2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
The question of whether it is possible to play a wedding in fasting does not confront Orthodox believers. Just because it doesn't cross their minds. Of course not. This time is for someone else. If people are far from God, they don't think about it, they don't care. But if the future spouses doubt, it means that some kind of spark has lit up in the soul. For those who want to know if it is possible or not, and why, this article is intended.
What is fasting?
Fasting exists not only in Orthodoxy. They exist in Islam, where such questions, whether it is possible to have a wedding in fasting, are not even asked. There are periods of abstinence among Catholics and Lutherans. True, they are not as strict as the Orthodox. But a believer, no matter what religion he professes, knows what fasting is for, and will not violate traditions.
Most people perceive fasting as a restriction in food. This is fundamentally wrong. There is a popular proverb: “Fasting is not in the belly, but inspirit. Ask any Orthodox clergyman about the appointment of a period of abstinence, and he, first of all, will talk about the soul, about the purity of thoughts and actions, about the awareness of sins. Before each such event, the church talks about spiritual fasting, which must be observed in the first place. It explains why a restriction in food is necessary, with what it is connected. Ask a Muslim mullah and he will talk about the same thing, about the soul.
Fasting is, first of all, spiritual cleansing, the struggle of a person 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 realization of your sins and atone for them before the Lord with the help of repentance. Fasting is a revision of life values, the spiritual growth of a person, it is, first of all, compassion for one's neighbor, help to the suffering. Here the question of whether it is possible to play a wedding in a post is clearly inappropriate.
Wedding in a church
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 the marriage, why not hold a wedding. Still some people still adhere to this tradition out of superstition. Which is clearly redundant. Still others are believers who are firmly convinced that it is impossible to hold a wedding at this time. First of all, because in fasting there are restrictions on what are considered sinful desires of the flesh: in food, alcohol consumption (and what a wedding without it!), sexual life. There is a special calendar of posts, which shows the dates of theirholding.
In the church, the sacrament of the wedding during the period of abstinence will not be held. The Sacrament of Marriage (one of the seven in the Orthodox Church) is a divine invisible grace-filled consecration. 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 have a wedding in fasting is not worth it for them.
Marriage in post
Wrong are those who claim that the church forbids fasting weddings. She can't do it. The church simply does not conduct the rite of the sacrament of marriage - the wedding. One cannot be led to God by the hand and forced to believe. Each person comes to the Lord on his own. Faith is a need of the soul. If this is not the case, then no one can force a person.
In our time, there is such a thing as marriage registration. It can be done at any time appointed by the registry office employee, including on 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 have a wedding, everyone decides for himself. Many young people generally prefer civil marriages. And the older generation, for whom a stamp in the passport has always been mandatory, reconciled and does not mind.
Society is changing, relations between people are being transformed. Religion remains unshakable - the spiritual repository of humanity. Orthodoxy, like Islam, is strong in that it does not give in to external influence and sacredly preserves its traditions and rituals.
How to know when to fast
To be sure that the wedding does not fall on fasting days, you need to look at the fasting calendar, which can be taken from the church or found on the Internet. For 2017 they fall on the following dates:
- 27.02 – 15.04 – Great.
- 12.06 – 11.07 – Petrov.
- 14 – 27.08 – Assumption.
- 27.11– 6.01 – Christmas.
Weeks are small fasts lasting seven days in which weddings cannot be held:
- 11 – 16.04 – Bright Easter.
- 07 – 19.01 – Christmas time.
- 06 – 02.12 – Publican.
- 20 – 26.02 – Cheese.
- 05 – 11.06 – Trinity.
Posts lasting one day. Preceded by great church holidays:
- 11.09 – John the Baptist.
- 27.09 – Ex altation.
- January 18 – Epiphany Christmas Eve.
In addition, the wedding is not held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, before fasting and before the twelfth, great and temple holidays.
Lent
Held in all Christian churches that have preserved apostolic succession and rely on the Holy Scriptures and Holy Tradition. During fasting, believers prepare for Easter. Fasting refers to the events that mark the forty-day period of Christ's confinement in the wilderness. Its name in all churches contains the number 40, in Church Slavonic it sounds "Fourteen". Its duration is also 40 days. Weddings and weddings during Lent are not held.
Petrov post
This is the oldest Orthodox fast, comes seven days after Trinity. Named in honor of the memory of the most significant apostles - Peter and Paul. The celebration of the memory of the saints falls on July 12 - this is the end of the fast. Its beginning is connected with the date of Easter. Therefore, the duration of the period of abstinence can be from a week and one day, up to six weeks. As in any other, weddings are not celebrated on Petrov Lent.
Why don't they get married in post
Weddings are not held during fasting, primarily because these days precede the great holidays of Christianity: Easter, Christmas, the Assumption of the Virgin and the days of memory of the great saints. This is not the time for the fun and entertainment that a wedding is.
In addition, the church limits sexual life during fasting days, as this is fornication. Even married couples are advised to limit themselves these days, what can we say about newlyweds. But anything happens in life. Therefore, if there is a need to register for a post, you can formalize your relationship, and after the post, hold a wedding and get married. This will make it possible to calm down and not worry about church prohibitions.
Most young people are generally against noisy feasts and magnificent weddings, in this case you don’t need to think why you can’t play a wedding in fasting. You can simply register and go on a trip. After a period of abstinence, you can conduct a wedding ceremony and celebrate the celebration in a close circle of close people. On the other hand,holding a wedding in fasting will not be such a terrible sin, but still it’s worth considering whether you need to start family life with doubts, but are you doing the right thing.
If you decide to hold a wedding in Lent, then think about making all your invitees comfortable. If there are believers among them who are fasting, it is necessary to include several fasting dishes in the menu.
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