The plot for the Christmas fast: what date is in 2025, how to spend a day for a believer

The Nativity Fast is an important spiritual period for Orthodox Christians, which precedes one of the main holidays — the Nativity of Christ. In 2025, the beginning of the Christmas Fast begins on November 27, and the fast itself begins on November 28 and lasts until January 6. During this period, believers not only limit themselves to food, but also prepare themselves internally through prayer, repentance, and spiritual purification. Izvestia tells us more about how to properly prepare for an important post.

What is a spell: the essence of an important day

Sunday is the last day before the start of a multi—day fast, when believers are allowed to eat meat and other fast foods. It is accompanied by reflection, prayer and awareness of the need for abstinence. In the Orthodox tradition, the Nativity Fast is sometimes called Philippian, as it coincides with the feast day of the Apostle Philip (November 27). In the national custom, this day was considered the time of the last festivities and wedding celebrations before the fast. People completed all the festive events in order to enter the period of repentance with a clear conscience and soul.

An important part of the plot was to stop hard work and gather the whole family at a common table for a meal together. This is a time of joy and fun, but at the same time the beginning of serious spiritual work. On this day, it was customary to take special care of those in need and perform good deeds, since mercy is considered an integral part of fasting. Orthodox believers try to set themselves up for inner silence, peace and spiritual purification in order to prepare themselves as much as possible for the time of abstinence.

How to prepare for the Christmas Fast

The spell plays the role of a transitional stage from everyday life to the rigor of fasting. On this day, it is recommended to carefully consider your lifestyle for the period of fasting, tune in to prayer, repentance and humility. It is important to give up excessive entertainment, reduce the level of fuss and pay attention to spiritual development. A few days before the start of the fast, it is customary to prepare the kitchen, providing yourself with lean foods — vegetables, grains, fruits — and also master lean recipes for proper nutrition in the next 40 days.

The rector of the monastery of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, Archpriest Konstantin Kharitonov, notes that Sunday is not just a day to stop eating meat, but an opportunity to joyfully and consciously come to the test of fasting and inner transformation. It is important to perceive fasting not as a limitation, but as a time of intense prayer, repentance and spiritual labor, which lead to purification and renewal of faith.

The Christmas Fast in 2025-2026

The Christmas fast, which begins on November 28 and lasts until January 6, is one of the four multi—day fasts of the Orthodox calendar. It is considered a Lenten Day in the church charter and aims to prepare believers for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ in purity of soul and body. Fasting is accompanied not only by abstinence from certain types of food, but also by regular prayer, forgiveness of offenses and renunciation of passions.

Prayers for prayer before the Christmas Fast

On the day of fasting, when it is still allowed to eat, but spiritual preparation for fasting is already beginning, it is customary to recite special prayers before and after eating. The first of them is the prayer "Our Father" followed by petitions addressed to the Lord asking for the blessing of food and support.

Prayer before eating

"Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who are in debt to us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. The eyes of all rely on You, O Lord, and You give them food in good time, You open Your generous hand and fill every animal with kindness."

These words help you focus, recognize dependence on God's grace, and prepare for the upcoming abstinence. After eating, a prayer of thanksgiving is read, which expresses gratitude to Christ God for earthly gifts and a request for heavenly blessings.

Prayer after eating

"We thank you, O Christ our God, for you have filled us with Your earthly blessings; do not deprive us of Your heavenly kingdom, but for you have come among Your disciples, O Savior, grant them peace, come to us and save us."

These prayer words remind us of the spiritual connection between earthly life and the eternal Kingdom of God, strengthening believers in their desire to fast with a pure heart and observe God's commandments.