Orthodox Christians who follow the traditional Julian calendar on November 28 started Advent or the Nativity Fast, which is one of the four fasting periods of the year.
Contacted by IPN for details, the priest of Saint Pious Paraskeva Church of Ialoveni town, Oleg Ursu, said that that it is a season of reflective preparation for Christ’s Nativity on Christmas. It is a period of prayer and penitence.
Those who fast give up eating food of animal origin. Fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday and on the feasts of Saint Andrew and Saint Great Martyr Ekaterina. Fasting is a form of spiritual warfare against demonic forces. “The goal of fasting before God is to fight passions and evil,” stated priest Oleg Ursu.
Advent runs for 40 days and ends on January 7 (December 25 on the Gregorian calendar), on the Nativity of Jesus Christ.
