With the recent calendar change in Ukraine, many Ukrainians (just as the majority of the Orthodox community) will be starting the Nativity Fast (or пилипівка) on Nov. 15th instead of the 28th. Our church in Canada - the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada - will find out on Dec. 1st if we are also moving to the new calendar. Until then, we will still prepare for the nativity fast!

About the Fast

As excerpted from the UOC of the USA website and Holy Cross website.

The Nativity Fast – also known as Philip’s Fast because it begins on November 15, the day following the Feast of the Holy Apostle Philip — is known in the Western Church as Advent. This fast continues to the Great Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ – the Incarnation – God becoming one of us for no other reason than to prove the depth of His Love for us.

Goals of the Fast

During the Nativity Fast the Church encourages us to intensify our spiritual lives in order to ready our souls and bodies for the Feast. We do this through fasting, prayer, alms-giving, confession and increased attention given to "preparing for His coming," to make sure we've done what we can to make a "fit dwelling place for Him" in our hearts and lives.

The Fast is Divided into Two

The Nativity Fast is one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. That is the reason it is less strict than other fasting periods. The fast is divided into two periods.

1. November 15th through December 19th the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Similarly, fish, wine, and oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays*.

2. December 20th through the 24th traditional fasting discipline (no meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil) is observed. There is dispensation given for wine and oil only on Saturday and Sunday during this period*. 

*Please talk to your father confessor/parish priest to get guidance on how to fast personally.