Church holidays in February of the year. Twelfth Enduring Holidays

February 2018, according to the calendar of church (or “divine”) holidays of the Orthodox Church, in addition to the traditional celebration of the Presentation of the Lord, will also be marked by the beginning of Lent, as well as the preceding Cheese Week, known to the world as Maslenitsa. What Orthodox holidays are celebrated in February 2018, the date of the beginning of Lent, what is remarkable about the calendar of church holidays for this month.

The Presentation of the Lord in 2018 - what date is it celebrated, what is the meaning of the holiday

The Presentation of the Lord is one of the twelve feasts that never pass away. This means that its date does not change every year, and in 2018, like in any year of our century The Presentation of the Lord is celebrated on February 15 according to the Gregorian calendar, or February 2 according to the Julian calendar.

It is not at all accidental that the Meeting has a constant date. It is celebrated on the 40th day after Christmas - it was then, at the age of 40 days, that the baby Jesus was brought to the Jerusalem Temple, where the born Savior was met by elder Simeon the God-Receiver.

Even according to the laws of Moses, each firstborn of the family (that is, the eldest son) had to be brought to the temple on the fortieth day after the day of his birth to dedicate him to God.

As people obedient to the law, Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple, where the Presentation, that is, the Meeting, took place. The meeting of humanity in the person of Elder Simeon and God in the person of his earthly incarnation, Jesus.

As the legend goes, Simeon lived for almost 300 years, and he was chosen as the man who would one day meet the born Savior. God promised Simeon that this would happen, and he kept his promise.

The Feast of the Presentation teaches us that God is always faithful to his words and promises. In addition, he always goes to meet those who thirst and seek truth, and also makes the truth with his actions, like Elder Simeon.

Maslenitsa week and the beginning of Lent in February 2018

In 2018, Easter is quite early - it is on April 8th. That is why Lent begins quite early, as well as the Cheese Week that precedes it, known as Maslenitsa.

We wrote in more detail about its traditions and about.

Let us recall that Maslenitsa week, celebrated by the church as Cheese week, in 2018 falls on a week from 12 to 18 February. Consequently, already on February 18, on the final and main day of folk festivities, farewell to the Russian winter will take place in Russia.

Saturday before Maslenitsa, February 10 2018 is Ecumenical Parents' Saturday. This is the name of one of the days of remembrance, when the church commemorates absolutely all the dead, starting from Adam and Eve to the present day. On this day, it is not only permissible, but also necessary to remember deceased relatives and friends, to honor the memory of other deceased, you can visit cemeteries for this.

Calendar of Orthodox holidays for February 2018

If we talk about the detailed calendar of church, or “divine” holidays and days of remembrance in February 2018, then the church daily honors the memory of certain saints or celebrates this or that holiday:

• 01.02 – memory of St. Mark Eugenicus, Archbishop of Ephesus;
• 02.02 – memory of St. Euthymius the Great;
• 03.02 – memory of St. Maxim the Greek;
• 04.02 - memory of the Apostle Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus from 70;
• 05.02 – Cathedral of Kostroma Saints;
• 06.02 – memory of the martyr John of Kazan;
• 02/07 – celebration in honor of the icon of the Mother of God, called “Assuage My Sorrows”;
• 08.02 – transfer of the relics of St. Theodore, abbot of Studium;
• 09.02 – transfer of the relics of St. John Chrysostom;
• 10.02 – celebration in honor of the Sumorin-Totem Icon of the Mother of God;
• 11.02 – Cathedral of Yekaterinburg Saints, Cathedral of Komi Saints;
• 12.02 - memory of the blessed Peter, Tsar of Bulgaria;
• 13.02 - memory of the unmercenary martyrs of Alexandria: Cyrus and John, and with them the martyrs of Canopus: Athanasia and her daughters Theodotia, Theoktista and Eudoxia;
• 14.02 – memory of Tryphon, Bishop of Rostov;
• 15.02 – Presentation of the Lord;
• 16.02 – memory of the prophet Azariah;
• 17.02 - memory of the blessed Grand Duke Georgy (Yuri) Vsevolodovich Vladimirsky, founder of Nizhny Novgorod;
• 18.02 – memory of St. Theodosius, Archbishop of Chernigov;
• 19.02 - memory of the martyrs Martha, Mary and Their brother, the martyr Likarion the youth;
• 20.02 – memory of the maiden Mastridia;
• 21.02 – memory of the prophet Zechariah the Sickle-Seer from the 12;
• 22.02 – discovery of the relics of St. Innocent (Kulchitsky), Bishop of Irkutsk;
• 23.02 – memory of the icon of the Mother of God “Fire-shaped”;
• 24.02 – memory of the Great Martyr Theodore Tiron;
• 25.02 – celebration in honor of the Cyprus (Stromyn) Icon of the Mother of God;
• 26.02 – memory of the Monk Martinian;
• 27.02 – memory of 12 Greeks, builders of the cathedral church of the Assumption of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra;
• 28.02 – commemoration of the Apostle Onesimus of the 70th year.

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Multi-day posts in 2018

One-day posts in 2018

Solid weeks in 2018

Great Church holidays in 2018

Lent
(in 2018 it falls from February 19 to April 7)

Lent is designated for the repentance and humility of Christians before the holiday of Easter, on which the Holy Resurrection of Christ from the dead is celebrated. This is the most significant of all Christian holidays.

The start and end times of Lent depend on the date of Easter, which does not have a fixed calendar date. The duration of Lent is 7 weeks. It consists of 2 fasts - Lent and Holy Week.

Lent lasts 40 days in memory of the forty-day fast of Jesus Christ in the desert. Thus, the fast is called Lent. The last seventh week of Lent - Holy Week - is defined in memory of the last days of earthly life, the suffering and death of Christ.

During Lent, you are allowed to eat only once a day, in the evening. During the entire fast, including weekends, it is prohibited to consume meat, milk, cheese and eggs. Fasting must be observed with particular strictness in the first and last weeks. On the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, April 7, it is allowed to relax the fast and add vegetable oil and fish to the diet. In addition to abstaining from food during Lent, one must diligently pray that the Lord God will grant repentance, regret for sins and love for the Almighty.

Apostolic Fast - Petrov Fast
(in 2018 it falls from June 4 to July 11)

This post does not have a specific date. The apostolic fast is dedicated to the memory of the apostles Peter and Paul. Its beginning depends on the day of Easter and the Holy Trinity, which falls on the current year. Lent begins exactly seven days after the feast of Trinity, which is also called Pentecost, because it is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. The week before Lent is called All Saints' Week.

The duration of the Apostolic Fast can be from 8 days to 6 weeks (depending on the day of Easter celebration). The Apostolic Fast ends on July 12, the day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This is where the post got its name. It is also called the Fast of the Holy Apostles or the Fast of Peter.

The apostolic fast is not very strict. On Wednesday and Friday, dry eating is allowed, on Monday the consumption of hot food without oil is allowed, on Tuesday and Thursday mushrooms, vegetable foods with vegetable oil and a little wine are allowed, and on Saturday and Sunday fish is also allowed.

Fish is still allowed on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, if these days fall on a holiday with great praise. It is permissible to eat fish on Wednesday and Friday only when these days fall on a vigil holiday or a temple festival.

Dormition post
(in 2018 it falls from August 14 to August 27)

The Dormition Fast begins exactly one month after the end of the Apostolic Fast on August 14 and lasts 2 weeks, until August 27. This post prepares for the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is celebrated on August 28. Through the Dormition Fast we follow the example of the Mother of God, who was constantly in fasting and prayer.

According to the severity, the Assumption Fast is close to Great Lent. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is dry food, Tuesday and Thursday - hot food without oil, on Saturday and Sunday vegetable food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), it is allowed to consume fish, as well as oil and wine.

On the day of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 28), if the devil falls on Wednesday or Friday, only fish is allowed. Meat, milk and eggs are prohibited. On other days, fasting is canceled.

There is also a rule not to eat fruit until August 19th. As a result, the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord is also called the Apple Savior, because at this time garden fruits (in particular, apples) are brought to the church, blessed and given away.

Christmas post
(from November 28 to January 6)

The period of Advent Lent lasts from November 28 to January 6. If the first day of fasting falls on Sunday, the fast is softened, but not canceled. The Nativity Fast precedes the Nativity of Christ, January 7 (December 25), on which the birth of the Savior is celebrated. Fasting begins 40 days before the celebration and is therefore also called Lent. People call the Nativity Fast Filippov, because it begins immediately after the day of remembrance of the Apostle Philip - November 27. Conventionally, the Nativity Fast shows the state of the world before the coming of the Savior. By abstinence in food, Christians express respect for the holiday of the Birth of Christ. In accordance with the rules of abstinence, the Nativity Fast is similar to the Apostolic Fast until the day of St. Nicholas - December 19. From December 20 until Christmas, fasting is observed with particular strictness.

According to the charter, it is allowed to eat fish on the feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the week before December 20.

On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of the Nativity Fast, dry eating is accepted.

If there is a temple holiday or vigil on these days, it is allowed to eat fish; If the day of a great saint falls, the consumption of wine and vegetable oil is allowed.

After St. Nicholas Memorial Day and before Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. You cannot eat fish on the eve of the holiday. If these days fall on Saturday or Sunday, meals with butter are allowed.

On Christmas Eve, January 6, on the eve of Christmas, food is not allowed until the appearance of the first star. This rule was adopted in memory of the star that shone at the moment of the birth of the Rescuer. After the appearance of the first star (it is customary to eat sochivo - wheat seeds boiled in honey or dried fruits softened in water, and kutya - boiled cereal with raisins. The Christmas period lasts from January 7 to January 13. From the morning of January 7, all food restrictions are lifted. Fasting is canceled for 11 days.

One-day posts

There are many one-day posts. According to the strictness of observance, they vary and are in no way associated with a specific date. The most common of them are posts on Wednesdays and Fridays of any week. Also, the most famous one-day fasts are on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, on the day before the Baptism of the Lord, on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist.

There are also one-day fasts associated with the dates of commemoration of famous saints.

These fasts are not considered strict if they do not fall on Wednesday and Friday. During these one-day fasts, it is prohibited to eat fish, but food with vegetable oil is acceptable.

Individual fasts can be taken in the event of some kind of misfortune or social misfortune - an epidemic, war, terrorist attack, etc. One-day fasts precede the sacrament of communion.

Posts on Wednesday and Friday

On Wednesday, according to the Gospel, Judas betrayed Jesus Christ, and on Friday Jesus suffered on the cross and died. In memory of these events, Orthodoxy has adopted fasts on Wednesday and Friday of each week. Exceptions occur only in continuous weeks or weeks, during which there are no existing restrictions for these days. Such weeks are considered to be Christmastide (January 7–18), Publican and Pharisee, Cheese, Easter and Trinity (the first week after Trinity).

On Wednesday and Friday it is forbidden to eat meat, dairy foods, and eggs. Some of the most pious Christians do not allow themselves to consume, including fish and vegetable oil, that is, they observe dry eating.

Relaxation of fasting on Wednesday and Friday is possible only if this day coincides with the feast of a particularly revered saint, to whose memory a special church service is dedicated.

In the period between All Saints' Week and before the Nativity of Christ, it is necessary to give up fish and vegetable oil. If Wednesday or Friday coincides with the feast of the saints, then it is allowed to use vegetable oil.

On major holidays, such as Intercession, it is allowed to eat fish.

On the eve of the feast of the Epiphany

The Epiphany of the Lord takes place on January 18th. According to the Gospel, Christ was baptized in the Jordan River, at that moment the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. John was a witness that Christ is the Savior, that is, Jesus is the Messiah of the Lord. During baptism, he heard the voice of the Most High, proclaiming: “This is My beloved Son, with Him I am well pleased.”

Before the Epiphany of the Lord, a vigil is celebrated in churches, at which point the ceremony of consecrating holy water takes place. In connection with this holiday, fasting has been adopted. At the time of this fast, food intake is allowed once a day and only juice and kutya with honey. Therefore, among Orthodox believers, the eve of Epiphany is usually called Christmas Eve. If the evening meal falls on Saturday or Sunday, the fast on that day is not canceled, but is relaxed. In this case, you can eat food twice a day - after the liturgy and after the rite of blessing of water.

Fasting on the Day of the Beheading of John the Baptist

The day of the Beheading of John the Baptist is commemorated on September 11. It was introduced in memory of the death of the prophet - John the Baptist, who was the Forerunner of the Messiah. According to the Gospel, John was thrown into prison by Herod Antipas because of his exposure in connection with Herodias, the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother.

During the celebration of his birthday, the King organized a holiday, the daughter of Herodias, Salome, presented a skillful dance to Herod. He was delighted with the beauty of the dance, and promised the girl everything she wanted for it. Herodias persuaded her daughter to beg for the head of John the Baptist. Herod fulfilled the girl’s wish by sending a warrior to the prisoner to bring him John’s head.

In memory of John the Baptist and his pious life, during which he continuously fasted, a fast was established. On this day it is forbidden to consume meat, dairy, eggs and fish. Vegetable foods and vegetable oil are acceptable.

Fasting on the Day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This holiday falls on September 27th. This day was established in memory of the discovery of the Lord's Cross. This happened in the 4th century. According to legend, the emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Constantine the Great, won many victories thanks to the Cross of the Lord and therefore revered this symbol. Showing gratitude to the Almighty for the consent of the church at the First Ecumenical Council, he decided to erect a temple on Calvary. Helen, the emperor's mother, went to Jerusalem in 326 to find the Cross of the Lord.

According to the then custom, crosses, as instruments of execution, were buried next to the place of execution. Three crosses were found on Calvary. It was impossible to understand which one was Christ, since the bar with the inscription “Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews” was discovered separately from all the crosses. Subsequently, the Cross of the Lord was installed according to its power, which was expressed in the healing of the sick and the resurrection of a person through touching this cross. The glory of the amazing miracles of the Cross of the Lord attracted a lot of people, and because of the crowds, many did not have the opportunity to see and bow to it. Then Patriarch Macarius raised the cross, showing it to everyone around him in the distance. Thus, the holiday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross appeared.

The holiday was adopted on the day of the consecration of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, September 26, 335, and began to be celebrated the next day, September 27. In 614, the Persian king Khozroes took possession of Jerusalem and took out the Cross. In 328, Chozroes' heir, Syroes, returned the stolen Cross of the Lord to Jerusalem. This happened on September 27, so this day is considered a double holiday - the Exaltation and the Finding of the Cross of the Lord. On this day it is forbidden to eat cheese, eggs and fish. In this way, Christian believers express their reverence for the Cross.

Holy Resurrection of Christ - Easter
(in 2018 falls on April 8)

The most key Christian holiday is Easter - the Holy Resurrection of Christ from the dead. Easter is considered the main one between the transitory twelve holidays, since the Easter story contains everything on which Christian knowledge is based. For all Christians, the Resurrection of Christ means salvation and trampling on death.

The suffering of Christ, torture on the cross and death, washed away original sin, and therefore gave salvation to humanity. That is why Christians call Easter the Solemnity of Solemnities and the Feast of Feasts.

The Christian holiday is based on the following story. On the first day of the week, the myrrh-bearing women came to the tomb of Christ to anoint the body with incense. However, the large block that blocked the entrance to the tomb was moved, and an angel sat on the stone, who told the women that the Savior had risen. Some time later, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and sent her to the apostles to inform them that the prophecy had come true.

She ran to the apostles and told them the good news and told them the message of Christ that they would meet in Galilee. Before His death, Jesus told the disciples about future events, but Mary's news plunged them into confusion. Faith in the Kingdom of Heaven, promised by Jesus, came to life again in their hearts. However, not everyone was happy about the Resurrection of Jesus: the high priests and Pharisees started rumors about the disappearance of the body.

However, despite the lies and painful trials that fell on the first Christians, the New Testament Easter became the foundation of the Christian faith. The blood of Christ atoned for the sins of people and opened the way to salvation for them. From the first days of Christianity, the apostles established the celebration of Easter, which was preceded by Holy Week in memory of the suffering of the Savior. Today they are preceded by Lent, which lasts forty days.

For a long time, discussions continued about the true date of the celebration of the memory of the events described, until at the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (325) they agreed to celebrate Easter on the 1st Sunday following the first spring full moon and the vernal equinox. In various years, Easter can be celebrated from March 21 to April 24 (old style).

On the eve of Easter, the service begins at eleven o'clock in the evening. First, the Midnight Office of Holy Saturday is served, then the bell sounds and a procession of the cross takes place, which is led by clergy; believers leave the church with lighted candles, and the bell is replaced by the festive ringing of bells. When the procession returns to the closed doors of the church, which symbolize the tomb of Christ, the ringing is interrupted. The holiday prayer sounds and the church door opens. At this time, the priest exclaims: “Christ is Risen!”, and the believers together answer: “Truly He is Risen!” This is how Easter Matins begins.

At the time of the Easter liturgy, the Gospel of John is read as usual. At the end of the Easter liturgy, artos - large prosphora similar to Easter cakes - are blessed. During Easter week, the artos is located close to the royal doors. After the liturgy, on the following Saturday, a special rite of breaking the artos is served, and pieces of it are distributed to the believers.

At the end of the Easter liturgy, the fast ends and the Orthodox can treat themselves to a piece of blessed Easter cake or Easter cake, a colored egg, a meat pie, etc. In the first week of Easter (Bright Week) it is supposed to give food to the hungry and help the needy. Christians go to visit their relatives and exchange exclamations: “Christ is risen!” - “Truly he is risen!” On Easter, people are supposed to give colored eggs. This tradition was adopted in memory of the visit of Mary Magdalene to the Emperor of Rome Tiberius. According to legend, Mary was the first to tell Tiberius the news of the Resurrection of the Savior and brought him an egg as a gift - as a symbol of life. But Tiberius did not believe the news of the Resurrection and said that he would believe it if the egg he brought turned red. And at that moment the egg turned red. In memory of what happened, believers began to paint eggs, which became a symbol of Easter.

Palm Sunday. Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
(in 2018 falls on April 1)

The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, or simply Palm Sunday, is one of the most key twelve holidays celebrated by the Orthodox. The first mentions of this holiday are found in manuscripts of the 3rd century. This event is of great importance for Christians, since the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, whose authorities were hostile to Him, means that Christ voluntarily accepted the suffering of the cross. The entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is described by all four evangelists, which also testifies to the significance of this day.

The date of Palm Sunday depends on the date of Easter: The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is celebrated a week before Easter. In order to confirm the people in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Messiah predicted by the prophets, a week before the Resurrection, the Savior and the apostles went to the city. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus sent John and Peter to a village, indicating the place where they would find the colt. The apostles brought a colt to the Teacher, on which He sat and went to Jerusalem.

At the entrance to the city, some people laid out their own clothes, the rest accompanied Him with cut palm branches, and greeted the Savior with the words: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” because they believed that Jesus was the Messiah and King of the people of Israel.

When Jesus entered the Jerusalem temple, he drove out the merchants with the words: “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). People listened with admiration to the teachings of Christ. The sick began to come to Him, He healed them, and at that moment the children sang His praises. Then Christ left the temple and went with his disciples to Bethany.

In ancient times, it was customary to greet winners with fronds, or palm branches; this is where another name for the holiday came from: Vaiya Week. In Russia, where palm trees do not grow, the holiday received its third name - Palm Sunday - in honor of the only plant that blooms during this harsh time. Palm Sunday ends Lent and begins Holy Week.

As for the festive table, Palm Sunday allows fish and vegetable dishes with vegetable oil. And the day before, on Lazarus Saturday, after Vespers, you can taste a little fish caviar.

Ascension of the Lord
(in 2018 it falls on May 17)

The Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter. Traditionally, this holiday falls on Thursday of the sixth week of Easter. The events associated with the Ascension signify the end of the Savior’s earthly sojourn and the beginning of His life in the bosom of the Church. After the Resurrection, the Teacher came to his disciples for forty days, teaching them the true faith and the way of salvation. The Savior instructed the apostles what to do after His Ascension.

Then Christ promised the disciples to release the Holy Spirit on them, which they should wait for in Jerusalem. Christ said: “And I will send the promise of My Father upon you; But you remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Then, together with the apostles, they went outside the city, where He blessed the disciples and began to ascend into heaven. The apostles bowed to Him and returned to Jerusalem.

As for fasting, on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord it is allowed to eat any food, both fasting and fasting.

Trinity Day - Pentecost
(in 2018 it falls on May 27)

On the Day of the Holy Trinity, we commemorate the story that tells about the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Christ. The Holy Spirit appeared to the Apostles of the Savior in the form of tongues of flame on the day of Pentecost, that is, on the fiftieth day after Easter, hence the name of this holiday. The second, most famous name of the day is dedicated to the discovery by the apostles of the third hypostasis of the Holy Trinity - the Holy Spirit, after which the Christian concept of the Triune Godhead received a perfect interpretation.

On the day of the Holy Trinity, the apostles intended to meet in their home in order to pray together. Suddenly they heard a roar, and then tongues of fire began to appear in the air, which, dividing, descended on Christ’s disciples.

After the flame descended on the apostles, the prophecy “...were filled... with the Holy Spirit...” (Acts 2:4) came true and they offered a prayer. With the descent of the Holy Spirit, the disciples of Christ acquired the gift of speaking in different languages ​​in order to carry the Word of the Lord throughout the world.

The noise coming from the house attracted a large crowd of curious people. The assembled people were amazed that the apostles could speak different languages. Among the people there were people from other nations; they heard the apostles offering prayers in their native language. Most people were surprised and filled with awe, at the same time, among those gathered there were also people who were skeptical about what had happened, “they got drunk on sweet wine” (Acts 2:13).

On this day, the Apostle Peter preached his first sermon, which said that the event that happened on this day was predicted by the prophets and marks the last mission of the Savior in the earthly world. The Apostle Peter's sermon was short and simple, but the Holy Spirit spoke through him, and his speech reached the souls of many people. At the end of Peter's speech, many accepted the faith and were baptized. “So those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added” (Acts 2:41). Since ancient times, Trinity Day has been revered as the birthday of the Christian Church, created by Holy grace.

On Trinity Day, it is customary to decorate houses and churches with flowers and grass. Regarding the festive table, on this day it is allowed to eat any food. There is no fasting on this day.

Twelfth Enduring Holidays

Christmas (January 7)

According to legend, the Lord God promised sinner Adam the coming of the Savior back in paradise. Many prophets foreshadowed the coming of the Savior - Christ, in particular the prophet Isaiah, prophesied about the birth of the Messiah to the Jews who had forgotten the Lord and worshiped pagan idols. Shortly before the birth of Jesus, the ruler Herod proclaimed a decree on a population census, for this the Jews had to appear in the cities in which they were born. Joseph and the Virgin Mary also went to the cities where they were born.

They did not get to Bethlehem quickly: the Virgin Mary was pregnant, and when they arrived in the city, it was time to give birth. But in Bethlehem, due to the crowd of people, all the places were occupied, and Joseph and Mary had to stay in a stable. At night, Mary gave birth to a boy, named Him Jesus, swaddled him and put him in a manger - a feeding trough for livestock. Not far from their overnight stay, there were shepherds grazing cattle, an angel appeared to them, who told them: ... I bring you great joy that will be to all people: for today a Savior has been born to you in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord; and here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12). When the angel disappeared, the shepherds went to Bethlehem, where they found the Holy Family, worshiped Jesus, and told about the appearance of the angel and his sign, after which they went back to their flocks.

In these same days, wise men came to Jerusalem and asked people about the born king of the Jews, since a new bright star was shining in the heavens. Having learned about the Magi, King Herod called them to him in order to find out the place where the Messiah was born. He ordered the wise men to find out the place where the new king of the Jews was born.

The Magi followed the star, which led them to the stable where the Savior was born. Entering the stable, the wise men bowed to Jesus and presented him with gifts: incense, gold and myrrh. “And having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another route” (Matthew 2:12). That same night, Joseph received a sign: an angel appeared in his dream and said: “Get up, take the Child and His Mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod wants to look for the Child in order to destroy Him” (Matt. 2, 13). Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Egypt, where they stayed until the death of Herod.

For the first time, the holiday of the Nativity of Christ began to be celebrated in the 4th century in Constantinople. The holiday is preceded by a forty-day fast and Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, it is customary to drink only water, and when the first star appears in the sky, they break their fast with sochi - boiled wheat or rice with honey and dried fruits. After Christmas and before Epiphany, Christmastide is celebrated, during which all fasts are canceled.

Epiphany - Epiphany (January 19)

Christ began serving people at the age of thirty. John the Baptist was supposed to anticipate the coming of the Messiah, who prophesied the coming of the Messiah and baptized people in the Jordan for the cleansing of sins. When the Savior appeared to John for baptism, John recognized the Messiah in Him and told Him that he himself must be baptized by the Savior. But Christ answered: “...leave it now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15), that is, to fulfill what the prophets said.

Christians call the feast of the Baptism of the Lord the Epiphany; at the baptism of Christ, three hypostases of the Trinity appeared to people for the first time: the Lord Son, Jesus himself, the Holy Spirit, who descended in the form of a dove on Christ, and the Lord Father, who said: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” "(Matthew 3:17).

The first to celebrate the feast of Epiphany were the disciples of Christ, as evidenced by the set of apostolic rules. The day before the feast day of Epiphany, Christmas Eve begins. On this day, as on Christmas Eve, Orthodox Christians eat sochiv, and only after the blessing of the water. Epiphany water is considered healing, it is sprinkled at home, and it is drunk on an empty stomach for various diseases.

On the feast of Epiphany itself, the rite of the great hagiasma is also served. On this day, the tradition of making a religious procession to reservoirs with the Gospel, banners and lamps has been preserved. The religious procession is accompanied by the ringing of bells and the singing of the troparion of the holiday.

Presentation of the Lord (February 15)

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord describes the events that happened in the Jerusalem Temple during the meeting of the Infant Jesus with the elder Simeon. According to the law, on the fortieth day after her birth, the Virgin Mary brought Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem. According to legend, Elder Simeon lived at the temple where he translated the Holy Scriptures into Greek. In one of the prophecies of Isaiah, which describes the coming of the Savior, in the place where His birth is described, it is said that the Messiah will be born not from a woman, but from a Virgin. The elder suggested that there was an error in the original text, at that same moment an angel appeared to him and said that Simeon would not die until he saw the Blessed Virgin and Her Son with his own eyes.

When the Virgin Mary entered the temple with Jesus in her arms, Simeon immediately saw Them and recognized the Messiah in the Baby. He took Him in his arms and uttered the following words: “Now You are releasing Your servant, O Master, according to Your word in peace, because My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation of tongues and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2, 29). From now on, the old man could die peacefully, because he had just seen with his own eyes both the Virgin Mother and Her Son-Savior.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7)

Since ancient times, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary has been called both the Beginning of Redemption and the Conception of Christ. This lasted for the 7th century until it acquired the name it currently has. In terms of its significance for Christians, the Feast of the Annunciation is comparable only to the Nativity of Christ. That is why there is a proverb among people to this day that on a given day “the bird does not build a nest, the maiden does not braid her hair.”

The history of the holiday is as follows. When the Virgin Mary reached the age of fifteen, She had to leave the walls of the Jerusalem Temple: in accordance with the laws that existed in those times, only men had the opportunity to serve the Almighty throughout their lives. However, by this time Mary's parents had already died, and the priests decided to betroth Mary to Joseph of Nazareth.

One day an angel appeared to the Virgin Mary, who was the Archangel Gabriel. He greeted Her with the following words: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Mary was confused because she did not know what the angel's words meant. The Archangel explained to Mary that She was the chosen one of the Lord for the birth of the Savior, about whom the prophets spoke: “... and you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:31-33).

Having heard the revelation of the Archangel Gavria, the Virgin Mary asked: “... how will this happen if I don’t know my husband?” (Luke 1:34), to which the archangel replied that the Holy Spirit would descend on the Virgin, therefore the Child born from her would be holy. And Mary humbly answered: “...behold the handmaid of the Lord; Let it be done to me according to Your word” (Luke 1:37).

Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19)

The Savior often told the apostles that in order to save people, He would have to endure suffering and death. And in order to strengthen the faith of the disciples, he showed them His Divine glory, which awaits Him and the other righteous of Christ at the end of their earthly existence.

One day Christ took three disciples - Peter, James and John - to Mount Tabor to pray to the Almighty. But the apostles, tired during the day, fell asleep, and when they woke up, they saw how the Savior had been transformed: His clothes were snow-white, and His face shone like the sun.

Next to the Teacher were the prophets Moses and Elijah, with whom Christ spoke about his own sufferings that He would have to endure. At that same moment, the apostles were overwhelmed by such grace that Peter randomly suggested: “Mentor! It's good for us to be here; We will make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah, not knowing what he said” (Luke 9:33).

At that moment, everyone was enveloped in a cloud, from which the voice of God was heard: “This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him” (Luke 9:35). As soon as the words of the Most High were heard, the disciples again saw Christ alone in His ordinary appearance.

When Christ and the apostles were returning from Mount Tabor, He ordered them not to testify before the time of what they had seen.

In Rus', the Transfiguration of the Lord was popularly called the “Apple Savior”, since on this day honey and apples are blessed in churches.

Dormition of the Mother of God (August 28)

The Gospel of John says that before his death, Christ commanded the Apostle John to take care of his Mother (John 19:26–27). From that time on, the Virgin Mary lived with John in Jerusalem. Here the apostles recorded the stories of the Mother of God about the earthly existence of Jesus Christ. The Mother of God often went to Golgotha ​​to venerate and pray, and on one of these visits, the Archangel Gabriel informed Her of Her imminent dormition.

By this time, the apostles of Christ began to come to the city for the last earthly service of the Virgin Mary. Before the death of the Mother of God, Christ and the angels appeared at Her bedside, causing those present to be gripped by fear. The Mother of God gave glory to God and, as if falling asleep, accepted a peaceful death.

The apostles took the bed on which the Mother of God was and carried it to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Jewish priests, who hated Christ and did not believe in His resurrection, learned about the death of the Mother of God. The high priest Athos overtook the funeral procession and grabbed the bed, trying to turn it over in order to desecrate the body. However, the moment he touched the stock, his hands were cut off by an invisible force. Only after this did Afonia repent and believe, and immediately found healing. The body of the Mother of God was placed in a coffin and covered with a large stone.

However, among those present in the procession was not one of Christ’s disciples, the Apostle Thomas. He arrived in Jerusalem only three days after the funeral and cried for a long time at the tomb of the Virgin Mary. Then the apostles decided to open the Tomb so that Thomas could venerate the body of the deceased.

When they rolled away the stone, they found only the funeral shrouds of the Mother of God inside; the body itself was not inside the tomb: Christ took the Mother of God to heaven in Her earthly nature.

A temple was subsequently built on that spot, where the funeral shrouds of the Mother of God were preserved until the 4th century. After this, the shrine was transported to Byzantium, to the Blachernae Church, and in 582, Emperor Mauritius issued a decree on the general celebration of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

This holiday among the Orthodox is considered one of the most revered, like other holidays dedicated to the memory of the Virgin Mary.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 21)

The righteous parents of the Virgin Mary, Joachim and Anna, could not have children for a long time, and were very sad about their own childlessness, since among the Jews the absence of children was considered as God's punishment for secret sins. But Joachim and Anna did not lose faith in their child and prayed to God to send them a child. So they made an oath: if they have a child, they will give him to the service of the Almighty.

And God heard their requests, but before that, he subjected them to a test: when Joachim came to the temple to make a sacrifice, the priest did not take it, reproaching the old man for being childless. After this incident, Joachim went into the desert, where he fasted and begged for forgiveness from the Lord.

At this time, Anna also underwent a test: her maid reproached her for childlessness. After that, Anna went into the garden and, noticing a bird’s nest with chicks on a tree, began to think about the fact that even birds have children, and burst into tears. In the garden, an angel appeared before Anna and began to calm her down, promising that they would soon have a child. An angel also appeared before Joachim and said that the Lord had heard him.

After this, Joachim and Anna met and told each other about the good news that the angels told them, and a year later they had a girl, whom they named Mary.

Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord (September 27)

In 325, the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great, Queen Lena, went to Jerusalem to visit holy places. She visited Golgotha ​​and the burial place of Christ, but most of all she wanted to find the Cross on which the Messiah was crucified. The search yielded results: three crosses were found on Calvary, and in order to find the one on which Christ suffered, they decided to conduct tests. Each of them was applied to the deceased, and one of the crosses resurrected the deceased. This was the same Cross of the Lord.

When the people learned that they had found the Cross on which Christ was crucified, a very large crowd gathered at Golgotha. There were so many Christians gathered that most of them could not approach the Cross to bow to the shrine. Patriarch Macarius proposed erecting the Cross so that everyone could see it. So, in honor of these events, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross was founded.

Among Christians, the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord is considered the only holiday that is celebrated from the first day of its existence, that is, the day when the Cross was found.

The Exaltation received general Christian significance after the war between Persia and Byzantium. In 614, Jerusalem was sacked by the Persians. Moreover, among the shrines they took away was the Cross of the Lord. And only in 628 the shrine was returned to the Church of the Resurrection, built on Calvary by Constantine the Great. Since then, the Feast of the Exaltation has been celebrated by all Christians in the world.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple (December 4)

Christians celebrate the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple in memory of the dedication of the Virgin Mary to God. When Mary was three years old, Joachim and Anna fulfilled their vow: they brought their daughter to the Jerusalem Temple and placed her on the stairs. To the amazement of her parents and other people, little Mary walked up the stairs herself to meet the high priest, after which he led Her into the altar. From that time on, the Blessed Virgin Mary lived at the temple until the time came for her betrothal to righteous Joseph.

Great Holidays

Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord (January 14)

Circumcision of the Lord as a holiday was established in the 4th century. On this day, they commemorate an event associated with the Covenant made with God on Mount Zion by the prophet Moses: according to which all boys on the eighth day after birth were to accept circumcision as a symbol of unity with the Jewish patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

After completing this ritual, the Savior was named Jesus, as Archangel Gabriel commanded when he brought the good news to the Virgin Mary. According to the interpretation, the Lord accepted circumcision as a strict fulfillment of the laws of God. But in the Christian Church there is no ritual of circumcision, since according to the New Testament it gave way to the sacrament of baptism.

Nativity of John the Baptist, Forerunner of the Lord (July 7)

The celebration of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the prophet of the Lord, was established by the Church in the 4th century. Among all the most revered saints, John the Baptist occupies a special place, since he was supposed to prepare the Jewish people to accept the preaching of the Messiah.

During the reign of Herod, the priest Zechariah lived in Jerusalem with his wife Elizabeth. They did everything with zeal, as indicated by the Law of Moses, but God still did not give them a child. But one day, when Zechariah entered the altar for incense, he saw an angel who told the priest the good news that very soon his wife would give birth to a long-awaited child, who should be named John: “...and you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord; He will not drink wine or strong drink, and will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb...” (Luke 1:14-15).

However, in response to this revelation, Zechariah smiled mournfully: both he himself and his wife Elizabeth were advanced in years. When he told the angel about his own doubts, he introduced himself as the Archangel Gabriel and, as punishment for disbelief, imposed a ban: because Zechariah did not believe the good news, he would not be able to talk until Elizabeth gave birth to a child.

Soon Elizabeth was pregnant, but she could not believe her own happiness, so she hid her situation for up to five months. In the end, she had a son, and when the baby was brought to the temple on the eighth day, the priest was greatly surprised to learn that he was named John: neither in the family of Zechariah nor in the family of Elizabeth was there anyone with that name. But Zacharias nodded his head and confirmed his wife’s wishes, after which he was able to talk again. And the first words that left his lips were the words of a heartfelt prayer of gratitude.

Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (July 12)

On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates the apostles Peter and Paul, who suffered martyrdom in the year 67 for preaching the Gospel. This holiday precedes the multi-day apostolic (Petrov) fast.

In ancient times, church rules were adopted by the Council of the Apostles, and Peter and Paul occupied the highest places in it. In other words, the lives of these apostles were of great importance for the development of the Christian Church.

However, the first apostles followed slightly different paths to faith, which, realizing them, one can involuntarily think about the inscrutability of the Lord’s ways.

Apostle Peter

Before Peter began his apostolic ministry, he bore a different name - Simon, which he received at birth. Simon lived as a fisherman on Lake Gennesaret until his brother Andrew led the young man to Christ. The radical and strong Simon was immediately able to occupy a special place among the disciples of Jesus. For example, he was the first to recognize the Savior in Jesus and for this acquired a new name from Christ - Cephas (Hebrew stone). In Greek, this name sounds like Peter, and it was on this “flint” that Jesus was going to erect the building of his own Church, which “the gates of hell will not prevail.” However, weaknesses are inherent in man, and Peter’s weakness was his threefold denial of Christ. Nevertheless, Peter repented and was forgiven by Jesus, who confirmed his destiny three times over.

After the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, Peter was the first to preach a sermon in the history of the Christian Church. After this sermon, more than three thousand Jews joined the true faith. In the Acts of the Apostles, in almost every chapter there is evidence of Peter’s active work: he preached the Gospel in various towns and states located on the shores of the Mediterranean. And it is believed that the Apostle Mark, who accompanied Peter, wrote the Gospel, taking the sermons of Cephas as a basis. Apart from this, in the New Testament there is a book written personally by the apostle.

In 67, the apostle went to Rome, but was caught by the authorities and suffered on the cross, like Christ. But Peter considered that he was unworthy of exactly the same execution as the Teacher, so he asked the executioners to crucify him upside down on the cross.

Apostle Paul

Apostle Paul was born in the city of Tarsus (Asia Minor). Like Peter, he had a different name from birth - Saul. He was a gifted young man and acquired a good education, but he grew up and was brought up in pagan customs. In addition, Saul was a noble Roman citizen, and his position allowed the future apostle to openly admire the pagan Hellenistic culture.

With all this, Paul was a persecutor of Christianity both in Palestine and beyond its borders. These opportunities were gifted to him by the Pharisees, who hated Christian teaching and waged a fierce struggle against it.

One day, when Saul was traveling to Damascus with permission for the local synagogues to arrest Christians, he was struck by a bright light. The future apostle fell to the ground and heard a voice saying: “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? He said: Who are you, Lord? The Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is difficult for you to go against the pricks” (Acts 9:4-5). After this, Christ ordered Saul to go to Damascus and rely on providence.

When the blind Saul arrived in the city, where he found Ananias the priest. After a conversation with a Christian pastor, he believed in Christ and was baptized. During the baptismal ceremony, his sight returned again. From this day Paul's activity as an apostle began. Like the Apostle Peter, Paul traveled widely: he visited Arabia, Antioch, Cyprus, Asia Minor and Macedonia. In the places where Paul visited, Christian communities seemed to form on their own, and the supreme apostle himself became famous for his messages to the heads of the churches founded with his help: among the New Testament books there are 14 letters of Paul. Thanks to these messages, Christian dogmas acquired a coherent system and became understandable to every believer.

At the end of 66, the Apostle Paul arrived in Rome, where a year later, as a citizen of the Roman Empire, he was executed by the sword.

Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11)

In the 32nd year from the birth of Jesus, King Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee, imprisoned John the Baptist for talking about his close relationship with Herodias, his brother’s wife.

At the same time, the king was afraid to execute John, since this could cause the anger of his people, who loved and revered John.

One day, during the celebration of Herod's birthday, a feast was held. The daughter of Herodias, Salome, gave the king an exquisite tanya. For this, Herod promised in front of everyone that he would fulfill any desire of the girl. Herodias persuaded her daughter to ask the king for the head of John the Baptist.

The girl’s request embarrassed the king, as he was afraid of John’s death, but at the same time he could not refuse the request, since he was afraid of the ridicule of the guests because of the unfulfilled promise.

The king sent a warrior to prison, who beheaded John and brought his head to Salome on a platter. The girl accepted the terrible gift and gave it to her own mother. The apostles, having learned about the execution of John the Baptist, buried his headless body.

Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (October 14)

The holiday was based on a story that happened in 910 in Constantinople. The city was besieged by a countless army of Saracens, and the townspeople hid in the Blachernae Temple - in the place where the omophorion of the Virgin Mary was kept. Frightened residents fervently prayed to the Mother of God for protection. And then one day during prayer, the holy fool Andrei noticed the Mother of God above those praying.

The Mother of God walked accompanied by an army of angels, with John the Theologian and John the Baptist. She reverently extended her hands to the Son, while her omophorion covered the praying inhabitants of the city, as if protecting people from future disasters. In addition to the holy fool Andrei, his disciple Epiphanius saw the amazing procession. The miraculous vision soon disappeared, but Her grace remained in the temple, and soon the Saracen army left Constantinople.

The Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary came to Rus' under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1164. And a little later, in 1165, on the Nerl River, the first temple was consecrated in honor of this holiday.

In Orthodoxy, almost every day they commemorate some event or important spiritual figure. There are plenty of religious holidays to remember in February.

To always be aware of what holidays await you or when the next fast will be, follow the church calendar, which will help you prepare in advance for any religious event. It's already February, so it's time to remember that Lent is approaching.

February 4

Week of the Prodigal Son. A week earlier they called Sundays, so on February 4, Sunday, the parable of the prodigal son will be remembered at services in all churches. This is an important day to prepare for the upcoming fast. It is important on this day to remember that we are all, in some sense, prodigal sons who either sin or pray.

February 5th

This day is celebrated memory of the holy martyr Clement of Ancyra, who lived in the 3rd century. It was a terrible time, because many were killed and tortured for their faith and for attempts to spread it. Clement was imprisoned for many years, after which he was killed. He still has a huge following.

Also celebrated on this day is Cathedral of Saints of the Kostroma Land. Among these are Abraham of Rostov, Abraham of Galich, Prince Dmitry Donskoy, Dionysius of Suzdal, Pachomius of Nerekhta, Barnabas of Vetluzh, Prince Dmitry the Red and many others.

February 6

Memorial Day of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg. Ksenia is one of the most beloved and revered saints among the people. She is traditionally prayed to for love, marriage and family well-being.

February 9th

This day is celebrated transfer of the relics of John Chrysostom to Constantinople in the first half of the 5th century. John is a great teacher who tried to spread the teaching about Christ throughout his life. When his coffin was opened during the transfer of his relics, it was as if the saint had never died - his body was so well preserved after death.

11 February

This will be a very important day as February 11th is celebrated transfer of the relics of Saint Ignatius the God-Bearer. This great martyr is known for being publicly torn to pieces by lions as a punishment for refusing to renounce Christ.

February 11 also - week about the Last Judgment. This is the penultimate Sunday before Lent. I remember the prophecy that in the future, when the second coming of the Messiah occurs, there will be a Judgment at which everyone will answer for their sins.

12th of February

February 22

This day is celebrated discovery of the relics of Saint Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk. During his lifetime, this man did a lot for the Orthodox people, engaging in education and building churches.

February 23

Celebrated Cathedral of Novgorod Saints. There are twelve of them in total: they cover the periods of life of the Novgorod bishops over a long period of time - from 992 to 1653.

25 February

The first Sunday or, as they say, the “week” of Lent. It is called as "Triumph of Orthodoxy". This event can be considered a full-fledged holiday, because the first Sunday of Lent is dedicated to the victory over opponents of faith in Christ. Persecution was eased in the 9th century. It was then that the church decided to celebrate this great and bright event, when people could no longer be afraid to believe in Jesus Christ and the word of God.

February 26

Start second week of Lent. It is dedicated to prayers for grace, for illumination and the granting of forgiveness to everyone who fasts, and also cannot do this for reasons of poor health. This week encourages Christians to finally tune in to fasting and abstaining from everything unnecessary.

These will be the most important dates of February, which will turn out to be very eventful. Lent will begin early in 2018, so you will need to prepare for it in advance, have time to take communion and confess. Don't forget to visit the church on the day of the Presentation. Good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and

Since ancient times, people have believed in a higher power that guided their actions, helped all living things develop, bestowed happiness and helped eliminate various problems. This faith has not lost its strength even today.

Everyone knows that in the Orthodox Church the parent of all living things is the Almighty, and it is to Him that people raise their hands in the most difficult and joyful moments. Together with him, Christians revere Jesus Christ (the son of God), the Virgin Mary and other saints who heal the human soul in especially difficult moments.

The main almanac and source of valuable knowledge regarding holidays, memorable dates, fasts and other equally significant dates is. With this useful help at hand, you will never miss a single important date and will always have time to prepare for the upcoming holiday.

In addition to Orthodox celebrations, Christians try to remember all the fasts, without which not a single year can go by. Do you want to know what church holidays await us in February 2018? Look at the calendar and you will always have time to prepare your body and soul for the celebration.

Great Church holidays in February 2018

• February 10, 2018 - This day is designated as Ecumenical Parents' Saturday. An extremely important date that calls on all believers to go to the cemetery in order to honor the memory of deceased relatives, clean up their graves and pray. The name “Ecumenical” is not used in vain, because this parental Saturday commemorates all the dead, starting from the time of Adam and ending with our time.
• From February 12 to 18, 2018 - The week called Maslenitsa or Cheese Week. This is a bright and joyful holiday for every Orthodox Christian. The roots of Maslenitsa go back to the times of paganism, so the celebration has quite interesting and funny traditions. For example, on the last “Maslenitsa” day, a huge straw effigy is installed in the squares and burned at the end of the festivities. Also, throughout Cheese Week, housewives bake pancakes with all kinds of fillings.

• February 15, 2018 - The Twelfth Immovable Feast - the Presentation of the Lord. This church celebration is particularly important in the liturgical year. It has a fixed date, which means that from year to year it is celebrated on the 15th. The meeting is timed to coincide with one event in the New Testament, when the sage Simeon saw the Messiah - the newborn Jesus, whom the Mother of God and Her husband brought to the Temple. This, first of all, touches on the most significant point in the Orthodox faith - love and trust in the Lord. Meeting helps us see that our God is merciful and fair to every person, and he always keeps his promises.
• February 19, 2018 - Beginning of Lent. This multi-day fast is considered the most important in the Orthodox Church. Its main goal is to prepare a person for the Easter holiday on a physical and spiritual level. Lent reminds believers of the forty-day abstinence from food of the Savior in the desert and that only in this way can the devil be driven out of the soul.

Complete list of church holidays in February 2018

• February 1 - Venerable Macarius the Great. Saint Mark
• February 2 – St. Euthymius the Great
• February 3 – Martyr Neophytos. Venerable Maximus the Greek
• February 4 - Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Day of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
• February 5 – Holy Martyr Clement and Martyr Agafangel. Cathedral of Kostroma Saints.
• February 6 - Day of St. Xenia the Roman
• February 7 – St. Gregory the Theologian
• February 8 - Saint Xenophon, his wife Mary and sons Arkady and John. Venerable Simeon the Old

• February 9 – Transfer of the relics of St. John Chrysostom
• February 10—Parents' Saturday. Venerable Theodosius of Totem
• February 11 - Week of the Last Judgment. Transfer of the relics of the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer
• February 12 - Maslenitsa, a continuous week without meat. Ecumenical Council of Teachers and Saints Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian
• February 13 - Saint Nikita, recluse of Pechersk, Bishop of Novgorod
• February 14 - Martyrs Perpetua and Filicitata, martyrs Sathornilus, Revocatus, Satyrus, Secundus
• February 15 - Presentation of the Lord

• February 16 — Icons “Softening Evil Hearts.” Righteous Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess
• February 17 - To all the reverend fathers who shone in feat
• February 18 - Forgiveness Sunday. Martyr Agathia. Saint Theodosius
• February 19 - Beginning of Lent. Clean Monday
• February 20 - Great Canon of Andrei of Crete
• February 21 - Great Martyrs Theodore Stratelates and Prophet Zechariah the Sickle-Seer
• February 22 – Finding of the relics of St. Innocent
• February 23 – Icons of the Mother of God “Fire-shaped”
• February 24 – St. Demetrius of Prilutsky

• February 25 - St. Alexis. Iveron Icon of the Mother of God
• February 26 – Venerable Martinian
• February 27 – Venerable Auxentius
• February 28 - Vilna and Dalmatian Icons of the Mother of God

Church fasts in February

• Multi-day fasting - Lent begins on February 19. This is the longest fast in the Orthodox Church. Another name for the fast is Lent
• One-day posts - February 7 and 9

Public holidays in February

In February 2018, there are 28 calendar days, of which 19 are working days and 9 are weekends. Despite the fact that almost every day of this month is associated with some interesting holiday, it does not bring Russians any additional days off. Only one celebration is recognized as a state celebration, which means that workers will not have to go to work.

February 23 is Defender of the Fatherland Day. There are millions of real men living in Russia who are capable of heroically defending their Motherland and all its inhabitants in moments of real danger. It is precisely these “knights without fear and reproach” who are congratulated on this wonderful holiday.

Most of our fellow citizens do not forget about the main traditions of the celebration - honoring WWII veterans, laying flowers at the monuments of soldiers who died during the war. In addition, patriotic concerts are held throughout the country, where real heroes of our time are awarded, and at the end of the evening, dozens of magnificent fireworks are released into the sky.

Christian life implies adherence to certain rules governing the life of believers. Each month of the liturgical year is full of various events, and learn about the most important Orthodox holidays and fasts celebrated in February 2018, the material in this article will help.

Church Orthodox holidays in February 2018

February 15, 2018 – Presentation of the Lord (twelfth). This holiday belongs to the liturgical year (see calendar of holidays below). It is celebrated annually on the same date, therefore it is not floating. The Meeting is dedicated to one of the events of the New Testament - the day when Elder Simeon saw the Messiah - the baby Jesus, whom the Mother of God and Her husband first brought to the Temple. This holiday is dedicated primarily to one of the most important pillars of the Orthodox faith - trust in God. Meeting helps us better see that the Lord is honest and just, and faithful to His promises.

February 10, 2018 – Ecumenical Parents’ Saturday (so-called Meat Saturday). On this day, it is customary to visit cemeteries, remember the dead, clean graves and pray. Parental Saturday is called Ecumenical, as it commemorates all the dead from Adam to the present day.

From February 12 to 18, 2018 – Maslenitsa or Cheese Week. Merry and Maslenitsa have survived to this day since the days of paganism. On Maslenitsa, it is customary to bake pancakes - an original Russian dish, which, according to some sources, is considered a symbol of the sun, according to others - a funeral dish. From this follows another meaning of Maslenitsa - the remembrance of the departed.

Calendar of church holidays for February 2018

Multi-day and one-day church fasts in February 2018

From February 19, 2018 (until April 7) – Lent. Most strict and longest post in a Christian church. Otherwise it is called the Fourth Day, because it lasts 6 weeks (weeks) or 40 days. Lent does not have a fixed start date and is counted annually depending on the day (date) of Easter. During this period it is forbidden to eat food of animal origin and indulge in worldly pleasures.

Since ancient times, people began to fast two days a week, which over the years passed from the Jewish faith to the Christian faith. Fasting has reached our days on Wednesday (believers remember the betrayal of Judas) and Friday (memories of the day of Christ’s crucifixion). In the last winter month of 2018, one-day fasts fall on the following days: February 7th and 9th.

Also find out how 2018 is according to the calendar, see the calendar of names.