith of Jesus Christ in Sebastia. The brave men were born in Cappadocia, and when they heard the demand to sacrifice to the pagan gods, they refused. In honor of the refusal, all forty people were driven into an icy lake, next to which a vat of boiling water was installed, so that those who still want to renounce Jesus Christ could be saved. Until morning, only one martyr tried to plunge into this vat, after which he immediately died, only strengthening the faith of the brothers. The Roman Aglaius, who was struck by the fortitude and strength of faith of each of those standing in the lake, undressed himself and joined them.
According to ancient legends, the Romans, who saw the unfreezing martyrs, could not stand it and decided to break their bones and burn them. So that none of the Christians would collect and bury the bones, they were thrown into the water. Exactly three days later, each of the saints appeared in a dream to blessed Peter demanding that their remains be buried.
This holiday is one of the most significant for the Orthodox Church, therefore on this day the strictest rules of Great Lent are eased, and even the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated. All the names of the martyrs are documented and marked as calendar name days.
According to folk calendar, on this day winter ends and spring begins, and also often this date is interconnected with the spring equinox. For the holiday, according to tradition, goodies are baked in the form of birds or the sun.

It was also believed that in the master's house, where there is a swallow's nest, happiness, harmony of spirit and love will always flourish.
Birds with outstretched wings and in nests were baked in order to be placed in the garden on the branches of trees - it was believed that if such a ceremony was performed regularly during this period, the cold of winter would eat up bread treats and would not interfere with the spring harvest. On the same day, every believer remembered all the stoneflies and sang them in order to call for the warm season as soon as possible.
Celebration traditions vary greatly depending on the region. In the Voronezh region, for example, it is customary to bake not cookies, but pancakes, lay them out in the shape of a bird with a cruciform tail, and put a coin inside the test for happiness and good luck.
In order to preserve their ability and luck in love, the young maidens of Pereyaslav region boiled forty dumplings with cottage cheese that day and treated young people.
In Kargopol, this holiday is called Teterochny Day, and treats are baked in the shape of the sun.
It is especially interesting how this holiday is celebrated in the Belarusian regions according to tradition. Girls who have finished working become in small groups far enough from each other on the banks of a river or other body of water (if there is none, just outside the village). Each group begins to sing the stonefly in succession, singing each verse in turn.

The Lord Himself appeared in a dream to St. Evdokia and said: “Arise, Evdokia, kneel down, pray, and your tempter will rise.” And through the prayer of Evdokia, Philostratus came to life. The pagan brought back to life begged the reverend to forgive him. Having accepted holy baptism, he retired to Iliopol. Since then, he never forgot the mercy of God shown to him, and embarked on the path of repentance.

It wasn't long before another test followed. The inhabitants of Iliopol reported to the ruler Aurelian that, having adopted Christianity, Evdokia allegedly hid her wealth in the monastery. Aurelian sent a detachment of soldiers to seize these imaginary treasures. However, for three days the soldiers tried in vain to approach the walls of the monastery: the invisible power of God guarded it. Aurelian again sent soldiers to the monastery, this time led by his son. But on the very first day of the journey, the son of Aurelian badly injured his leg and soon died. Then Philostratus advised Aurelian to write to Saint Eudoxia, begging her to revive the young man. And the Lord, in His infinite mercy, through the prayers of Saint Eudoxia, brought the young man back to life. Having witnessed a great miracle, Aurelian and his neighbors believed in Christ and were baptized.

When the persecution of Christians intensified, the Monk Eudokia was seized and brought to torment before the ruler Diogenes. The warlord Diodorus, who tortured her, received news of the sudden death of his wife Firmina. In desperation, he rushed to Saint Eudoxia with a request to pray for the deceased. The venerable martyr, filled with great faith, turned to God with a prayer and asked Him to return Firmina to life. Convinced with their own eyes of the power and goodness of the Lord, Diodorus and Diogenes believed in Christ and after a while were baptized with their families. The Monk Evdokia lived for some time in the house of Diodorus and enlightened the newly converted Christians.

Once the only son of a certain widow, working in the garden, was stung by a snake and died. The mother mourned her dead son bitterly. Upon learning of her grief, Saint Eudoxia said to Diodorus: “The time has come for you, too, to show your faith in Almighty God, Who hears the prayers of penitent sinners and, in His mercy, fulfills their petitions.”

Diodorus was embarrassed, not considering himself worthy of such boldness before God, but, obeying Saint Eudoxia, he prayed and in the Name of Christ commanded the dead man to get up. In front of everyone present, the young man came to life.

The Monk Evdokia returned to her monastery, where she labored for 56 years. After the death of Diogenes, Vincent, a cruel persecutor of Christians, became the ruler. Having learned about the fearless confessor of the Christian faith, he ordered her to be executed. On March 1 (c. 160-170) the holy venerable martyr Eudokia was beheaded.

Holidays are an integral part of our social life, many of which concern us personally, our relatives and friends. Holidays and festivals are dedicated to many phenomena of human existence on earth. special days. Our profession, work, love, children, recreation, medicine, the world- for everything there is a holiday in the Russian and world calendar.

Along with state holidays, which are closely included in our lives, church, Orthodox holidays are of particular importance for many. After all, the spiritual component of our life is much more important than the physical. The most necessary for us love, joy, happiness, peace of mind and peace - all these feelings are directly connected with our soul.

Almost every day the church celebrates some important Orthodox holiday- be it the historical day of the life of Christ on Earth, the life and work of his disciples and followers. Of course, every church holiday is important for a believer.

However, many Orthodox church dates are not as common as state dates, and in order to learn about them, you need to be really interested and imbued with this. We have compiled for you a calendar of church holidays in March. Find out on which day in March an important historical religious event took place.