Orthodoxy Peter's fast food. What is unacceptable to do on Peter's Fast

18.08.2019 Technique

In the Orthodox annual calendar there are four major fasts preceding four important Christian holidays, one for each season. These big fasts are Great, Rozhdestvensky, Uspensky and Petrov. Today we will talk about the last of them, about Peter’s or the Apostolic Fast, we will find out what date the fast begins and ends in 2019, about the traditions and signs associated with it.

Petrov or Petrovsky fast, sometimes called the Apostolic fast in honor of the chief apostles Peter and Paul, is one of the so-called seasonal fasts and is considered one of the fundamental ones in Orthodoxy. The fast invariably falls on summer time, but in terms of duration it is not so simple.

The fact is that the number of days of Peter's Fast depends on the date of Easter - fasting invariably begins a week after Trinity (which, as you know, does not have a fixed date and is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter). The period of abstinence from modest food always ends on the same day - the feast of Peter and Paul, the day of remembrance of the chief apostles, July 12. Thus, Peter's fast can last either one week or all six.

Start and end dates of Peter's Lent in 2019

What date does Peter's Fast begin in 2019 and what date does it end? The answer to this question is in the most important dates Orthodox holidays. Easter in 2019 is celebrated on Sunday 28 April. Fifty days later (if we take the date of Easter as the starting point) days, Trinity is celebrated - June 16, also on Sunday. Peter's Fast begins 8 days after Trinity - again, the date of the holiday itself is taken as the starting point; The beginning of fasting invariably falls on Monday. We open the calendar and get the following dates:

Peter's Fast will end in 2019 on July 12, Friday, that is, the last day of fasting is Thursday, July 11;
the entire Petrov fast in 2019 will last 25 days.

As you can see, the calculations are simple, the main thing is not to forget to start counting from the day of the specified holiday.

A little history

The apostolic fast is one of the most ancient in Christian history. The first mention of it dates back to the 3rd century: it is mentioned in the Apostolic Constitutions, a collection of apocryphal books dating from the beginning of our era. True, initially this fast was not independent - it was prescribed for those who, for some reason (illness, pregnancy, long trip, etc.) could not fast before Easter. Fasting was called compensatory, and only in the 11th century it became one of the traditional Christian periods of abstinence from food.

How to fast

Peter's Fast is not as strict and severe as the Great Fast. The dry eating provided for in it is a long-standing tradition, observed today mainly in monasteries. For those who simply want to cleanse their soul and body before a big holiday - the Day of Saints Peter and Paul - it is enough to exclude modest, that is, animal-based, food from their daily diet.

Monday – absolutely lean food is allowed, prepared without adding vegetable oil; Dishes can be eaten hot.
Tuesday – Lenten hot food with oil (of course, vegetable oil) and fish, mainly river, are allowed.
The environment is dry eating, that is, both food in the preparation of which vegetable oil was used and any hot dishes in general are prohibited.
Thursday is the day when you can include in the menu not only Lenten food, but also fish dishes.
Friday – dry eating: ban on hot food and dishes with oil.
Saturday – you are allowed to eat hot dishes, vegetable oil, fish and seafood.
Sunday – you can add a small amount of wine to the Saturday menu, preferably a red Cahors type. The key word is small, that is, at most an incomplete glass; Intoxication is not permitted under any circumstances.

Spiritual fasting

But fasting is not only a restriction on food. It is necessary to fast not just with your body, but with your soul, because nothing comes without difficulty, and in order to get joy from the holiday, you have to prepare for it long and hard.

During fasting, it is necessary to exclude entertainment and recreational activities from life. Not only clubs and parties are prohibited, but also going to the cinema, loud music, dancing, watching entertainment programs and reading “tabloid”, that is, entertaining, books. During fasting days, it is recommended to read spiritual literature, pray and keep purity even in thoughts.

Look video about the traditions and rules of observing Peter’s Fast:

Petrov post(Apostolic Fast, Petrovka) is one of four multi-day annual fasts, which was established in honor of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, who fasted in order to prepare themselves for the preaching of the gospel (Acts 13: 3). Peter's fast begins a week after and, unlike all other multi-day fasts, has a different period in duration: from 8 to 42 days, depending on the Easter cycle. It always ends on the day, July, 12(June 29, old style).

Petrov fast in 2018: June 4 - July 11

“During the reign of that Nero, there came someone named Simon, an Egyptian, a sorcerer, creating many visions, and was called Christ. Peter the Apostle heard about him and came to Rome. When he was on his way to Rome through Antioch the Great, Evvoda, the bishop and patriarch of the city of Antioch, happened to die. And Ignatius accepted the rank of bishop, and Saint Peter obeyed. It happened in those years that Mark the Apostle died in Great Alexandria, the bishop who was there and the patriarch. And Anian, his disciple, received the bishopric from him, as Theophilus wrote. The Apostle Peter hastened to Rome. And he found out where Simon the Magus was, and went to him; and he found a great dog at his gate, tied with chains. Simon tied him up because of the arrival of Peter, and ordered that they should not come to him unless Simon commanded. And this one sniffed at those who wanted to enter Simon. Peter saw the dog, so great and terrible, and learned from those standing in front of the gate that if Simon did not command the dog, then this dog would not allow anyone to enter; but, having pounced, the dog kills everyone who enters. Peter took the dog by the chain, untied him and said to him: “Go to Simon and tell him in a human voice: Peter, the servant of the Most High God, wants to come in.” The dog went; and came running when he was teaching someone magical charms, and, standing in the middle, spoke to Simon in a human voice: “Peter, the servant of the Most High God, wants to come to you.” They, hearing the dog speaking in a human voice, were surprised, saying: “What is this Peter, or what is his power, about whom the dog speaks? How (he) made the dog a human voice (speaking), creating him as an ambassador? And Simon said to those standing and marveling at Peter: “Do not let this man frighten you. For, so I command him to create an answer in the same human voice.” And Simon said to the dog: “I command you, go and tell Peter in a human voice: Simon says to you, come and enter.” And Peter came to Simon. And Peter fought with Simon of Egypt while he was performing miracles. And Peter overcame Simon the sorcerer, and performed healings, and many believed Peter and were baptized. And therefore a great rebellion and storm arose in Rome because of Simon; and performed miracles (both).

And hearing about the rebellion, Agrippa the eparch told King Nero, saying: “There are some in this city who work miracles against each other. One calls himself Christ himself, and the other says that (he) is not Christ, but a sorcerer, for I am Christ’s disciple.” And then King Nero ordered Simon the Magus and Peter to be brought before him, and Pilate to be brought out of prison. And they were brought before the king, and Nero asked Simon: “Are you the Christ?” He said: “I am.” And Peter said: “This is not Christ. For I am His disciple and with me I ascended into heaven.” And after this he called Pilate and asked him about Simon: “Is this the One whom you handed over to be crucified?” And, approaching, Pilate said: “This is not Christ.” He also asked him about Peter: “Do you know this, whether he is His disciple?” He said: “Truly. And the Jews brought him to me as His disciple, and he rejected, saying, “I am not His disciple.” And I let him go.” And then Nero and Simon, as having lied, calling himself Christ, which he was not, as well as Peter, exposed by Pilate as having rejected Christ, ordered to be expelled. And they were expelled from the palace. And they stayed in Rome, working miracles against each other.

Simon ordered to bring a great bull and said (something) into the bull’s ear, and immediately the bull died. And it was wonderful (it). Peter, having made a prayer, made the bull come to life in front of everyone, which was a great miracle. Simon, realizing that Peter was contradicting him with Scripture and God’s word, wanted to be tested (differently). He left with much shame, defeated, for he was a nasty, skilled person in the devil’s deeds, but an incompetent spiritual teaching. For he was taught sorcery and the wiles of Satan, like no one else before him. He had no doubts, since he was famous for the devil’s malice and atrocities, for he created idols, and when he lay in the fire, he was not burned, he flew through the air, he created loaves from stones, he became a snake and turned into gold, he opened closed and locked doors, and iron bonds crushed; at suppers, he created idols, representing all sorts of passions, and made the vessels in the house themselves wear themselves to serve, as if someone were wearing them, invisible; he arranged many shadows before himself, saying that these were the souls of the dead. Many tried to expose him as a poisoner and a charmer, but changed (this opinion) after the festivities, when, having slaughtered oxen and fed them differently, so that it was impossible (it was) to be healed, they were converted into (the same) demon. And he did many other things with the help of the demons who served him, and with their help he not only transformed himself into other human and bestial images, (but) he did what he wanted.

And Caesar once sought him (to seize him) as a magician; and to avoid this, he transferred his appearance to Fafst (Favst), Petrov’s student. And in this form (he) came to Peter, being persecuted by everyone, because of such an unvenerable appearance with which he was exposed. Peter looked at him and saw him in sadness and in tears, possessed, and said: “By Simon the sorcerer, Faustus, your change was (made), for Caesar is looking for him; (he) was afraid and ran away, placing his image on you, so that you would be caught and killed, and cause us great sorrow and grief. But God will change (this) people, the seducer and enemy of the truth; and will change you from Simon’s image, and the first (image) will be given to you soon.” And suddenly with the words (these) it became so, for all of us seeing (it). To send this and the like, (as) Clement says, (was) trained and did in Syria. And in Rome, after the expulsion from the face of Nero, as before, it was said and written in the Acts of the Holy Apostles.

Peter the Apostle with his prayer killed Simon the Magus, who wanted to ascend. For Simon said to Peter: “You say that Christ your God has ascended into heaven. And behold, I am lifted up." And Peter saw him rising into the air (by the action of) his sorcery, in the middle of the city of Rome. And Peter prayed, and immediately Simon the Magus fell to the ground in the middle of the road, and was broken and died. And his bones lie to this day where he fell. The place, which took on a vile and nasty body, has existed since then, and there is a stone fence around it, and is known as “the place of Simon.” The great Peter says about this in the Apostolic Decrees: “The beginning of new heretics was from Simon the Magus. He did many unworthy things in Syria, and when he came to Rome, he perverted the church in many ways with magic and devilish cunning and deeds. For in Caesarea Stratona he talked with me, Peter, wanting to corrupt the Word of God, and with the holy children who were with me, Zacchaeus, who was once a publican, and Barnabas, and Aquila, the brother of Clement, a Roman, who studied with Paul, our fellow apostle and co-worker, about the Gospel, that is, about the Good News. Three times he talked with him about the prophetic words about him, and about God’s unity of command; and defeated him by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and brought him into silence, and forced him to flee to Italy. The one who was with him, as it is said, in Rome, outraged the church in many ways and converted many, attracting him to himself. The pagans marveled at sorcery, and wiles, and demonic acts. Then one day at noon, entering the theater, Simon said: “I will rise into the air,” in front of everyone marveling at this. I, Peter, silently prayed; when he rose, carried through the air by demons flying, and said: “I must ascend to heaven, and from there give good things to people,” the people praised him as a god, I stretched out my hands on high, and prayed to God: “Let the destroyer come down, and let his strength be destroyed.” And then (I) said to Simon: “If I am an apostle of Jesus Christ, and not a flatterer, like you, Simon, I command the hostile forces, let them stop holding you!” And when I said this, he immediately fell with a great noise and was broken. And the people cried out: “There is only one God, whom Peter preaches!” Thus, for the first time, the Simonic heresy collapsed in Rome and extinguished the great one. For this reason, the Romans call that Sabbath day special, for it was that Saturday on which both prayer and fasting were given to the faithful. There is a custom that the church prays for its didaskal (teacher), those who work and those who grieve; So in the Acts of the Holy Apostles it is written that prayer is diligent in the church for Peter’s sake, since on that Sabbath day Christ’s victory was accomplished and the Antichrist Simon fell.”

King Nero heard that Simon died because of Peter; and Peter was then taken. And he handed over and appointed Ain (Linus) by name, one of his disciples, to the bishopric of Rome. And he followed him when they took him. Peter himself was of average height, with short hair, all gray-haired, with a head and a white beard, pale, with swollen eyes, with a beautiful beard, long-nosed, eyebrows, short, wise, quick-tempered, but quickly quick-witted, clear, conducted the conversation (as if) by the Holy Spirit and performed miracles .

And Nero commanded Peter to be crucified. Peter begged the eparch not to be crucified straight up to his full height, like the Lord, but headlong (upside down). For this reason, Peter was crucified as he wished, and this was due to much (his) humility. And after Peter, Linus was bishop in Rome, as Eusebius Pamphilus writes. Peter the Apostle suffered torment, being crucified headlong, for the Apostle himself adjured the eparch: “Let me not be crucified like my Lord.” And Saint Peter died during the consulate of Pronian.”

Holy Glorious Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul, pray to God for us.

Basically, fasting for most people is associated only with abstinence from food, they say they fasted, gave up meat, milk, sweets and cleansed themselves of sins. Only this definition far from the truth. A person who limits himself in anything changes in character, becomes hot-tempered and angry, or, in extreme cases, withdrawn. Some who fast may feel superior to others. All this is from the evil one.

Fasting implies, in addition to restricting food intake, spiritual work on oneself. These days there is an influx of temptations, so maximum control of thoughts and desires is necessary, first of all (Don’t covet!). Fasting exists in all world religions. In addition to cleansing and healing the flesh, they bring the main thing - spiritual cleansing. Among Christians, faith is divided into two main movements: Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

In the Russian Orthodox Church greatest number fasts dedicated to church holidays. There are multi-day ones, up to 42 days, and one-day ones. One of them is Petrovsky post.

Origin

When does Peter's Fast begin? Otherwise called the Apostolic Fast, it is timed to coincide with the holiday in honor of the apostles Peter and Paul, ending on this day. The holiday falls on July 12th. Previously, it was called the fast of Pentecost, practiced since the earliest times of Orthodoxy. It is one of the very important posts in Orthodox Christianity. It was fully established after the construction of the Church of Peter and Paul, when on the day of remembrance of these saints, June 29 (according to July 12), it was consecrated.

This fast prepares Christians to work on themselves, abstaining from food and evil thoughts, accompanied by prayers for the celebration of Peter and Paul. People called this fast “Petrovka” or “Petrovka-hunger strike”. The second name is due to the fact that at the beginning of summer there was almost nothing left from the harvested crop, and there was a long wait for a new one.

The apostles Peter and Paul always fasted before preaching. Before this fast was dedicated to the apostles, it was carried out by making up for what was lost, in Lent. Those who, for health reasons, or while traveling or for any other reason, were unable to observe Lent, could make up for what they missed on Petrovsky, in the middle of the summer, with a large amount of vegetables and fruits.

When does Peter's Fast begin?

The start time of Lent completely depends on Easter; it always begins on Monday, a week after Trinity, on the 50th day after Easter, the date of which depends on lunar calendar. Therefore the date of the holiday Christ's Resurrection turns out not fixed. Hence, when the Orthodox Petrine Fast begins, it is difficult to immediately answer exactly; it falls on different dates and months, while the end is fixed on the feast of Peter and Paul. From this, the duration of fasting ranges from 8 to 42 days.

In view of the natural need for food for the body, during the rejection of it and absolute control over oneself, the believer strengthens his own will, which is so necessary in conquering carnal needs. These days, it is recommended to reflect on true humility and your cross, imagine and understand what spiritual feat the apostles Peter and Paul accomplished.

Differences in the abstinence of the worldly with ascetics and priests

Of course, abstinence during these periods of those living in the world is strikingly different from the fasting of a priest or monk. This may be due to work, health, or life circumstances. On the other hand, the fasting person must see these circumstances subjectively, avoiding unnecessary indulgence in abstinence.

The imprint of a way of life has a profound effect on the perception of the world and the path that leads each moment up or down. Monks perceive and observe the rules and customs established in the monastery, or by position in the church hierarchy. Therefore, the fast of monks is, in any case, stricter than that of the laity. For ascetics, all worldly circumstances disappear; they have to follow the rules.

They must constantly pray, often all night, which also makes abstaining from food exhausting. However, monks are deprived of all worldly concerns, in the initial stages - by the walls of a monastery or church, in the subsequent stages - by followers. Thanks to this, priests enter deeper into spiritual life. This difference has occurred at all times.

Prayers and Sacraments

Prayers and other sacraments Orthodox Christianity requires learning to read and accept. In the statement “Through prayer and it will be given,” the role is played by the text, and the reading itself. Many who serve the Lord have heard warmth and tears indicating that the prayer was a success. The right one brings good, but the more sublime it is, the more work it requires.

The prescription says that one should not strive for warmth of the heart with tears. And try to read each time better and more sincerely, then grace itself will descend, commensurate with the degree of humility. When they find tears with warmth in the soul and contrition, so as not to become proud.

What can you eat on Petrovsky fast?

Lent is less strict than Lent, although its use is limited sunflower oil and fish. But still, sometimes, depending on the day of the week, these products can be allowed. Most believers want to create a menu for themselves for St. Peter's Fast.

Why do you need to know what you can eat on Peter’s Fast and on what days? Meat, poultry, dairy products, eggs and any of the above are absolutely prohibited. Do not eat all fast food, confectionery and baked goods. Drinking alcoholic beverages is, of course, inappropriate.

On Mondays you are allowed to eat hot food from vegetables, mushrooms and cereals. No added oil.
On Tuesdays - vegetables, mushrooms, cereals, fruits with vegetable oil, fish.
On Wednesdays there is strict fasting. You can only eat raw vegetables, fruits, and bread. Once a day, in the evening.
On Thursdays - plant foods (vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, cereals) with vegetable oil, fish.
On Fridays - strict abstinence, for dinner only raw vegetables and fruits.
On Saturdays and Sundays, vegetables, mushrooms, cereals, vegetable oil, fish, wine are allowed, in two doses.

This is a list of products allowed for consumption during Peter’s Fast for the laity. For people who have taken monastic vows or become clergy, the restrictions are much stricter. Sticking to them in the middle of summer is not so difficult, because there are a lot of fruits and vegetables at this time. Even without meat, animal fats and other foods that are prohibited during fasting.

In the summer there are plenty of vegetables, cereals and legumes that replace the usual diet, making it varied and tasty.

Dishes

Several dishes of Peter's Lent with a very pleasant and aromatic taste:

Pea soup without fat, except vegetables and legumes.
Stuffed cabbage rolls with mushrooms instead of minced meat.
A very easy to make salad with potatoes, pickles, pickled mushrooms, and herbs. All this is seasoned with vinegar, spices and oil.
Fish cakes with potatoes.
Green borscht with nettles, without fat.
Buckwheat soup with mushrooms.
Vegetable stew.

In addition to the listed dishes, there are many recipes for preparing appetizers, salads, first and second courses, desserts and drinks.

Why do you need to know what you can eat on Peter’s Fast and on what days? As already indicated, these days it is necessary to observe not only food restrictions. You need to monitor your behavior and adhere to certain rules and recommendations. This applies not only to monks and clergy (they have even stricter requirements), but also to people living in the world.

Since ancient times, on such days, all vain affairs were suspended, it was necessary to properly prepare meals for Peter's Fast by day, think about the spiritual, do godly deeds and engage in charity.

Valid reasons for relaxing the strictness of fasting

Of course, you shouldn’t bruise your forehead, as in the saying: “Make a fool pray to God, he’ll bruise his forehead!” Depending on your lifestyle due to work, illness or other extenuating circumstances, it is necessary to adhere to fasting more gently, in terms of food and pastime. Take on so much so as not to overstrain yourself.

It may happen that a person has health-related characteristics. Such people should not strictly fast; the illness itself is already a fast, forcing them to adhere to certain behavior and actions. People with limited mobility are familiar with this, as are those who spend a lot of energy during the day (athletes, military personnel, sailors associated with heavy physical labor, mental stress, intensive training). Eat general rules, but everyone has their own life circumstances.

Post for children

Children require special treatment. Here the parent’s task is not to limit immediately and completely, strictly according to all instructions. In this case, the child will perform, but it will be physically and mentally difficult for him. A growing body requires constant consumption of animal and vegetable protein, all minerals and vitamins. Therefore, it is better to persuade him to first eat less sweets during Lent, and then eliminate them completely. So the child, when you come to an agreement through the arguments you put forward, begins to consciously work on himself during fasting, which is more important than fasting itself.

“The main thing is not what goes in, but what comes out!” - Jesus Christ instructed. Therefore, you need to focus not on food, but on your heart. What comes from a person in the world? Swearing, irritation, negative actions and other actions that emotionally destroy relationships between loved ones lead to disruptions in relationships with God.

The apostles Peter and Paul were called to serve Jesus Christ and the Church in different ways, but according to legend, both ended their lives as martyrs - the apostle Peter was crucified upside down on the cross, and Paul was beheaded with a sword. Therefore, Peter's Fast is also called Apostolic Fast.

The beginning of the Petrine Fast does not have a fixed date - it always begins on Monday a week after the feast of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost) - in 2018 it falls on June 4.

And the date of Trinity depends on the day of Easter, so the beginning of Peter's Lent falls on different dates and lasts from 8 to 42 days.

The essence and meaning of the post

Peter's Fast was established in apostolic times and dates back to the very first times of the Orthodox Church. It used to be called the fast of Pentecost. The Petrine or Apostolic fast became after the construction of churches to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Constantinople and Rome.

Peter's Fast, like any of the four multi-day fasts a year, calls for self-improvement, victory over sins and passions and prepares Christians with fasting and prayer for the celebration of the day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

The clergy believe that spiritual life without fasting is impossible - this is an ascetic truth, for which it is paid with blood. But Peter's Fast is not only a memory of past persecutions from external enemies.

According to the Gospel, the main enemy is not the one who kills the body, but the one who is rooted inside the soul. History remembers cases when baptized people they forgot about love for God and neighbor and returned to previous sins, and fasting reminds of such danger, church ministers note.

For a Christian, hunger and refusal of food in themselves are not good, since the need for food is natural for humans. Fasting serves to educate the will, which is important for morality, since by fasting a person learns to subordinate his bodily needs to the spirit.

During the days of fasting, the church encourages people to think about humility and martyrdom, as well as to evaluate the spiritual feat of each of the apostles. Martyrdom in Orthodoxy is one of the key phenomena. It is to go to torment and humbly accept it that is the highest spiritual feat.

Petrov's Fast is also given in order to make up for lost time in Lent. This is a way out for those who, due to illness, travel, or other reasons, were unable to observe Lent before Easter.

What you can and cannot eat during Peter's Fast

Peter's Fast, unlike the Great Fast, is not so strict. It begins on Monday, the 57th day after Easter (a week after Trinity). In 2018, it falls on June 4, and the last day of fasting is July 11. Accordingly, in 2018 it lasts 38 days.

During this period, you also cannot eat meat, dairy products, eggs, but fish is allowed on some days of the week. The basis of the Lenten table is vegetables, herbs and dishes prepared from them, as well as cereals, fruits, berries and dried fruits.

During this fast, the consumption of hot food without oil is prescribed on Monday, fish is allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and dry eating (bread, water, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey) is allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays. And on weekends, a little wine is allowed.

The Day of Remembrance of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on July 12, is not included in fasting. However, if it falls on Wednesday or Friday, then it is fast, but of a low degree of severity - food with oil, fish and wine are allowed.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov said that “true fasting does not consist in exhaustion of the flesh alone, but also in giving that part of the bread that you yourself would like to eat to the hungry (hungry, thirsty)… Fasting does not consist only in eating rarely, but in eating little; and not in eating once, but in not eating much.”

How to fast

Petrov's fast is considered the easiest fast for the entire calendar year. But even when starting this, not the most strict, fast, you need to consult with your confessor and your doctor if you have any chronic diseases.

In general, laymen are not required to fast as strictly as monks, for whom the Charter provides for more stringent rules. During fasting, foods should also be excluded from the menu. instant cooking, that is, fast food, confectionery and baked goods.

At the same time, it should be remembered that fasting is a spiritual cleansing and only in second place is abstinence from food. It should not promote weight loss, but strengthening in a person spiritual origin. Therefore, it is very important to pray, confess and receive communion during Lent.

But, if for some reason a layman cannot follow all the rules of fasting, he can limit himself to other, non-gastronomic things. For example, do not watch TV or use social networks in the Internet.

Traditions and customs

By church canons, the sacrament of marriage - the wedding does not take place during church holidays, posts and individual temple holidays. Accordingly, a wedding during Peter's Fast and on Peter's Day is not permitted.

To live long and happy family life, it is recommended to wait out Petrov's fast. You should also postpone conceiving children until after the fast. According to folk customs, the wedding was not held on Petrov Fast for other reasons.

Peter's Fast is held in the summer, during the peak season of field work, so there has been a centuries-old tradition of not holding weddings at this time. Modern rural youth also adhere to this tradition.

Even more ancient tradition claims that the souls of the dead visit the Earth at this time, and cheerful celebrations are disrespectful to their memory.

Signs for Petrov's fast

During fasting, you should not cut your hair - your hair will be sparse. During Lent they do not sew or do handicrafts - their hands will be weak. Whoever lends money during Peter's Fast will not get out of debt for three years.

A marriage entered into during Lent is short-lived, there will be no harmony in the family, and it will soon fall apart. If during Peter's Fast, at the end of the moon, you touch a dry branch with a wart, saying: just as during Lent the meat on the platter is empty, so that the wart is thin, then the wart will dry up and fall off. If the commemoration coincides with fasting, then according to the rules the commemoration must also be fasting. But there is nothing terrible in the fact that there was quick food on the table on such a day. If during fasting, during a feast, someone persuades a fasting person to eat meat, ridiculing him or the fast, then he will die hard and for a long time.

Peter's Fast is not a time for fortune-telling, rituals, or fulfillment magical rituals. This way you can bring disaster on yourself and your loved ones, left without support higher powers. It is better to devote time to prayers and sincerely ask Heaven for what you want.

If on the first day post is underway rain, the harvest will be excellent. Three rains in one day - the year promises to be rich in joyful events.

The material was prepared based on open sources

The beginning of Peter's Lent does not have a fixed date - it always begins on Monday a week after the feast of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost) - in 2017 it falls on June 12, notes Sputnik Georgia.

And the date of Trinity depends on the day of Easter, so the beginning of Peter's Lent falls on different dates and lasts from 8 to 42 days.

The essence and meaning of the post

According to the Gospel, the main enemy is not the one who kills the body, but the one who is rooted inside the soul. History remembers cases when baptized people forgot about love for God and neighbor and returned to previous sins, and fasting reminds of such danger, church ministers note.

Petrov's Fast is also given in order to make up for lost time in Lent. This is a way out for those who, due to illness, travel, or other reasons, were unable to observe Lent before Easter.

What you can and cannot eat during Peter's Fast

Peter's Fast, unlike the Great Fast, is not so strict. It begins on Monday, the 57th day after Easter (a week after Trinity). In 2017, it falls on June 12, and the last day of fasting is July 11. Accordingly, in 2017 it lasts 30 days.

The exception is the last Friday of Peter's Lent, which falls on July 7. On this day Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist - the Baptist of the Savior, therefore eating fish is allowed.

How to fast

In general, laymen are not required to fast as strictly as monks, for whom the Charter provides for more stringent rules. During fasting, you should also exclude fast food products from the menu, that is, fast food, confectionery and baked goods.

At the same time, it should be remembered that fasting is a spiritual cleansing and only in second place is abstinence from food. It should not contribute to weight loss, but to strengthening a person’s spirituality. Therefore, it is very important to pray, confess and receive communion during Lent.

But, if for some reason a layman cannot follow all the rules of fasting, he can limit himself to other, non-gastronomic things. For example, do not watch TV or use social networks on the Internet.

Traditions and customs

According to church canons, the sacrament of marriage - weddings - is not performed during church holidays, fasting and individual church holidays. Accordingly, a wedding during Peter's Fast and on Peter's Day is not permitted.

To live a long and happy family life, it is recommended to wait out Peter's Fast. You should also postpone conceiving children until after the fast. According to folk customs, weddings were not held on Peter's Fast for other reasons.

An even more ancient tradition claims that the souls of the dead visit the Earth at this time, and cheerful celebrations are disrespectful to their memory.

Signs for Petrov's fast

Peter's Fast is not a time for fortune telling, rituals, or performing magical rituals. This way you can bring disaster on yourself and your loved ones, left without the support of higher powers. It is better to devote time to prayers and sincerely ask Heaven for what you want.

If it rains on the first day of fasting, the harvest will be excellent. Three rains in one day - the year promises to be rich in joyful events.

The material was prepared based on open sources

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