The question of whether it is possible to play a wedding in fasting does not stand before Orthodox believers. Just because it doesn’t occur to them. Of course not. This time is for another. If people are far from God, they don’t think about it, they don’t care. But if the future spouses are in doubt, it means that some spark sparkled in my soul. For those who want to know, it is possible or not, and why, and this article is intended.
What is a post?
Posts exist not only in Orthodoxy. They are in Islam, where they do not even ask such questions whether it is possible to play a wedding in fasting. There are periods of abstinence among Catholics and Lutherans. True, not as strict as the Orthodox. But the believer, no matter what religion he professes, knows what the fast is for and will not break traditions.
Most people perceive fasting as a restriction in food. This is fundamentally wrong. There is such a popular proverb: "Fasting is not in the belly, but in the spirit." Ask any Orthodox clergyman about the appointment of a period of abstinence, and he will first of all talk about the soul, about the purity of thoughts and deeds, about the recognition of sins. Before each such event, the church speaks of spiritual fasting, which must be observed first. Explains why restriction in food is necessary, what it is connected with. Ask a Muslim mullah, and he will talk about the same thing, about the soul.
Fasting is, first of all, spiritual purification, a person’s struggle with the sinful desires of the flesh, pride, which means humility before the will of the Creator and the triumph of the spirit. During the period of abstinence, you need to concentrate all your thoughts on the recognition of your sins and atone for them before the Lord through repentance. Fasting is a revision of life values, a person’s spiritual growth, it is, first of all, compassion for one's neighbor, help for the suffering. Here the question is whether it is possible to play a wedding in fasting, is clearly inappropriate.
Church wedding
The attitude in modern society to the wedding in the post is ambiguous. Someone does not attach any importance to this, the registry office works, which registers a marriage, why not have a wedding. Still, some people still adhere to this tradition from superstition. Which is clearly superfluous. Still others are believers who are firmly convinced that a wedding cannot be held at this time. First of all, because in fasting there are limitations in what is considered the sinful desires of the flesh: in food, alcohol consumption (and what a wedding without it!), Sex life. There is a special calendar of posts, which indicate the dates of their holding.
The church will not hold the sacrament of weddings during the period of abstinence. The sacrament of marriage (one of seven in the Orthodox Church) is a divine invisible blessed blessing. During the ceremony, prayers are read for God's blessing of this union. For some people, this is extremely important, so the question of whether it is possible to play a wedding in a post is not worth it.
Marriage in fasting
Those who claim that the church forbids holding a wedding post are wrong. She can't do it. The church simply does not conduct the ritual of the sacrament of marriage - a wedding. You cannot lead to God by the handle and make you believe. Everyone comes to the Lord himself. Faith is the need of the soul. If this is not the case, then no one can force a person.
Nowadays, there is such a thing as registration of marriage. It can be done at any time appointed by the registry office employee, including during fasting days. This concept is enshrined in law. We live in a secular society where religion is separated from the state, so when it is better to play a wedding, everyone decides for himself. Many young people generally prefer civil marriages. And the older generation, for whom the stamp in the passport has always been mandatory, has accepted and does not mind.
Society is changing, relations between people are being transformed. Religion remains unshakable - the spiritual repository of mankind. Orthodoxy, like Islam, is so strong in that it does not give in to external influences and sacredly preserves its traditions and rites.
How to find out when a post
To be sure that the wedding does not fall on fasting days, you need to look at the fasting calendar, which can be taken at church or found on the Internet. For 2017, they fall on the following dates:
- 02/27 - 04/15 - The Great.
- 12.06 - 11.07 - Petrov.
- 14 - 27.08 - Assumption.
- 11/27 - 6.01 - Christmas.
Weeks are small posts lasting seven days that you can’t have weddings:
- 11 - 16.04 - Easter light.
- 07 - 19.01 - Christmas time.
- 06 - 12.02 - Publican.
- 20 - 26.02 - Cheese.
- 05 - 11.06 - Troitskaya.
Fasts lasting one day. They precede the great church holidays:
- 11.09 - John the Baptist.
- 09/27 - Exaltation.
- January 18 - Christmas Eve Epiphany.
In addition, the wedding is not held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, before fasting and before the twentieth, great and temple holidays.
Great Lent
It is held in all Christian churches that have preserved apostolic succession and are based on Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. During fasting, believers prepare for Easter. Fasting means events that mark the forty-day period of abstinence of Christ in the wilderness. Its name in all churches contains the number 40, in Church Slavonic it sounds “Four Decades”. Its duration is also 40 days. Wedding and wedding in Lent are not held.
Petrov Post
This is the oldest Orthodox post, comes seven days after the Trinity. It is named in honor of the memory of the most significant apostles - Peter and Paul. The celebration of the memory of saints falls on July 12 - this is the end of the fast. Its beginning is associated with the date of Easter. Therefore, the duration of the abstinence period can be from a week and one day, up to six weeks. As in any other, a wedding in Petrov Post is not celebrated.
Why do not crown the post
The fasting is not held, primarily because these days precede the great holidays of Christianity: Easter, Christmas, the Assumption of the Virgin and the days of remembrance of the great saints. This is not the time for entertainment and entertainment, such as a wedding.
In addition, the church restricts sexual life during fasting, as it is fornication. Even couples are advised to confine themselves to these days, what can we say about the newlyweds. But everything happens in life. Therefore, if there is a need to register for the post, you can arrange your relationship, and after the post to hold a wedding and get married. This will provide an opportunity to calm down and not worry about church bans.
Most young people are generally against noisy feasts and magnificent weddings, in this case you do not need to think why you can not play the wedding in fasting. You can simply register and go on a trip. After a period of abstinence, you can hold a wedding ceremony and celebrate the celebration in a close circle of loved ones. On the other hand, holding a wedding in fasting will not be such a terrible sin, but still it’s worth considering whether to start a family life with doubts, and whether you are doing the right thing.
If you decide to hold the wedding in fasting, then think about making all of your guests comfortable. If among them there are believers who observe the fast, it is necessary to include several fasting dishes in the menu.