Orthodox Christians came to Christmas post

Orthodox Christians from today begins the Christmas post. It will last 40 days - until the very holiday of the Nativity of Christ , celebrated on January 7 by the Grgorian , or December 25 by the Julian calendar , which is held by the Russian Orthodox Church . The coming post is otherwise called Filippov , since his eve falls on the day of memory of the Apostle Philip (November 27).

The last post this year is considered one of the strict among four Orthodox posts. According to the church charter, Christians abstain from meat and milk foods, while the fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday, as well as on church holidays. The nearest of them December 4 is the introduction to the temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary .

Now Russian cafes and restaurants also began to honor the restored customs, and almost everywhere you can see ads on the presence of a special lean menu, ITAR-TASS reports.

As emphasized in the Moscow Patriarchate, the main meaning of the post is not just in abstinence from certain food, but primarily in spiritual self -deepening, internal analysis of their own weaknesses and finding ways to overcome them. And most importantly, we must remember about the outstanding event - the birth of the Son of God Jesus Christ on Earth, when peace and peace of people affected every human soul and the whole human being was renewed.

The Russian government established weekends from December 30 to January 8 inclusive.