Assumption Fast 2021: beginning and end, nutrition calendar, charter and prohibitions

The last multi-day summer fast is called the Assumption Fast. The Assumption Fast begins on August 14 (Honey Spas) and lasts two weeks , until the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary , celebrated on August 28 . The Assumption Fast is considered very strict, comparable in severity to the Great Fast. According to the rules, any dairy and meat products, eggs and even fish are completely prohibited. The only day when fish is allowed is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 19 (Apple Savior) .

According to the strictest monastic regulations, dry eating (that is, cold, lean, raw food) is prescribed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The fast ends on the eve of the Third Savior . If the Dormition of the Virgin Mary falls on Wednesday or Friday (as it will be in 2020), fasting on this day is not lifted, but in connection with the holiday you can eat fish, and wine is also allowed. In 2021, the fast will end only the next day - Saturday, August 29, on the Third Spas.

Since the Assumption Fast falls during the three Spas, and also because at the end of summer you can “save” from hunger with fresh fruits and vegetables, in Rus' this time was called Spas, or Spasovka.

History of the Assumption Fast

The Assumption Fast has been known since the 5th century, when there was one fast for each period of the year. It occurred at the end of August, but was considered autumn. It was originally intended for people who could not fast during Lent. Then they kept abstinence, starting from Sunday a week after Trinity until the Assumption. At the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries, this period was shortened to the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul. The two-week Assumption Fast was finally approved in 1166 at the Council of Constantinople.

FAQ

During fasting, situations often arise that cause difficulties for believers. Those who fast ask questions such as:

• Do clergy conduct baptisms?
• Are weddings allowed?
• is it possible to travel?
• Is it allowed to conceive a child?

As for the rite of baptism, there are no prohibitions during the period of fasting. Children are baptized on any day, but weddings are not held during fasting.

One of the restrictions is abstinence from intimacy. Therefore, it is advisable not to plan to conceive a child on these days. It is also not recommended to travel, except for trips to holy places.

The Dormition Fast is a time of grace that opens the gates to a new life. You need to spend it with humility, submission, strengthening yourself physically and spiritually.

Rules of conduct and traditions of the Dormition Fast

The Dormition Fast involves restricting certain types of food, which promotes self-education and the development of willpower. In addition, fasting includes restrictions in daily activities, which can harm spiritual purity and lead to a state of sinfulness. First of all, you need to pay attention to relationships with family members and people around you. Fasting is the best time to repent of your actions and make peace with those with whom you were in a quarrel.

Compliance with the Dormition Fast requires abstinence from:

• Food of animal origin: meat, eggs, dairy products, fish (except the Day of Transfiguration of the Lord)
• Drinking alcohol and smoking.
• Visits to entertainment and social events, which are accompanied by abundant feasts, fun, dancing, and songs.
• Quarrels, envy, anger, lies, gossip, slander.
• Laziness and despondency.
• Watching TV shows, TV series, movies, computer games and social networks.
• Travel and trips that are not related to pilgrimage to Orthodox shrines.
• Intimate relationships.

Establishment of a holiday

The apostles buried the body of the Mother of God in the Garden of Gethsemane. A few days later, the Apostle Thomas arrived in Jerusalem. He wanted to say goodbye to the Mother of God, but Her body was not in the grave cave. According to the teachings of the Church, Jesus Christ resurrected the Most Holy Theotokos and ascended Her to Heaven.

In Orthodoxy, the Dormition of the Mother of God is celebrated as a Great Holiday (August 28, new style). This is the day when the Most Holy Theotokos “fell asleep” for a short time before Her Resurrection.

“The Most Holy Virgin Mary was the Most Pure Temple of the Savior, the Holy Spirit dwelt in Her, and in Her Most Holy womb the Son of God who descended from heaven received human nature. Therefore, Her bodily death was not death, but a dormition, a direct transition from the kingdom of God, which was within Her, into eternal life” (St. Luke of Crimea).

What can you eat during the Dormition Fast: nutritional rules

According to the Church Charter, the Dormition Fast is equal in severity to the Great Fast. During this period, you should not eat meat, dairy products, or eggs. The basis of the Lenten table consists of dishes made from potatoes, mushrooms, vegetables, fruits, berries, and nuts.

During this fast, dry eating is prescribed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (bread, water, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey), on Tuesday and Thursday hot food without oil is allowed, and on Saturday and Sunday - hot food with oil, wine is also allowed.

On the church holiday of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), you can eat fish (regardless of what day it falls on) and drink a little wine.

According to the monastic Charter, the above rules are mandatory for observance among monks. Laymen do not have to adhere to the strictness of fasting. Parishioners coordinate the nutrition calendar with spiritual mentors, taking into account all life circumstances, health conditions and body characteristics.

The article provides a calendar of the monastic Rules, which gives an idea of ​​the degree of severity of fasting by day. Each person individually, together with his confessor, determines the degree of severity of his fast. People who have chronic diseases should first consult their doctor to prevent possible risks to the body.

For some categories of people, a relaxation of the fast is allowed: military personnel, students and people engaged in heavy physical labor. Pregnant and lactating women are exempt from gastronomic restrictions. It is better not to limit children to meat and dairy foods. Other dietary restrictions can be introduced for them. For example, give less sweets.

Who should not fast

In fact, everyone can fast during the Dormition Fast. The abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits confirms the saying:

“Petrovka (Petrovsky fast) - hunger strike, Spasovka (Uspensky fast) - gourmet.”

The August fast is quite easy to bear; giving up meat and dairy for two weeks is harmless. The exception is nursing women and young children who need dairy products. The rules of fasting for the laity allow for relaxations in comparison with the monastic regulations; believers are advised to use common sense, if necessary, consulting with doctors and their confessor.

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How to prepare and smoothly enter the fast

The Dormition Fast is the shortest fast. It lasts two weeks, but in its severity it is equal to Lent. It occurs at the end of summer, when nuts, vegetables, fruits, and herbs are abundant on the tables. This will allow you to eat a varied, tasty diet, while receiving the necessary vitamins and nutrients in full. The Dormition Fast does not require careful preparation, however, for people who are fasting for the first time or have a hard time with gastronomic restrictions, it is better to adhere to some rules:

• It is better to start preparing for fasting 1-2 weeks in advance. Gradually reduce meat and dairy products in your diet. Before fasting, you shouldn’t try to eat up these foods for good measure.
• Get your body used to fiber. The basis of a lean diet is plant foods, which contain dietary fiber in large quantities. To avoid discomfort associated with digestion, eat salads daily and add bran or fiber to prepared meals.
• Drink enough fluids. Drinking 1.5-2 liters of clean water daily will improve intestinal function, eliminate dehydration and experience less hunger.
• Maintain the balance of intestinal microflora. A sudden change in diet can disrupt the microflora. To populate the intestines with beneficial bacteria, consume fermented milk products daily: starter cultures, bifidoyogurts and kefirs, fermented baked milk, yogurt.
• Lenten foods are lower in calories. In order not to feel hungry in the first days of fasting, you can increase portions, add additional meals or snacks of fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Time, catalog of fasting 2021 in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary

Autumn blessed time, spent with humility, gives new life and allows you to throw off “old clothes.”

Fasting is not a punishment, but a grace given by God to spend joyful hours of prayer with Him.

“As long as this moment of joy is inaccessible and incomprehensible to us, we will end up with a monstrous and blasphemous parody; We, as if in the name of God, will turn life into sheer torment for ourselves and for those who will have to pay for our fruitless attempts to become saints” (Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh)

The Assumption Great Service begins 14 days before the great holiday - the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

From August 14 to 27, just 2 weeks, the Orthodox people honor the Holy Virgin Mary in a special way, preparing themselves physically and spiritually for the celebration of her Assumption.

The Assumption Fast on August 14 - 27 refers to strict compliance with all requirements, but is especially filled with joy and festive events.

The Dormition Abstinence calendar contains the celebration of the three Saviours.

• On August 14, the beginning of the Great Repentance, there is a holiday - Honey Savior. The church calendar does not have the name Honey Spas. This day is dedicated to the Celebration of the All-Merciful Savior and the Mother of God. The celebration of the Savior and the Virgin Mary coincides with the honey harvest. The celebration itself dates back to 1164, when Andrei Bogolyubsky defeated the Saracens, the Volga Bulgarians. Another name for this holiday is the Poppy Savior, the day of remembrance of the Maccabee brothers who gave their lives for their faith.
• On August 19, Christians all over the world celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord, when, while on earth, Jesus went with his disciples to Mount Tabor, where he was taken to the very top and transformed into white robes. On both sides of Him stood the prophets Moses and Elijah. This was the first time the divine nature of Jesus was revealed. According to folk traditions, Apple Savior is celebrated, the time of consecration of fruits given by the grace of the Lord.
• August 28 is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the day when the Most Pure Virgin Mary was taken to Heaven. On August 29, the day after the Dormition, a national holiday is celebrated - the third Savior, the nut one. Christians recall the events of 944, when the miraculous image of Jesus Christ, printed on canvas when the Savior blotted his face during his lifetime, was delivered to Constantinople.

Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Behavior rules

Church ministers remind that fasting is not a diet. First of all, you need to take care of your soul. First of all, the point is to limit pleasures, and not to refuse animal food. The main rule is not to burden yourself with gluttony and drunkenness.

How to fast

The saints always fasted strictly and advised others to prepare for saving and great deeds with the help of fasting, since it is called upon to make the bodily nature strong and light, capable of obeying the demands of the spirit.

You should get used to it gradually. A person who has never fasted before is more likely to ruin his health than to come closer to holiness. To avoid impatience and irritation, each person must determine how much food and drink he needs per day, and gradually reduce this amount to the minimum necessary for life.

What to do in the post:

• pray;
• repent;
• attend church services;
• do as many good deeds as possible.

What not to do

Fasting is a time for repentance and prayer, so abstinence from all kinds of entertainment is recommended.

What is prohibited to do:

• get married;
• organize weddings and other celebrations;
• take part in all kinds of entertainment events;
• drink alcoholic beverages;
• envy;
• swear;
• make a scandal.

According to legend, if young people get married on these days, they will never be happy. It is better to carry out all important events before or after fasting.

Who may not fast:

• seriously ill;
• pregnant women;
• nursing mothers;
• military personnel;
• workers engaged in heavy physical labor;
• travelers;
• children under 7 years old.

Solid weeks

Christmastide

January 7 – 17, 2020

The period from Christmas to Epiphany. Starts on January 7, ends on January 17 (inclusive). The duration of this week is 11 days. During Christmas time there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday; you can eat meat every day.

Publican and Pharisee

February 10 – 15, 2020

Starts 21 days before Lent (Monday) and ends on Saturday. Lasts 6 days. During this week there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday; you can eat meat every day.

Cheese (Maslenitsa)

February 24 – March 1, 2020

The week before Great Lent. Lasts 7 days, from Monday to Sunday. On all these days, food without meat (eggs, fish, dairy products) is allowed.

Easter (Light)

April 20 – 25, 2020

The week after Easter. Lasts 6 days, from Monday to Saturday. During this week there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday; you can eat meat every day.

Trinity

June 8 – 14, 2020

The week after the Holy Trinity Day. Lasts 7 days, from Monday to Sunday. During this continuous week there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday; it is allowed to eat meat every day.

One-day restrictions

In the Orthodox world there are also one-day fasts. The first is Epiphany Christmas Eve. On January 18, people are baptized and washed with holy water. Believers need to visit a church or temple to take holy water.

How to drink Epiphany water correctly:

1. On an empty stomach in the morning.
2. 1-2 tbsp. l every day.
3. After the person prays.

For sick people, there is a simple scheme for drinking water: first they drink water, then the medicine. Blessed water does not spoil and has healing properties for several years. If you add a little Epiphany water to regular water, the entire liquid will become healing.

September 11th is another important day in the Orthodox calendar - the date of death of the martyr the Forerunner. According to legends, he himself baptized Christ. Strict fasting in his honor excludes the consumption of meat, eggs, fish and milk. Powerful prayers are read for the holiday. The simplest one:

To read Orthodox remember St. Euphrosyne of Suzdal

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross falls on September 27th. The holiday must be spent in church with prayers, in the circle of other believers. According to ancient traditions, processions and religious processions are held. It is customary to pray for good health and wish loved ones that their wishes will come true. On September 27, the ancestors planted berries and apple trees.

Calendar of church holidays by day of the month