Lenten dishes for Holy Week by day. Lent: food calendar by day. Meals for the days of Great Lent on Holy Week
After a drunken morning of a cheerful, joyful carnival, an ascetic, strict great post, which does not provide for physical, earthly joys. Believers observe Great Lent as a tribute to the memory of the fast of Jesus Christ, who fasted for forty days, and after performing His rite of baptism went into the wilderness.
Since Great Lent is just around the corner, it will be useful to talk about forbidden and permitted foods for our table, and especially to discuss nutrition in the last week of Great Lent before Easter.
How to fast in Great Lent?
For Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and some other denominations, this is the most main post, which is a period of preparation for the celebration of the bright holiday of Easter.
It includes the forty-day (Fourteen) as well as the fast of Holy Week. Since it has strict limits, it is better to prepare for it in advance, then it will be much easier to withstand it. This is especially true for those people who are going to fast for the first time.
It should be noted that the Church does not consider fasting to be an unchanging dogma, where one must blindly obey strict rules. Not at all. For example, for those who are preparing to limit themselves in food for the first time, various indulgences are provided. So, for example, a person can decide for himself how much food and drink he needs per day.
At this time, it is much more important to observe certain church norms and rituals than to very strictly limit oneself in food.
But if you feel the strength, feel the need to comply with all the rules of Great Lent, including food restrictions, let's talk about what is allowed and what is not allowed to eat at this time.
What can you eat and what can't you?
As the Church prescribes, during Great Lent it is forbidden to consume animal products: meat, eggs, milk, fish, and all food in the preparation of which they were used. Vegetable oil is also not allowed, alcohol is strictly prohibited. It seems that these products are very easy to determine at a glance whether they are in cooked food or not. But this is far from true.
For example, regular chewing gum and many types of candies contain animal gelatin, so they are banned. The same goes for chocolate and many other types of food.
During this period, homemade preparations will be very useful to you. For nutrition, salted, pickled vegetables, fruits, berry compotes, juices and jams will be good. Timely prepared frozen or dried mushrooms, berries, vegetables will come in handy.
Be sure to eat fresh, dried, salty garden greens - parsley, dill, celery, other spicy, useful herbs. Add them to any dishes, lean vegetable, mushroom soups and the table will not seem too bland to you. Special attention give the first courses, try to eat them hot, "piping hot". Do not forget that during this period you need to refrain from sexual activity until the end of the post.
How to eat in the last week of fasting?
The last week before Easter is called Holy Week. At this time, the believer sincerely grieve from the imminent imminent death Christ, therefore this period is bound by the most severe restrictions.
But even in such a strict fast, there are quite pleasant moments. This period is perhaps the most best opportunity prepare for the bright Easter holiday for a true believer.
This week (for example, in 2013 from April 18 to April 24), Orthodox devote great attention preparing your home and members of your family for the coming Easter. They decorate their home, think over how they will spend this day, select recipes for a festive cake, make up holiday menu and, of course, strictly observe church traditions, rules, rituals.
For example, on Saturday of the sixth week of Great Lent, the church celebrates Christ's last miracle - the resurrection of Lazarus. The Savior performed this miracle before embarking on the difficult path of Holy Week. Therefore, Lazarus Saturday is the only day of the whole year when Sunday worship is performed on Saturday.
Sunday of the sixth week - celebrate Palm Sunday. On this day, the Savior, riding a white donkey, descended from the Mount of Olives to head for the walls of Jerusalem. He was greeted by residents with palm branches in their hands. We have replaced them with willow branches.
What is allowed to eat during this period?
AT Holy Week the strictest post, the second degree, should be observed. It suggests dryness. This means that food should not be brewed, boiled, in any case not fried. The ban applies to all products that we talked about above. Eat fruits, vegetables, drink clean fresh water.
During the entire period of restrictions, you can kiss your husband or wife (this is only allowed for spouses), but only in dark time days.
But then the bright Easter holiday will come and all restrictions will end. After asceticism, strict self-restraint in everything, there comes a period of celebration. It will be possible to drink wine, have fun and finally have a hearty tasty meal. Rejoice in life, praise our Savior in prayers and be happy!
The Orthodox Christians. How should one fast in the last week before Easter, and who should not severely limit their diet?
Rules of Holy Week
Lenten Holy Week - a time when believers practice not only renunciation certain types products, but also bad habits, excessive fun, sinful thoughts and passions. The purpose of this abstinence is to bring the body and soul under the control of the holy spirit. And manifestations of anger and despondency these days are also unacceptable, like drinking alcohol and eating meat.
What to eat on Holy Week
According to tradition, you can eat bread, mushrooms, pickled, dried and fresh vegetables and fruits. Only cold teas, infusions and water are allowed as drinks. Dairy products, eggs, fish are also banned, and only honey is allowed from sweet foods. The number of meals is reduced to once a day - in the evening.
Monday- not thermally processed fruits and vegetables, bread, water (dry food).
Tuesday and Wednesday- the same diet.
Thursday- a slight indulgence in the form of two warm meals a day, seasoned with vegetable oil. Allowed to drink a small amount of guilt.
Friday(passionate) - memorial day about painful death Savior on the Cross. This is the strictest day of Great Lent, when believers do not eat anything until the second half of the day (before the removal of the shroud - a symbol of the removal from the Cross of Jesus) and drink only water. In the afternoon, you can eat some bread.
Saturday- according to the canon, it is forbidden to eat any food, and you can only drink water.
Food Calendar for Holy Week 2017
Do's and Don'ts during Holy Week
Every day of this week, special services are held in all churches. During this period, it is not recommended to have fun noisily, sing and dance. Time before Easter should be devoted to repentance, spiritual cleansing, prayers and reflections.
- Great Monday- the day of completion of all work in the house related to repairs, painting or other major matters.
- Maundy Tuesday- the day of completion of all work related to putting clothes in order (washing, ironing, darning, etc.) and other household items.
- Great Wednesday- the day when the last garbage is taken out of the living quarters, everything necessary for coloring the eggs is prepared.
- Clean Thursday - it is believed that on this day before sunrise, water has healing power, and bathing on this day helps to quickly get rid of the disease and gain strength for the sick and weakened, and makes all other people even healthier. On this day, they put their housing in order, and also start cooking. Easter cakes. In order for the baking to turn out successful, before kneading the dough, you should cleanse the soul and the space around by reading a prayer.
- Good Friday- on this day, all household chores are stopped until the onset of Saturday. At the same time, one should refrain from attending entertainment events, spend the day in prayers and reflections.
- Holy Saturday- cooking day festive feast and painting Easter eggs.
- - the day the end of fasting and the beginning of the celebration of Easter.
How useful is the post?
The system of alternating meat-eaters and fasts has existed for many centuries and carries an important meaning: it is believed that the transition from meat food to lean, as well as vice versa, is able to stimulate the cleansing of the body from decay products, which in turn increases its defenses.
Every year, the environmental conditions of human habitation on the whole planet change not in better side. Heavy metals, toxic gases and other foreign substances in the air, products, household items and everything that surrounds us - a consequence of the development technical progress. All this accumulates and gradually poisons our body.
In addition, monotonous, excessive and unhealthy nutrition contributes to sedentary image life, a lot of bad habits. All these factors lead to failure gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and other systems of the body, its immunity decreases, making us more vulnerable to various diseases.
Inclusion in your diet during fasting lean and plant foods, rich in vitamins, useful trace elements and natural fiber allows you to:
gently and painlessly cleanse the body of a significant proportion harmful substances,
remove excess moisture
reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels,
support normal weight body,
improve health,
improve your physical and psychological condition,
increase the body's resistance.
It is no secret that in the last decade there have been more young people suffering from impaired glucose utilization in the body. The consequences of this are an increase in body weight (obesity), the development of health problems such as diabetes, hypertension (increased arterial pressure), infertility and many other troubles.
Go to proper nutrition and observance of fasts are in perfect ways avoid such formidable complications improve your well-being and even extend your life.
If you think you can't stand the strict requirements of abstaining from normal eating, you can start to restrict gradually. For example, in one of the fasts, refuse to eat meat products, continuing to eat fish and dairy foods. Then eliminate fish and eggs from the diet, and next time also dairy products. At the same time, you will be convinced that it is quite within your power, as well as in what positive result can be obtained through fasting.
Who should not fast?
During fasting, the composition of the blood improves, the work of all internal organs, it has a beneficial effect on well-being and overall health of a person. That is why the healing power of fasting has been known since ancient times. However, strict abstinence in nutrition, as recommended by church canons, is not suitable for everyone.
A certain group of people should be aware of precautionary measures so that instead of healing, they do not harm their health and do not provoke exacerbation of existing diseases.
Strict observance of fasting will benefit only those who do not have serious problems with health. Unfortunately, there are not many such people. In order not to harm your body, allow yourself small indulgences. After all, fanatical adherence to strict church rules can sometimes cause even more damage to health than when a person does not fast at all.
That is why pregnant and lactating women, sick and debilitated people, children under seven years of age, as well as those who often travel or whose work is associated with difficult physical activity, you can fast less strictly than other people.
For example, you can increase the number of meals, keeping in the diet mainly herbal products. And people who suffer chronic diseases, it is better to first consult with your doctor, who knows all the details from your history.
Dietary restrictions during illness
As already mentioned, excessive zeal in fasting is not shown to everyone, especially when there are any ailments. Consider what is not advised to do with some of them.
Anemia of a different nature. With this problem, you should not give up meat, which is useful product for such people. But it is better to cook it in such a way as to preserve all its useful properties as much as possible.
Infectious diseases. Those whose body is weakened by any of infectious diseases, fasting can only bring harm. Continue eating well until full recovery forces, taking into account the recommendations of your doctor.
With a lack of enzymes in the process of digestion (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia), switching to lean food can cause a lot of discomfort. Especially do not adhere to fasting during periods of exacerbation of such diseases. Before you start fasting, consult your doctor, who will give appropriate recommendations.
For example:
1. If your disease is chronic, then in the morning you should drink a glass of boiling water in small sips with the addition of one teaspoon of lemon juice. This uncomplicated drink will help relax the bile ducts, helping to release the necessary for normal digestion amount of bile.
2. If lemon juice does not suit you for any reason, then it can be replaced with olive oil. Simply roll a teaspoon of oil in your mouth with your tongue for five minutes, after which you can spit it out. It stimulates reflex opening bile ducts, after which the work of the liver is activated.
3. More good way- Chew 5 lightly salted olives with pits. It also stimulates the ejection a large number stagnant bile, which will help better digestion of food.
Chronic pancreatitis- the use of such heavily digested foods as mushrooms requires special care in this disease.
People who, by profession or other reasons, are forced to spend a lot of time in a stationary state often suffer from constipation during the beginning of the fast. To avoid discomfort, burn wheat bran in the oven and add them by a tablespoon to the first and second course. You can also sprinkle them on a sandwich or as a side dish. This will give your body required amount B vitamins and natural fiber that stimulates the bowels.
For such people, during fasting, only meat products. As for cottage cheese, cheese and other dairy products, as well as fish, their presence in the diet is necessary. In diabetes, strict fasting is strictly prohibited.
Lack of calcium in the body. With diagnosed osteoporosis, healing of fractures, pregnancy, cottage cheese, hard cheeses and other dairy products are excellent sources of calcium. Therefore, they should not be excluded from the diet during fasting.
Dysbacteriosis. After taking antibacterial drugs intestinal flora needs to be replenished with lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, doctors do not recommend excluding dairy products from the diet.
Every day since the beginning of Holy Week is called the Great, because during this week great events took place: it was the betrayal of Christ, his torment, the death of the Cross - and as a result, the Great Resurrection, which is celebrated in almost all countries of the world.
That's why Orthodox person, empathizing with the Great events of those distant days, tries to spend the days of Holy Week before Easter in prayer, abstinence and observe a particularly strict fast.
On Monday - dry eating (dishes from raw fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts, Rye bread). Tuesday - boiled hot food without oil. Wednesday is dry. Possible vegetable dishes without oil. Thursday - boiled food without oil (in monasteries), vegetable boiled dishes with added oil fish meals(for the laity). On Friday (mournful day) - refrain from eating. On Saturday, the laity are allowed boiled vegetables, fruits with butter. On Sunday (Great Easter) you can eat everything.
After a long forty-day fast, the last week becomes a strong test for Orthodox believers, but at the same time, the feast of the Resurrection of Christ becomes sweeter when you know that you were able to overcome the demands of your womb. A photo:
However, here it is worth immediately clarifying that not every person is capable of such tests, because these are the rules of monasteries. Orthodox Christians, in order to go this way, need to take a blessing from a priest. Each Orthodox Christian should calculate the post according to his abilities, taking into account the state of health, so the degree of severity of the post can be in different ways:
- it is possible to simply refuse meat dishes;
- in addition to this, it is possible to refuse butter, cheese and dairy dishes;
- in addition, the rejection of dishes, which include eggs;
- in addition, the rejection of all of the above and from all fish dishes.
At the same time, the Orthodox Church during Holy Week recommends limiting the amount of food consumed.
Menu for Holy Week
The rules on how to fast for the laity are spelled out in the ancient Russian charter (Tipik) in X II century. It is in it that it is said that the severity of fasting is established according to “powers”, and the sick, the elderly, children, pregnant and lactating women can fast with indulgence.
The diet for Holy Week should include raw vegetables, bread and water. But even with such meager nutrition, the menu can be made quite diverse.
Photo: pixabay.com
Yes, with Monday until wednesday you can eat vegetable dishes with added fruit:
- salads - cabbage with prunes, cabbage with apple, seasoned with orange juice;
- salads from beets, from carrots with nuts;
- salted vegetables, spicy carrots.
In the preparation of other dishes, it is also worth abandoning vegetable oil.
Photo: pixabay.com
AT Thursday boiled vegetables with vegetable oil and wine are added to the diet.
AT Friday and Saturday it is advisable to refuse food, but it is allowed to eat a little bread with water.
In cases where such a strict fasting is not possible, oatmeal soup, cereals, mushroom dishes, juices can be included in the diet.
When cooking all dishes, vegetable oil should be excluded, vegetables should not be fried, but immediately stewed in water.
And now let's look at what fortified dishes Orthodox cuisine offers us to cook during the days of Holy Week.
Strawberry-apple salad
Compound: red cabbage - 200 g, apple - 1-2 pcs., nuts - 100 g, lemon - ½ pcs., olive oil - 1-2 tbsp. spoons, spices as desired.
Cooking: add to thinly shredded cabbage lemon juice, salt, mash and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Then cut into thin slices (or chop with a coarse grater) one apple, add lemon juice and olive oil to it. Then all the components are combined and mixed.
Casserole with cabbage
A dish for those who do not observe strict fasting.
Compound: cabbage - 500 g, potatoes - 1 kg, mushrooms - 250 g, butter - 100 g, rye flour - 3 tbsp. spoons, head onion, garlic - 2 cloves, lemon juice, spices.
Cooking: salted potatoes are cooked until half cooked. Mushrooms are fried with onions in butter and stewed in a small amount of water. Cabbage is crushed coarsely and doused with boiling water.
sauce preparation: fry flour in vegetable oil and add mushroom sauce, lemon juice, salt, spices and boil.
Put in a deep frying pan in successive layers: ½ cabbage, all potatoes, mushrooms, the remaining cabbage. Put the sauce on top and bake in the oven for no more than 30 minutes. 
Photo: Depositphotos
carrot salad
Compound: carrot - 300 g, raisins - 50 g, one apple, nuts - 80 g, raw pumpkin - 30 g.
Composition of dressing: orange - 1 pc., cinnamon - 1 tsp, oil, honey optional.
Cooking: carrots are chopped on a grater with a large cell, if desired, you can put a little raw pumpkin, also shabby on a grater. Finely chop the apple. Raisins are poured hot water, and after 10 minutes it is removed from the water and dried. All ingredients are mixed, crushed nuts, orange juice, cinnamon and oil are added to them. To taste, put honey or jam in the salad.
Soup puree with cauliflower
Compound: potatoes - 5 pcs., cauliflower- 1 small head (1 kg), oil - 2-3 tbsp. l., herbs and salt.
Cooking: cabbage is divided into inflorescences, boiled and frayed, potatoes are boiled separately and frayed. The components are combined in a decoction where cabbage was boiled. Herbs and salt are added to the soup. 
Photo: pixabay.com
During Holy Week or Week Orthodox Church prepares for the meeting of the greatest holiday - Easter, the day of the Resurrection of Christ. During these seven days, parishioners read the Gospel, the Bible, pray for the remission of human sins and, as it were, go through the martyrdom of Jesus Christ to Golgotha, who paid with his suffering, pain, and his life for the sins of mankind.
Of course, this week is considered one of the strictest. So, Holy Week, what you can eat by day, customs and rules of conduct on Holy Week - further. You already know the tradition has a clear framework.
On Holy Week they do not perform the sacraments of baptism, weddings, they do not commemorate the dead, they do not celebrate the days of the Great Martyrs, the Saints. The name "Passionate" - from the word "passion", "suffering". Holy Week in the common people is also called - Holy, Red, Great, Pure, Chervonnaya.
All days of Passion Week are called Great or Passion. On Holy Week, the flock holds especially strict post, painted by the Canon by day. And even those who did not observe the previous days of Fasting try to observe all the prescribed rules during Holy Week.
Food Rules for Holy Week
During Lent on Holy Week, food of animal origin is completely excluded from the diet, of course, except for honey.
It is important! It is impossible - jelly and dishes, which include gelatin. Gelatin is made from cartilage extracts.
Food should be taken only once a day, an exception is made for children, patients suffering from ailments that do not allow strict food restrictions, as well as for the elderly. Unsweetened teas are allowed during the day, herbal infusions, other drinks without sugar.
Before eating any products, carefully read the composition and description. Avoid all kinds chewing gums, chocolate, sweets, chips, marshmallows, marshmallows, White bread and other products. Pay attention to what is important to be sure to prepare for the holiday.
On Holy Week (what you can eat on a daily basis), until the removal of the Shroud, the Orthodox adhere to a raw food diet, that is, the products are not subjected to any type of heat treatment.
During Holy Week, it is believed that birds do not sing either. Strict abstinence not only in food, but also in the physical plane, the taming of the flesh, entertainment events should be ignored, profanity should not be used, and it is impossible to scold, judge and condemn at all. The whole week is devoted to prayers, reasoning and understanding of suffering, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the human race, the sinfulness of man and repentance.
Every day of Holy Week and its meaning
Great Monday
Perhaps the most difficult day of Lent. Believers switch to a one-time meal, a raw food diet, devout people, monks completely refrain from food on this day. Laity can eat bread, pickled, pickled, dried vegetables, mushrooms, fruits.
Drinks are cold only. Food is taken once, in the evening, after cleaning the house, yard. The Church commemorates the Old Testament Patriarch Joseph sold by his siblings and the curse of Jesus Christ on the sinful fig tree.
Maundy Tuesday
The day allows you to eat cooked meals without oil, also in one meal, in the evening. In the monastery, only raw vegetables and fruits are eaten, in limited quantity. There is a big wash on Tuesday. They remember the sermons of Christ in the Jerusalem Temple, his denunciations of the scribes and Pharisees.
Great Wednesday
On this day, dry eating continues, true believers abstain from food completely. All rubbish is removed from the house. Preparation of products for Easter begins. The Church remembers Judas and his betrayal. Great Wednesday is the day of confession, for which they prepare in advance, it is on Great Wednesday that the Lord forgives all sins, conceivable and inconceivable. That is, those sins that you remember and those that you forgot about, or did not consider sin out of ignorance.
Maundy Thursday
On Thursday of Holy Week (what you can eat on a daily basis), it is permissible to eat two meals, hot with the addition of vegetable oil, salads seasoned with oil, and you are also allowed to drink a glass of red wine. On Maundy Thursday, they finish cleaning. Perform rituals with exile evil spirits. From matins, a candle stub is brought into the house.
Small change is thrown into the water for washing windows and doors, so that the year will bring prosperity. On Thursday they paint eggs, bake Easter cakes, and celebrate Easter. They wash, it is believed that on this day the water washes away all sins and diseases. Dress only in clean or new clothes. Cleaning, bathing and other pre-Easter chores must be completed before sunrise. Remember on Pure Thursday about the Last Supper.
It is interesting! Salt for consecration is collected after bathing in a canvas or linen bag. They keep it all year and use it to protect the house from evil spirits. On Maundy Thursday, lost, expensive things can be found.
The day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the day of deep sorrow. Complete failure from food, only children, sick people and the elderly can eat a little after the evening service. Any housework is prohibited. On Good Friday, one should remember the torment and suffering of Christ, his sacrifice in the name of the human race.
Holy Saturday
Eggs, Easter cakes, Easter, salt and other products are consecrated. True believers continue to abstain from food. On Saturday of Holy Week (what can be eaten on a daily basis), it is permissible for the laity to consume bread, some vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, and honey in the evening. Preparations for the holiday, cooking continues. All preparations must be completed before going to the All-Night Service. Great tips for
The last week of Great Lent is called Holy Week - it is dedicated to the last days of earthly life and death on the cross Savior
All days of Holy Week are special and are called Great or Passion Days, and Old Testament stories are closely intertwined with what is happening in last days earthly life of Jesus Christ.
In Orthodox churches, special services are held during Holy Week, which are considered the most majestic and solemn for the entire church year.
On Holy Week, the dead are not commemorated, the days of saints are not celebrated - at this time, all the rites are dedicated to preparing for Easter or the Bright Resurrection of Christ.
What are the days of Holy Week dedicated to and what can and cannot be eaten by day.
Holy week by day
Holy Monday- at church services on this day, they remember the Old Testament Patriarch Joseph, whom his brothers sold into slavery, as well as the curse of the sinful fig tree by Jesus Christ, which brings neither faith, nor prayers, nor true repentance.
The rite of chrismation also begins on Monday - it is made from a mixture of fragrant resins, vegetable oils and fragrant herbs and boil under the incessant reading of prayers for three days.
On Good Tuesday in churches they remember the sermons of Jesus Christ about how the Savior spoke in the Jerusalem temple, about the parables told to the disciples, about the talents and ten virgins, the resurrection of the dead and the Last Judgment.
On Great Wednesday- they remember the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Teacher for thirty pieces of silver, as well as the sinner who washed the feet of the Savior and anointed them with myrrh. On Wednesday people try to confess.
On Holy, or Maundy Thursday The Orthodox Church remembers the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples and the establishment by Him of the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Holy Communion). On Thursday, the congregation takes communion.
Red or Good Friday- a day of mourning, during the service they remember the suffering of the Savior on the cross. The shroud, the image of Christ lying in the tomb, is taken out of the altar, and the faithful bow before it.
On Holy Saturday at the solemn service they talk about the burial of Jesus Christ and his stay in the tomb. At the same time, priests already on this day put on bright festive vestments. Easter cakes brought by people to the temple, painted eggs and Easter are illuminated.
In Jerusalem, in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, descends on Saturday blessed fire, and the most important service begins in the evening - believers celebrate Easter.
What can and cannot be eaten daily
All the restrictions of Great Lent apply to Holy Week, but the last week is the strictest. During the whole week, some believers, if desired, take only water and bread.
In Holy Week, according to the monastery charter, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, dry food is prescribed, that is, bread, water, fruits, vegetables are allowed.
These days you can eat lean bread and thermally unprocessed food. That is, raw vegetables and fruits, as well as dried fruits, nuts, honey. Tea and compote these days are not recommended.
You can prepare salads from vegetables and fruits these days. Cut, for example, any fruit - pears, oranges, apples, bananas, add chopped dried fruits, raisins and nuts, and season everything with liquid honey. It will turn out delicious and very useful.
According to church canons, on the last Friday before Easter, they do not eat until the evening service.
Holy Saturday - last day before bright resurrection Christ, when the Lord Himself was in the Tomb, believers observe a strict fast.
In 2018, the last Saturday before Easter falls on April 7 - the day when Orthodox world celebrates the Annunciation. Usually it is allowed to eat fish on a holiday, but due to the coincidence with Saturday, fish is not supposed to be eaten on this day.
Seriously ill people, pregnant women, military, workers involved in heavy physical labor, travelers, nursing mothers, as well as children under seven years of age are exempt from fasting.
