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SherryMikhail

posted on Nov 25, 2011 - 04:00 PM

Hey all,

The coming feast of the Nativity goes for two days (7th and 8th of January). The fast in general starts today - because it's Friday and every year it starts on the 25th on November anyway.

A few questions; when is the nativity fast starting this year officially? Let's ignore the fact that we have to fast on Fridays, would this fast officially start on Saturday (26th November) or Friday(25th November)?

I even asked Abouna tonight and he told me "technically tomorrow (Saturday)".

If it starts on Saturday; why?

I'm not entirely clear on why the feast is two days this year and every 4 years for that matter, can someone clarify?

Thanks,
Sherry

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Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral Sydney, Australia

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" - Ec 12:1

Joined: Jun 04, 2004 | Posts: 659
Location: St Marks Cathedral, Sydney Australia

SherryMikhail

posted on Nov 25, 2011 - 04:11 PM

Oohh forgot to add.. According to wikipedia the Nativity fast has 3 extra days for the miracle moving the Moqattam mountain. I always knew this was added to the Great Lent, not Nativity.

Thanks

_________________
Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral Sydney, Australia

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" - Ec 12:1

Joined: Jun 04, 2004 | Posts: 659
Location: St Marks Cathedral, Sydney Australia

abahoor

posted on Nov 27, 2011 - 02:46 PM

The Nativity feast must be on Kiahk 29th which is January 7th on a non-leap year. That was made a national holiday in Egypt. Now every 4 yrs, on a leap yr, Kiahk 29th falls on Jan 8. To change that feast to be Jan 8 is a big deal considering it’s a national holiday. So the Church decided (a long time ago and not recently) that if the Kiahk 29th falls on a Jan 8, than the feast will be celebrated for 2 days, Kiahk 28-29 which is Jan 7-8 in which the main liturgy will be done on the Eve of the 7th and if there would be liturgy on the morning of the 8th, it would be exactly like the feast’s rite with readings, hymns and everything.

Joined: Feb 15, 2004 | Posts: 495