The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered a time of positive change and renewal. Autumn is approaching, the seasons are changing, the church calendar is coming to an end (it ends on September 14). On this holiday, you need to think only about the good and strive to improve your spirituality.

The Feast of the Assumption is dedicated to the day of the death of St. Mary, mother of Christ.

To people who are not familiar with religion, the celebration may seem strange. Why celebrate someone's death? It is worth delving into the history of the holiday to understand this.

Mary did not leave in suffering, like Christ. She knew about the day of her death - 3 days before leaving for paradise, the Archangel Gabriel informed her about this. Maria accepted the news calmly and even positively. Her earthly journey was over, it was time to go to the Lord.

After 3 days, Mary really died, but she left without pain and suffering. "Assumption" means "sleep." This is how one can characterize the death of Mary: she fell asleep in a sweet dream and ascended. She was received by the angels and the Savior himself.

What happened should be perceived not as death, but as a transition from the imperfect earthly to the ideal heavenly. Mary was taken to heaven, where she continued to watch over the laity and pray for the salvation of mankind.

Fish in the Assumption post in 2019, is it possible to eat when you can, fish days

The Dormition fast in the Orthodox calendar is considered strict, but at the same time, for believers, it is much easier to bear than Great Lent and Christmas, because at the end of August there comes a period full of various natural gifts.

What can you eat in the Dormition Fast

• Kashi: rice, millet, bulgur, buckwheat, peas, rice and others.
• Potatoes are one of the main food elements in the Dormition Fast.
• Vegetables, both fresh and canned, boiled, cooked in any form.
• Mushrooms
• Lean baking without eggs, milk and butter.
• Fruits, berries in any form: fresh, compotes, fruit drinks, jams.
• Vegetable oil is allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays.
• On August 19, on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, it is allowed to eat fish.

Even from lean products, you can cook a lot of unusual, hearty, very tasty dishes. But remember that the Dormition fast is not just a restriction in food and entertainment, but a time to cleanse the soul and body. So in addition to proper nutrition, you need to think about your inner world.

Dormition fast in 2019: food calendar by day

August 16: dry day again. You can diversify the diet with hearty fruits, unusual salads, sauerkraut, dried fruits. On this day, you can also add honey to your food.

August 17: on Saturday it will be possible to eat hot food, diluting the diet with soup, baked potatoes. It is allowed to add vegetable oil to food. You can also drink some table wine. In the Middle Ages in Rus', it was customary to dilute it with water.

August 18: on this day, the rules are identical to the previous one. On Sunday you can drink a small amount of wine and eat hot food. The main thing is not to overeat.

August 19: on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, you can eat some fish and seafood, but do not lean on these dishes. It is allowed to drink wine and food cooked on fire with oil. This day is also called Apple Spas, so you can make baked apples or bake a lean pie.

August 20: Tuesday is hot food day. For the fourth day in a row, you can cook food using heat treatment. Prepare compote or jelly, cook soup from lean products.

August 21: day of dry eating, that is, strict fasting. In the morning, you can make porridge on the water with cocoa or honey so that it is not fresh and tasteless. During the day, you can eat nuts, dried fruits and soaked vegetables.

August 22: on this day, church rules do not prohibit eating hot, but only without oil. You can diversify the diet with potato pancakes, delicious and unusual soups and baked vegetables.

August 23: day of strict fasting. Diversify your diet with unusual fruit salads, porridge with dried fruits. If you are tired of ordinary cereals, then it's time to remember that you can cook buckwheat on water by filling it with water for a couple of hours.

24 August: on Saturday it is allowed to drink a little wine, it is also allowed to eat hot food with the addition of vegetable oil, which slightly expands the culinary possibilities.

25-th of August: Sunday is the same as Saturday. You can eat hot food, but it is advisable not to overeat.

August, 26th: dry day. It is allowed to eat only non-cooked vegetable food. Fasting is coming to an end, so you will have to eat cereals, salads and fruits with nuts again.

August 27: the last day of fasting is the day when it is allowed to eat food of plant origin, but cooked on fire without oil. It can be baked vegetables, mashed potatoes, soups, compotes.

One of the four fasts that ends with the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Hence its name. Lent is considered strict, equated to the Great, but much shorter.

What is the essence of the Dormition fast

In total, believers fast four times a year:

1. Great post. The strictest and longest. Lasts for seven weeks. It ends with the Bright Resurrection of Christ - Easter.
2. Petrov post. It happens in summer. It does not have a set number of days, its duration depends on when the Trinity was. If Easter is early, then fasting begins earlier and is longer. There is an opinion that this fast is compensatory: those who could not fast during Great Lent can fast on Petrov. This post is not strict, fish is allowed.
3. Assumption post. It was established in honor of the Mother of God in order to adequately prepare for the holiday.
4. Advent or Philip's Fast ends on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Lasts for six weeks. Fasting is not strict, fish is allowed.

Fasting exists for the purification of the soul and body. A person abstains from immodest food, passions, idle talk, etc. The goal is to enlighten the soul and draw closer to God. The main thing is not abstinence from food, but abstinence of the soul.

As said Archpriest Andrey Tkachev: “It is important not so much the bodily as the spiritual - an informational post. This means abstaining from external information. A modern person absorbs as much information in a day as a peasant of the last century could not receive in a year. It is important to refrain from idle talk, to keep hearing, sight, thoughts. This is more important than the need to eat a burger, for example, a student. Refraining from unnecessary information gives the soul chastity and health.

Besides in fasting, one should strive to do more works of mercy: visit the sick, help the poor, welcome strangers, give to the poor. But if a person is not able to do this because of his financial situation, then you can do spiritual alms: console the suffering with a kind word, suggest a useful book, pray for the person.

In fasting, one must fight with one's passions: resentment, condemnation, vanity, anger, self-pity, laziness, etc.

Fasting in honor of the Mother of God

People gradually began to understand who the Mother of God is, what She has done for mankind. The Gospel is very sparingly told about her. But this does not detract from her role in history.

The Mother of God was humble and obedient to the will of God. She has always been merciful to people and continues to help after death. She is able to beg her Son for the forgiveness of sins.

Dormition Fast is a time for special glorification of the Mother of God. At this time, every day you need to read the prayers of the Virgin, the canon, the akathist. You can simply read twelve prayers every day, “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice.” If possible, it is better to read the akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos (Annunciation), since this is the prototype of all akathists. All other akathists were written in his likeness. This is a brilliant creation of the saints, surpassing in the power of the word all the other akathists written later. In fact, this is the main akathist, the rest can be questioned.

Event in the Garden of Gethsemane

Archangel Gabriel branch from the Garden of Eden

Fasting serves as a preparation for the feast, on which the Mother of God fell asleep in her body, but Christ resurrected Her later. Some say: how can you celebrate the death of a person, because usually this event is perceived as grief. But for the Mother of God it was really a holiday. After the departure of Christ to Heaven, She felt bad and lonely on earth. She prayed every day in the Garden of Gethsemane so that her beloved Son would quickly take Her to Himself. And then one day, during such a prayer, she appeared to her Archangel Gabriel and announced the joyful news of her imminent departure. He handed her branch from the Garden of Eden. She kept this branch, it was carried in front of Her coffin.

What to eat and what not to eat during Lent

Although bodily fasting is not put in the first place, but you need to know what is not allowed to eat during it.

It is necessary to exclude from the diet during this post:

• meat and meat products;
• dairy products;
• chicken eggs.

During the Dormition Fast you can eat plant foods: vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread. You can't overeat too much food.

During the Dormition Fast, there are two church holidays: the First Savior (honey) - the Exposition of the Honest Tree of Christ and the second. On the Transfiguration, eating fish is allowed. On the first Spas, new honey is consecrated, on the second Spas, apples are consecrated. The Third Savior happens after the end of the fast.

With the help of abstinence and prayer, believers prepare for the feast of the Dormition in order to meet it with dignity and exclaim: “Rejoice, O Gracious One, who does not leave us after death!”

The Assumption Fast is one of the four multi-day fasts of the Orthodox Church. It ends with a holiday, after which it is named - (August 28). This and another holiday - (August 19) - create the mood of the Dormition Fast, reminding us of the amazing humility and readiness to go through everything prepared by Him, which the Lord and the Mother of God showed with all His earthly life. Likewise, we should not perceive fasting as a restriction imposed on us, but as an action voluntarily accepted and leading us to God.

The Assumption Fast lasts only two weeks - from August 14 to August 27 inclusive, but at the same time it is as strict as the Great Fast.

Another popular name for the Dormition Fast is Spasovka, since the holidays that fall at the end of summer - (August 14), the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19) and the Transfer of the Image of the Lord Jesus Christ (August 29) are often called "Spasov".

Dormition Fast dates

The dates of the Dormition Fast are unchanged. The Assumption fast always lasts exactly two weeks, begins a month after, on August 14, and ends on August 27, August 28 - the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

What can you eat in the Dormition Fast

During the Dormition Fast, you can eat vegetables, fruits, cereals, mushrooms, bread, nuts, and honey. Eggs, meat and dairy products are excluded from the meal. Fish in the Dormition Fast is allowed once - on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, August 19.

The Church Charter provides for the same strict abstinence during the Dormition Fast as during the Great Fast, but each fasting person must determine the degree of it for himself, focusing on his state of health, lifestyle, and the advice of a confessor. The Dormition fast is given to believers to strengthen their spiritual strength, and not to weaken their physical strength, especially at the very end of the summer healing period.

History of the Dormition Fast

Assumption fasting has been observed by believers since ancient times. It is known that back in the 5th century there were four fasts in a year - for each season there was one (the Assumption fast falls on the calendar summer, but is already considered autumn). It was also a common tradition for those who did not fast during Great Lent to abstain from All Saints' Week (Sunday a week after Trinity) until Dormition. At the turn of the 10th-11th centuries, this period was reduced to the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul (June 29, old style), and a two-week fast before the Dormition (from August 1 to 14, old style) was established at the Council of Constantinople in 1166.

The Church knows the Dormition fast from the very first centuries of Christianity. We read a mention of him in the conversation of Leo the Great, which he delivered in 450: “Church fasts are arranged in a year so that each time has its own special law of abstinence. So for the spring, the spring fast is at Forty, for the summer the summer fast is at Pentecost, for the autumn the fast is in the seventh month, for the winter it is winter.

We can read about the meaning of the Dormition Fast from Saint Simeon of Thessalonica (end of the 14th century - 1429): “The fast in August (Assumption) was instituted in honor of the Mother of God’s Word, Who, having learned Her repose, as always labored and fasted for us, although, being holy and blameless, and had no need of fasting; so especially she prayed for us when she intended to pass from this life to the next, and when her blessed soul had to unite with her son through the Divine Spirit. Therefore, we must also fast and sing of Her, imitating Her life and thus awakening Her to prayer for us. Some, however, say that this post was established on the occasion of two holidays, that is, the Transfiguration and the Assumption. And I also consider it necessary to remember both of these two holidays, one as giving us sanctification, and the other as propitiation and intercession for us.

In severity, the Dormition Fast approaches the Great Fast. Before the revolution of 1917, during the days of the August Lent, it was impossible to hold carnivals, show clownish performances and theatrical performances.

"Honey Spas"

"Honey Spas" -popular name for the first day of the Dormition Fast. It falls on August 14th. On this day, the Church remembers several events at once.

The Feast of the Origin (wearing) of the precious trees of the Life-Giving Cross arose from an ancient tradition to make a religious procession with the Cross of the Lord in August in Constantinople, as well as to expose a shrine for public worship. It was not easy for a medieval city to survive the summer heat, lack of drinking water and epidemics, and therefore the believers fervently prayed to God during this difficult period and asked the Savior for help.

On this day, the Russian Orthodox Church also commemorates the victory of Andrei Bogolyubsky over the Volga Bulgars, which he won in the 12th century. In gratitude for the victory accomplished with the help of the Lord and Mother of God, on this day the commemoration of the All-Merciful Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos was established.

The Savior became “honey” because the honey harvest ends in August, and believers, coming to the temple on a holiday, consecrated the new harvest.

"Apple Spas" - popular name for the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Transfiguration is a non-passing twelfth, that is, one of the 12 main church holidays after Easter. In the Russian Orthodox Church, it is always celebrated on August 19th.

Before going to the Cross, Christ, together with three disciples, went to the mountain, where, in His miraculous Transfiguration, so far only the three of them were revealed to His Divine nature. This event is described in the Gospel, and, remembering it, believers honor our Lord Jesus Christ, who became a man and went through torment and death for the Salvation of all people.

"Apple" Spas was named because at the end of summer it was customary to consecrate the harvest. It is different in different climates, but apples have been and remain the most common and affordable fruit in Russia.

"Nut Spas"

"Nut", "Bread", "Third Savior" - the popular names of the holiday, which falls on the day after the Dormition. Sometimes the holiday is also called "The Savior on Canvas".

Believers remember on this day the Transfer of the Image of Christ Not Made by Hands from Edessa to Constantinople (944). This image was called miraculous because it was not written, but imprinted on the board, with which the Lord wiped his face during his lifetime. In the Russian Orthodox Church, the Savior Not Made by Hands has become one of the most beloved and widespread icons.

Folk traditions of the Dormition Fast

The folk tradition of the Dormition Fast has long been the consecration of the new harvest. In addition to honey, apples, grapes and other fruits, grain ears and nuts were also consecrated. With gratitude and prayer, the believers brought the harvest to the temple, without which it was hard and even impossible to survive the winter. The consecration of fruits and honey remains a tradition of the Dormition Fast today. But it is important that the questions, whether it is necessary to eat honey at the Honey Savior, how much and what kind of fruits should be brought to the temple, and whether it is possible to eat apples before the Apple Savior, do not overshadow the meaning of fasting.

It is necessary during the Assumption Lent to pay attention to your soul, your internal state, and not external paraphernalia. A jar of honey or a basket of apples, with which believers go to church on certain days, is just a pleasant and joyful addition to the Liturgy and joint prayer.

How should you fast?

Archpriest Igor FOMIN, rector of the Church of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky at MGIMO, answers:

Each person needs to determine his own measure of fasting. One can bear the fast in full, and it will be good for him. Another, on the contrary, should weaken the post.

Sick people can fast not as strictly as it is written in the Charter. Illness is also a kind of fasting, humility of the flesh. In addition, with some diseases, a gastronomic fast can harm your health. Listen to yourself, ask your doctor for advice.

A wedding is a significant event in the life of every person, so you want to spend this solemn day somehow in a special way. After all, it is so wonderful to reproduce in memory the happy moments of life, looking through photographs that depict joyful faces. Do not forget about the restrictions. There are certain days of the year on which it is not recommended to marry. If you want your union to be strong and happy, then you should listen to the opinion of the Church and follow the recommendations given by the clergy.

When can you not get married?

In the church calendar, there are unfavorable days for weddings and weddings. Marriage in the church does not take place:

1. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the year.
2. During multi-day fasts: (seven days before the Easter holiday), Petrov (takes place on the fiftieth day after Easter), (from August 14 to 27), (from November 28 to January 7).
3. During Christmas time (from 7 to 19 January).
4. During continuous weeks (Meat Week, Cheese Week, Cheese Week, Easter Week).
5. On the days and on the eve of such big holidays as (September 10-11) and (September 26-27).

Dormition fast: is it possible to get married or get married?

August is considered one of the most favorable months for marriage. Almost half of all weddings during the year take place during this period. If you plan to get married in August, then try to do it either before the 14th or after the 28th, because the church does not recommend marriage during the Dormition Fast, which falls on this period and is equal in severity to the Great.

The Dormition Fast is dedicated to the Mother of God, who these days was preparing for another life. Playing a wedding or celebrating something during this period, we insult Her, showing our disrespect. These days, many years ago, the Mother of God spent time alone and in prayer. Thanks to her patience, She gave up almost everything earthly, praying for people and the salvation of their souls. Not everyone can repeat this feat. The people who scheduled the wedding for the Dormition Fast do not respect the efforts of the Mother of God, and even Her herself.

It has long been noticed that marriages entered into during the period of many days of fasting are rarely happy. After all, fasting is a time of repentance, prayer and abstinence, both spiritual and physical. If you want your family life to be successful, then it is better to postpone the wedding date to a more suitable day. The Dormition fast lasts only 2 weeks, after which you can marry with a clear conscience.

If you are atheists, do not pray and do not attend church, then you can play a wedding during fasting. There are situations when it is simply necessary to marry during this period. In this case, the church is sympathetic to the couple and allows the ceremony. You can go to the registry office and sign, but postpone the celebration and wedding in the church for a more suitable time.

Now quite often, couples first marry, and get married after some time, sometimes after several years. There is nothing wrong. The main thing is that spouses appreciate, love and respect each other.

The Dormition fast is a fast in Orthodoxy, established in honor of the feast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, one of the four multi-day fasts of the church year. It starts from August 14 to August 27 inclusive and ends with the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Virgin Mary adhered to strict abstinence in food all her earthly life, and three days before her departure to heaven she stopped eating food and only drank water.

The Dormition fast appeared around the year 1000, when the entire month of July was excluded from the long compensatory summer fast (for those who did not keep Great Lent) due to human weakness, and the first part of the fast began to end on the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul on July 12. The second part of that fast formed the Dormition fast, beginning with the feast of the Origin of the honest trees of the Life-Giving Cross on August 14th.

The Dormition fast is one of the shortest fasts among multi-day fasts - it lasts only two weeks.

This post is considered one of the harshest. As in any other post, meat and meat dishes, eggs, fish, milk and dairy products remain banned. Relaxation is allowed only on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Apple Spas) on August 19, when you can eat fish and drink some wine.

So, for the period of the Dormition Fast, it is important to refrain from negative emotions and actions, manifestations of anger and irritation, as well as unnecessary pleasures and noisy entertainment. The ban is imposed on the organization of wedding ceremonies, weddings and baptisms.

Nutrition calendar for Dormition Fast 2019:

• August 14(Honey Spas) - dry eating. You can only eat uncooked plant foods - raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey, bread. On this day, people go to church and bless honey and nuts.
• August 15- hot food without vegetable oil. You can cook lean porridge and soup, steam vegetables.
• August 16- dry eating. Uncooked food of plant origin is consumed, which is not subjected to heat treatment (bread, fresh, soaked or dried fruits and vegetables).
• August 17- hot food with vegetable oil is allowed (cereals, soups, stewed vegetables and mushrooms).
• August 18- during cooking, the use of vegetable, sunflower, olive or corn oil is allowed.
• August 19(Transfiguration of the Lord) - it is allowed to enjoy fish and seafood dishes. You can also eat apples and grapes. Apples in honey are especially popular on this day. During this fast, you can enjoy apples with honey.
• August 20
• August 21- dry eating. You can eat uncooked food of plant origin: bread, water, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and honey.
• August 22- hot food without vegetable oil (cereals, soups, stewed vegetables, mushrooms).
• August 23
• 24 August
• 25-th of August- it is allowed to eat hot dishes with vegetable oil, drink wine.
• August, 26th- dry eating. You can consume uncooked plant foods: bread, water, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey.
• August 27- hot food without vegetable oil (cereals, soups, stewed vegetables, mushrooms).