Zagovenie for nativity fast

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

In the Russian calendar I notice that today is indicated as being 'Zagovenie for the Nativity fast'. This brings up the question then of why this occurs today rather than the usual day before the Nativity fast begins?

Although this could have something to do with the meaning of the word 'zagovenie' itself which I was having a lot of trouble finding the exact meaning of until I found this online Russian dictionary (http://www.slovopedia.com/2/199/225819.html).

Here is what it says:


ЗАГОВЕНЬЕ (от говеть - поститься), последний перед постом день, в который христианам разрешается есть скоромное (мясо, молоко, животные жиры и др.).

ZAGOVEN'E (from govet'- postit'sya:to fast) last day before a fast on which Christians are allowed to eat all non-fast foods (meat, milk, animal fats & other non-fast foods).

I suppose then that the zagovenie is moved a day back since tomorrow is Friday and thus a fast day. If so this is a rule I never knew about before and interesting.

Also- connected to the Nativity fast. Does anyone know why this Orthodox calendar (http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/) which is a faithful copy of the days.pravoslavie.ru calendar in Russian has fish on all Tuesdays & Thursdays up until St Nicholas day? This latter calendar is very strict but I am unable to find a reference from any other source to such a rule. I had never heard of it before.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Paul Cowan]

ZAGOVEN'E (from govet'- postit'sya:to fast) last day before a fast on which Christians are allowed to eat all non-fast foods (meat, milk, animal fats & other non-fast foods).

Before Ash Wednesday on the last day of Marti Gras, we call this day Fat Tuesday. It's when one is supposed to sin as much as possible before going to chruch the next morning to begin Lent with confession. At least this is what I have noticed from those wearing the greasy ashes on their foreheads.

Paul

[Peter S.]

. It's when one is supposed to sin as much as possible before going to chruch the next morning to begin Lent with confession. Paul

What?!? Is it roman catholic?

[M.C. Steenberg]

Really, there's no need to make swipes at other people or traditions. We have enough sin of our own.

'Fat Tuesday' may indeed have fallen prey to the debauched tendencies of the modern age and become a carnival of lechery; but its origins are in the tradition of eating up all one's fatty, dairy, eggy, non-fasting foods prior to Lent. This often took on a festive tone: pancakes, sweets, etc., to use up any remaining eggs, milk, butter and so forth.

INXC, Dcn Matthew

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Before Ash Wednesday on the last day of Marti Gras, we call this day Fat Tuesday. It's when one is supposed to sin as much as possible before going to chruch the next morning to begin Lent with confession. At least this is what I have noticed from those wearing the greasy ashes on their foreheads.

Paul

This is probably why multitran.ru gives as a possible translation for this word 'Shrove Tuesday'; which is a bit obscure if it occurs on Thursday!

Anyway- it seems that this is one of those rare Orthodox words that have not been adopted among us whose first language is English. Thus-it seems- there has been no attempt to translate it.

But it appears that it would be difficult to translate in any case: 'fast-free day' describes it in functional terms and is probably the most likely choice in English. But it doesn't really convey what the word zagovenie itself means. If govenie refers to 'govet' 'to fast' and 'za' implies the beginning of an action then zagovenie literally means 'the beginning of the fast' (Russian speakers please correct me if I am wrong- I'm only learning!). Which is too unwieldy to use in English in exactly this form.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[M.C. Steenberg]

At least here in England, we do tend to call this 'Pancake day'.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

At least here in England, we do tend to call this 'Pancake day'.

That could also work since zagovenie appears to be a generic term that refers to the day preceding any great fast.

Thus on meat fare Sunday it says: zagoven'e na myasa- 'preparation to fast from meat'. In other words this is the last day when meat is permitted.

In Christ- Fr Raphael