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When does Dormition Fast begin and end in 2022
The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in Orthodoxy is celebrated on August 28. This is one of four multi-day fasts a year (there are also Veliky, Petrov and Rozhdestvensky), it lasts two weeks. Dates are always the same from 14 to 27 August.
Dormition fast in the church
The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is just preceded by fasting, reminds the faithful of the day of the death of Mary, the mother of Christ. It is important to understand that in this case, of course, not the event of death itself is celebrated, but the moment of transition from earthly life to eternal, heavenly life. It is believed that the Mother of God, with her prayers, intercedes before God for people.
The first mention of the Dormition Fast has been known since the 1166th century, which means that it has been observed since ancient times of Christianity. At the Council of Constantinople in XNUMX, its dates and dates were finally established.
There are three feasts on or immediately after the Dormition Fast. First, August 14 – The origin of the honest trees of the Life-Giving Cross. During it, they remember the tradition of the procession in Constantinople, as well as the victory of the prince Andrei Bogolyubsky over the Volga Bulgars in the XNUMXth century.
On August 19, the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated. This is one of the twelfth (that is, 12 main after Easter) church holidays. He tells the believers about how, during prayer on the mountain, the divine nature of the Savior was revealed to the three disciples of Christ.
And after Lent, on the 29th, the day of the Transfer of the Image Not Made by Hands from Edessa to Constantinople comes. This is a holiday in honor of the image of the Savior, which was not written, but printed on the canvas, with which Jesus wiped his face.
Is it possible to play a wedding in the Assumption post
As for the fast itself, it is one of the most strict in the Orthodox Church, the same as the Great Lent before Easter. Fasting people are ordered to give up meat and dairy products, eggs. Fish is allowed only on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 19th.
At the same time, it is important to remember that fasting is not a diet, and food restrictions while observing it are by no means the main thing. It is much more important to spend these days in prayer and righteous thoughts, without anger at loved ones and bad deeds. It is advisable to temporarily limit yourself to entertainment and wild fun. Before the revolution of 1917, during the days of the Dormition Fast, it was even forbidden to hold carnivals, clownish performances and theatrical performances were canceled.
People often ask if it is possible to have a wedding during the Dormition Fast. Here it must be taken into account that a wedding for the church is impossible without a wedding, and this sacrament is not performed during fasts. In addition, let us remember that believers try not to arrange noisy holidays at this time with generous feasts and entertainment. At the same time, there is no ban on modest and quiet registration in the registry office, if for some reason it needs to be carried out in these two weeks. But you will have to walk later, after the Dormition.
Folk traditions for the Dormition Fast
Among the people, the three holidays of the Dormition Fast are better known as the Honey, Apple and Walnut Spas. These days it was customary to consecrate the harvest in churches: people brought honey, apples, grapes, ears of corn and nuts collected from the apiary to the church.
At the same time, the Honey Savior is sometimes called Makov in consonance with another holiday – August 14 is also the memory of the seven Old Testament martyrs Maccabees. In Our Country, pies were baked with poppy seeds, which just ripen by the middle of the last month of summer. On this day, wells were also consecrated, and religious processions were held to the reservoirs. It was believed that those who bathe in such a lake or river will have health and longevity.