Nativity Fast

Romanian Patriarch warns worldly concerns can block call to salvation

Romanian Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the historic Chapel of Saint George at the Patriarchal Residence, where he warned that worldly concerns can become obstacles to responding to God’s call to salvation. In his homily, the Patriarch of Romania reflected on the Parable of the Great Banquet from the Gospel reading…

Dec 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Nativity Fast to span 41 days with weekend fish allowances

The Orthodox Nativity Fast in 2025 will run for 41 days — from November 14 to December 24 — during which believers observe dietary discipline, with fish permitted on Saturdays and Sundays except in the first and final week. By contrast, in Orthodox communities that follow the unrevised Julian (Old) Calendar, the Nativity Fast starts…

Nov 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Fasting alone is not enough without acts of mercy

“It is not enough to abstain from harming others; one must also do much good to achieve salvation,” Patriarch Daniel reminded the faithful last Sunday during his sermon at the Chapel of St. George the Great Martyr in the Patriarchal Residence. Reflecting on the Gospel reading about Christ’s dialogue with a rich young ruler (Luke…

Nov 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia encourages spiritual peace at beginning of old calendar Nativity Fast

“During these holy days, we are called to withdraw from the noise of the world, from conflicts and disturbances, and seek spiritual peace – hesychia – so cherished by the Holy Fathers,” said Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia on Thursday, the first day of the Nativity Fast according to the unrevised calendar. In his message, the…

Nov 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian historical communities begin Nativity Fast according to Old Calendar

The Nativity Fast begins on Thursday in most Romanian historical communities following the unrevised calendar. While Romanians in Romania commemorate St. Stephen the Younger and St. Irinarch on this day, most Romanians beyond the borders honour St. Paisius Velichkovsky of Neamț and Saints Gurias, Samonas and Habibus. Key feast days differ for those observing the old calendar.…

Nov 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Each of us is a priest of love for our neighbor, Archbishop Casian says as Nativity Fast begins

“Each of us is a priest of love for our neighbor, the outstretched hands of the Savior Jesus Christ,” His Eminence Archishop Casian of Lower Danube said at the beginning of the Nativity Fast. “The Holy Church sends us now, at the beginning of the fasting season, a sweet, pastoral word, just as bees go…

Nov 19, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church encourages charity during Nativity Fast

In a pastoral letter issued on the first Sunday of the Nativity Fast, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church calls on monasteries and parishes to organize collections for those in need. “Although throughout 2024 the Church, through its clergy and lay faithful, has endeavored to bring more comfort and relief to those who…

Nov 19, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Transylvania Metropolitan urges frequent participation in Divine Liturgy, in Nativity Fast message

During the initial days of the Nativity Fast, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania issued a pastoral message suggesting that forty Divine Liturgies be reenjoined, as was the customary practise among the earliest Christian communities. “The Christians of the first centuries knew that every Divine Liturgy is the eternal Last Supper in the Kingdom of…

Nov 17, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod urges more prayer during Nativity Fast: It brings peace to our souls and world

In a pastoral letter for the first Sunday of the Nativity Fast, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church stressed that the multiplication of prayer is necessary. The Romanian hierarchs emphasised that despite the world’s current crisis, prayer has intensified in the life of the Church and the faithful. The Synodal fathers explained that…

Nov 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

It’s not too early to start thinking about the Nativity Fast

At the end of the Solemn Year of Prayer and the Commemorative Year of the Hesychast Saints, you have another opportunity to pray more, calm and recharge your soul with the words of the Holy Scripture and the Holy Fathers of the Church: the Nativity Fast that begins in two weeks. The Nativity Fast “is…

Nov 3, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Let us bring the sighs of the publican as an offering to God: On fasting with the abbess of Bistrița – Vâlcea Monastery

Stavrophore Anastasia Honcioiu, Abbess of Bistrița – Vâlcea Monastery, urges everyone “to bring to God the sighs of the publican” and to avoid despair by putting our trust in God. The abbess agreed to answer a few questions about fasting and preparing for the feast of the Lord’s Nativity. Basilica.ro: How should we fast? Stavrophore…

Dec 3, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu