Maslenitsa of the Nativity Fast in Armenia

For four weeks in anticipation of Christmas, Catholics prepare for the most important holiday of the year. This period of spiritual cleansing and fasting is called Advent. Masses filled with special meaning and content are celebrated in his honor. In the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Nativity fast begins on December 29 with Maslenitsa and ends on Christmas Eve, Chragaruis, January 5. Barekendan (translated from Armenian as the joy of life) symbolizes the virtues and happiness that Adam and Eve experienced before their expulsion from paradise. On Maslenitsa, believing Armenians eat any food except apples - fruits from the tree of knowledge. The liturgy in honor of the holiday is celebrated in the church behind the closed curtain of the altar. On Barekendan, followed by a seven-day fast, people are allowed to come out of mourning and enjoy life, forgetting about suffering. In ancient times, Armenians organized fairs, noisy folk festivals and lavish feasts in honor of the holiday. Today, like hundreds of years ago, believers prepare meat and poultry dishes, panraats (bread with cheese), kalagesh soup made from lentils with onions and matsoni for Barekendan. National sweets always appear on the table - gata, baklava, bkhbhik and halva. Orthodox Christians fast for 40 days, while parishioners of the Armenian Apostolic Church abstain from animal foods for only a week. This was done in ancient times by the decision of the holy fathers. So that it would not be painful for people to observe the 40-day fast, it was divided into 4 weeks and distributed throughout the year. In addition to food restrictions, believers abstain from swearing, foul language, lying and committing other sins. The time of fasting is used for repentance and prayer, spiritual cleansing before the symbolic meeting on the night of January 6-7 with Jesus Christ. On December 29, the Armenian Apostolic Church also celebrates the Feast Days of Saints James Zebedee and John the Evangelist. Both disciples of Christ witnessed his transfiguration and resurrection. The honoring on December 29 of the two apostles, the first martyr James and John the Theologian, gives Barekendan solemnity and special significance. Armenian Maslenitsa precedes every major church holiday, after which fasting begins. Every Christian approaches it with repentance, humility of soul and hope for the mercy of God. But the day before it starts, it is customary to have a rich and satisfying dinner, washed down with wine. In honor of Barekendan, festivities are organized with songs and dances, in which believers of all ages take part. So every year on December 29, 7 days before Christmas, Maslenitsa of the Nativity Fast is celebrated in Armenia.