A characteristic feature of the Orthodox calendar is the use of two calendars of the world - Roman and Jewish. Orthodox calendar consists of great feasts, liturgical circles, calendar and post meals. The entire calendar is made up of Easter as the main holiday of the Christians, until next Easter.

History of the Orthodox calendar

The word "calendar" comes from the Latin «calendae», which meant that the name of the first day of each month, in ancient Rome, and is translated as "convening", "declaration", since it is the beginning of the month the priests proclaimed. A little later came the word «calendarium» - debt book, which the lenders recorded interest and reclassifications made for the debts of debtors in the first days of the month. Its modern meaning of the word "calendar" acquired only in the Middle Ages, today it is the system of counting time intervals.

Orthodox calendar combines the principles of two calendars - the Roman sun and the Jewish lunisolar. First, the Roman calendar correspond to religious holidays stationary cycle, those that are annually celebrated in the same day. Chief among them - the Nativity of Christ, the Christian church is compatible with the winter solstice, December 25, old style. This day was the day of the Roman solar holiday - Birthday of the Invincible Sun. The Roman calendar was subjected to major reforms twice: first by Julius Caesar (so called Julian, Russian Orthodox Church uses it now) in 46 BC, followed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII (today we use this calendar in civilian life, calling it the Gregorian).

Holidays rolling cycle corresponds to the Hebrew lunar-solar calendar. The main celebration of the Orthodox Church - Easter, the Jews - Passover. Same as the name of another holiday - Pentecost.

Christian Paschal

All Orthodox calendar drawn from Easter until the next Easter holidays and all the posts related to this important holiday of the Church. Total in the Orthodox calendar twelve feasts in which three holiday mobile (Ascension, Pentecost, Entry into Jerusalem) and nine fixed (Nativity of the Virgin, Exaltation of the Cross, Presentation of Mary, Christmas, Epiphany, Candlemas, the Annunciation Blessed Virgin, Transfiguration, Assumption).

Every great feast of Easter, and there Forefeast, Afterfeast and saluting, that is days or a few days before, during or after major holidays, which are already in service includes prayers dedicated to the celebrated event.

In addition, the Orthodox calendar year marks the five great events which do not go - Protection of the Blessed Virgin, Circumcision of the Lord, St. John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, The Beheading of St. John the Baptist.

Easter cycle moving, because his days every year move through the days of the month. In another way, this cycle is called a triode as liturgical texts of these days contains a book with the name of the Greek Lenten. This book is the text changes with prayers divided into two books - Lenten Triodion (from week Publican and the Pharisee inclusive to Holy Saturday) and Lenten color (starting from the week before Easter, and the Week of All Saints). That is, in the post http://www.womenclub.ru/cooking/3186.htm   read prayers for the Lenten book holidays - for color.

Liturgical circles

Orthodox calendar contains the specific sequence of worship throughout the day, week and year. Such cycles are called liturgical circles. The service of every day is a compound virtually unchanging foundations of the liturgical prayers of the daily round but with variable prayers associated with the liturgical theme of the day.

Weekdays of the circle - service within a week. Monday to hold services in honor of the ethereal forces - the angel of the Lord Tuesday is devoted to the prophets and John the Baptist. On Wednesdays and Fridays are dedicated to the memories of worship death on the cross of Jesus Christ. On Thursday, commemorating the apostles, saints, and especially Nicholas. Saturday is dedicated to worship in commemoration of the dead Christians. Every Sunday services are held in honor of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Annual liturgical circle - a celebration of moving and still holidays of the Orthodox Church. The compound movable and fixed annual liturgical circles made using Markov chapters, named after the composer of the monk Mark.

Posts in the Orthodox calendar

Orthodox calendar, except holidays, memorial days of saints, contains a list of stations, abstaining from fasting foods and amusements. In the calendar, blog, and meals are recorded weekly strict fasting days - Wednesday and Friday, the days in which was betrayed and crucified Jesus Christ.

In all, Orthodox Christians are four large multi-day fasting during the calendar year - Lent, he begins seven weeks before Easter celebration immediately after the Cheese Week (Maslenitsa), Petrov post, begins in the second week after the feast of the Holy Trinity, ending feast of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. What follows is the Dormition Fast, which begins August 14 and ends on August 27, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Advent (Filippov post) begins on 28 November and ends on January 6, Christmas Eve.

Daily posts are respected in accordance with the calendar in the Christian Epiphany Eve, before the Epiphany, Jan. 18, September 11, the feast day and the death of the great prophet John the Baptist, September 27, the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. According to the charter of the monastery are the days of strict fasting, not to eat fish, but it is possible to use vegetable oil.

Jeanne Pyatirikova

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