Many expectant mothers are true Christians. They are accustomed, even before the onset of an “interesting” situation, to observe all fasts. But how should they fare in their new form? Will dietary restrictions cause harm? normal development baby in the womb? Let's look into this issue.

About the spiritual component of fasting

There are 4 fasts a year that Orthodox Christians must observe. Spiritual fathers emphasize that the main thing in such periods is moral purification and improvement of the soul. This is also necessary for the expectant mother. After all, she carries within herself the pure soul of the unborn child. That’s why it’s so important to work on yourself during pregnancy and fasting.

Spiritual cleansing is the feasible sacrifice that each of us can make to God. Its essence is not only food restrictions. Although they are the ones who cleanse the body, and it is the temple of our soul. Spiritual cleansing is the careful observance of prayer rules. We admit that we do not always go to sleep with sleep, and we wake up in a hurry, without turning to God for mercy on the coming day. Envy, condemnation, foul language, deception, rudeness, unwillingness to understand parents and colleagues - these are only part of the daily sins that are inherent in pregnant women. Therefore, on fasting days you should try to avoid this. Everyone knows their shortcomings bad habits, which cause a lot of trouble and grief to their neighbors. Even pregnant women sometimes realize that their capriciousness, grievances against their husband, mother-in-law, and girlfriends are unfounded. Therefore, during Lent you need to be stricter with yourself and your actions. Silence is gold. And this axiom should become the rule of spiritual purification.

Priests repeat more than once that on fasting days the main thing is not to eat your loved ones. This means that you need to be kinder, more merciful, softer. This also applies to expectant mothers, to whom God has granted the happiness of carrying a child under their hearts.

Food restrictions as part of fasting

So, gynecologists always recommend that women consume dairy and calcium-containing products in sufficient quantities in order to physical development The baby in the womb was healthy. But what about during strict fasts, when the consumption of dairy and meat foods is prohibited?

Let us remember that rich sources of protein are peas, soybeans, beans, that is, legumes. - a known problem for pregnant women - can be solved by regularly consuming buckwheat and millet. Porridges from them vegetable oil no less tasty than meat. They give satiety, energy, and improve the functioning of the digestive system. It’s no secret that when carrying a child, women often suffer from constipation. Drinking beetroot and carrot juice daily will help eliminate iron deficiency in the body. As for pomegranates, exotic fruits can cause allergic reactions. Therefore, expectant mothers need to be careful with them. Folic acid helps the body in the formation of hemoglobin and the prevention of fetal malformations. It is prescribed to pregnant women in tablets.

If a woman is worried about her baby and often feels dizzy, then she can relax her fast—pregnant women are allowed to do this. You can eat fish, boiled and baked meat, cottage cheese. But culinary excesses - preparing gourmet dishes from the above products - are not needed. Food should be simple, not multi-ingredient. Let food for a pregnant woman be medicine, not pleasure. After all, the latter is nothing more than gluttony. And this is another significant point in the nutrition of the expectant mother. Many people tell her to eat for two. Why do this if early stages, for example, a child weighs several hundred grams. Why should a baby eat as much as adult woman? Increased feeding should be avoided. After all, this is also gluttony. A child developing in the womb accumulates excess nutrients with catastrophic speed. There he already gets used to excessive food consumption, which for his mother results in edema, excess weight, and digestive problems. But this could have been avoided by simply observing fasting.

Reasonable compromises can always be present in the diet of a pregnant woman. For example, fasting can be strict on Wednesday and Friday. On other days it is allowed to be relaxed.

Don’t forget about the enormous power of Communion during pregnancy. The grace that comes to the fruit is priceless.

There are many rumors and beliefs surrounding everything related to gender and childbirth. Many people ask the question: is it possible for pregnant women to go to church?

This is what the Holy Scriptures and the teachings of the holy fathers write about this, and what rumors and superstitions are floating around pregnancy and the temple today.

Is it possible for pregnant women to go to church?

In Orthodoxy, pregnancy is not considered a shameful and sinful condition. There are some known signs that the future mothers of saints attended church while pregnant and there is nothing wrong with that.

Moreover, the baby of some of them screamed in his stomach during the chant, which was contrary to natural law, and for church people it was a sign that the born person would eventually gain holiness.

Therefore, church canons allow the expectant mother to visit the temple without losing grace.

The only thing that can prevent you from attending the service is the woman’s poor health.

Moreover, a pregnant woman can sit during the service, go out to Fresh air, if she felt unwell, or leave the church for a while, leave before the end of the service.

In addition - and this is important to know for everyone who is expecting the birth of a future baby - a pregnant woman is allowed to break even the strictest fast and eat meat.

The priests insist that a pregnant woman needs to put aside bravado and eat whatever her heart desires, since during pregnancy she will need both energy and nutrition for two.

Is it possible for a pregnant woman to get married in church?

It is not only possible, but also necessary for a pregnant woman to get married, unless she is marrying a clergyman.

According to church canons, the priest's wife must be a virgin.

Therefore, the church may refuse to marry a priest to a pregnant woman. But more often they try to marry a couple secretly if there is a church blessing for this.

In other cases Pregnancy is not an obstacle to getting married. Therefore, it is possible to get married in this state.

Is it possible for pregnant women to receive communion?

It depends on the general condition women. Despite the fact that church canons do not prevent communion, if a woman suffers from toxicosis, she may be denied communion.

In such a situation, the woman takes responsibility - the holy gifts spewed out along with vomit will not bring her any benefit, therefore during severe toxicosis it is necessary to abstain from communion.

Confession of a pregnant woman

The confession of a pregnant woman is no different from the confession of an ordinary woman, if she has not committed a great sin.

For example, if future mom plans to have an abortion, to take someone else's husband away from another woman, especially his legal wife, then she should tell her confessor about her intentions.

It is advisable to repent of what is being done, since a grave sin during pregnancy is genetically reflected in the condition of the child.

Often, women who destroy families have children who are seriously ill or are born disabled. Or a once loved one begins to raise his hand against them or drink.

Therefore, the priest should strongly repent if the child was conceived out of wedlock or you began to destroy the family for his sake.

After giving birth, a pregnant woman should not visit the temple at all for 40 days - this is necessary to restore the body. You should not confess or take communion for 40 days in case of a stillbirth, after a miscarriage or abortion.

Is it possible for pregnant women to light candles for the repose?

There is a belief according to which a pregnant woman should not light candles for the repose - this can negatively affect the condition of the unborn baby or even provoke a stillbirth. However, according to the priests, this is worth doing if you have died close person or relative.

Whether or not to light candles for repose is a personal matter for each person. And, if a pregnant woman is afraid of negative consequences for the child at the energy level, then it is better for her not to light candles for the repose.

Is it possible for pregnant women to go to church for christenings?

A pregnant woman can simply attend the christening of someone else’s baby - this will not in any way affect her well-being and the happiness of the unborn baby.

However, the priest may refuse baptism if the pregnancy is already approaching childbirth or if the woman is suffering from severe toxicosis.

Some gynecologists are against baptizing a baby during pregnancy - the load on the diaphragm increases and the woman may not be able to carry her child. Therefore, it is advisable for a pregnant woman to abandon the role of goddaughter and simply attend the christening as a guest.

Is it possible for pregnant women to have unction in church?

There is nothing wrong with this, according to the priests. However, there is a popular belief in which some people may believe that unction can be life-threatening for both the pregnant woman and the baby.

If you think it is better to take care of yourself and your unborn child, you can refuse unction. But most often this ritual does not bring anything bad to either the mother or the child.

November 4 is the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, I decided to go to communion, for this my mother said to fast (no meat and dairy) Monday and Tuesday, on Tuesday evening for confession, and on Wednesday for communion. but that’s not enough for me, so I searched the Internet for material that was relevant to me

In your situation, fasting can be weakened: it is quite enough if you abstain from eating meat on fasting days. Don’t worry, but pray to the Lord, go to church regularly, confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. The baby feels his mother’s condition very well, so it is very important for you now not to be depressed and anxious, but calm and joyful.

Sincerely,

Priest Alexander Ilyashenko

Is it necessary to be at the evening service the day before to receive communion and confession? What is required for confession and then for communion?

Masha

Dear Mary, of course, for those who are pregnant, seriously ill, and burdened with twenty-hour work six days a week, the Church does not prescribe what is inconceivable and allows the Chalice of the Holy Mysteries of Christ to the person who, in such circumstances, was not at the evening service. Speaking about the fact that we must prepare for communion by fasting, that is, by such an organization of at least a day, two, three of our lives, which would involve some kind of self-restraint and sacrifice for the sake of accepting the Holy Mysteries of Christ. This sacrifice can and should be the refusal of entertainment and excessive distractions, limiting oneself in food, that is, observing fasting, more strictly following the morning and evening prayer rules, if possible, attending worship services, as a normal minimum, at least on the eve of the day when we partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. If, instead of the evening service the day before, you are going to sit at the bedside of your sick grandmother, go; if instead of the same service, the alternative is to go to a nightclub or sit at home in front of the TV - go to the service. Draw your own conclusions.

What foods should you not eat while pregnant?

Hello Maria! The extent of fasting is different for everyone; usually during fasting, women in your position are blessed to eat everything except meat (that is, dairy products and eggs are allowed). However, the extent of personal fasting must be determined in a personal conversation with the priest. When weakening your physical fast, pay more attention to your spiritual fast: go to church more often, devote more time to prayer, and avoid watching entertainment programs and films during fasting. Be kind and merciful to your loved ones, try not to judge anyone, not to quarrel with anyone, not to get irritated and to wait complacently and joyfully for the birth of your baby. God help you!

Priest Alexander Ilyashenko

Recommendations on what to talk about and what to read before confession, number in the hundreds. We will only say what seems most important. It is useless to talk about small things while hiding big things. Little sins tend to come back if the roots of sin are not pulled out. You only need to confess about your own. Wife, children, neighbors, bosses are not remembered in confession. Nor are the sins committed by someone once remembered, even if their consequences burden the lives of entire nations. There is no need to repent of the sin of regicide or the sin of Adam; it is worth sorting out your confused and spoiled life.

When a deep-sea bathyscaphe slowly sinks into the black abyss of the ocean, people, covered in the cold sweat of fear, look at the instruments or out the windows. From time to time, caught in the spotlight, they come across such underwater monsters that you won’t see in any of Bosch’s paintings. I say this because realizing your sins and illuminating the depths of your heart with repentance is almost the same as descending to the bottom of the ocean. By the way, the number of people who have been in space is tens of times greater than the number of people who have sunk to the ocean floor. I think that the number of those who descend into the abyss of their hearts is just as small. Most of our spiritual efforts related to confession are like wiping off dust with a damp rag, although the human heart is not a polished table, but the sea is great and spacious: there are reptiles there, of which there is no number, animals small and large(Ps. 103:25).

Someone is tired of repenting of the same thing and is ashamed of confession because he is not correcting himself. Some have not gone to confession for years because they have lost interest in the faith, or become fussy, or are offended by the priest. And someone dreams of the first confession, as Ostap dreamed of Rio de Janeiro. He dreams long and uselessly, without hope of fulfillment, because he is afraid to take the last step and bow before the lectern. There are many more different states regarding confession. And the best of them is one in which a person does not get used to the shrine and does not lose reverence, but with all his nature feels the benefit of this Sacrament. After all, you can feed your soul all your life with this contrast between the melancholy of a slave on his knees (at the beginning of confession) and the free flight of an eagle, spreading its wings wide (of course, after).

Dear readers, on this page of our website you can ask any question related to the life of the Zakamsky deanery and Orthodoxy. The clergy of the Holy Ascension Cathedral in Naberezhnye Chelny answer your questions. Please note that it is better, of course, to resolve issues of a personal spiritual nature in live communication with a priest or with your confessor.

As soon as the answer is prepared, your question and answer will be published on the website. Questions may take up to seven days to process. Please remember the date of submission of your letter for ease of subsequent retrieval. If your question is urgent, please mark it as “URGENT” and we will try to answer it as quickly as possible.

Date: 04/10/2013 17:14:17

Angelina, Naberezhnye Chelny

How to properly prepare for confession and Communion for a pregnant woman?

Deacon Dimitry Polovnikov answers

Please tell me how to properly prepare for confession and Communion? I am currently in a position where pregnancy is difficult.

Pregnancy is a special, largely mysterious (spiritually and physically) state of a Christian woman. Try to pray more: pray in the morning and evening, when leaving for work or for a walk and returning home, pray before and after meals. The prayer sanctifies the life of the pregnant woman and the life of the unborn child; turning to the Lord, the Mother of God, the saints, the heavenly patron, the Guardian Angel helps in everyday difficulties, consoles the soul and leads to a state of inner peace and humility before the Creator - and this is so necessary for a pregnant woman.

A pregnant woman should regularly and often partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, since the communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord is not only saving for the pregnant woman, but also has a beneficial effect on the child in her womb.

A pregnant woman should drink holy water in the morning and eat prosphora.

If possible, read a little of the Holy Scriptures, especially New Testament, and other spiritual books, fortunately there are many of them now. At a service for a pregnant woman, especially at later Of course, it is better to pray sitting closer to the window or exit from the temple.

There is a pious custom to be blessed by a priest for pregnancy, and when the due date comes, for childbirth.

The Church's concern for pregnant and breastfeeding women is not limited to prayer support. Pregnant women may not fast strictly. Fasting for pregnant women is weakened. You must determine the degree of your participation in fasting together with your confessor and the doctor who is observing you. In this case, the following general rules should be followed:

• a) Fasting should not harm either the health of the child or the health of the mother;
• b) Pregnancy is not an excuse for promiscuity and excess;
• c) Fasting is a time of intense prayer for the mother, sobriety and self-control;

It was established by the Lord Himself and has been carried out in the Church continuously for two thousand years. All this time, Christians of different times and peoples seem to be participating in that Last Supper, when Christ divided the bread and wine among His disciples and declared this food to be the Divine Body and Blood.

Of course, not all wine or bread are sacred, but only those over which special, liturgical prayers are said. The Particles eaten during the Liturgy provide believers with Divine grace, spiritual strength, and cleanse them from the consequences of sin. There are frequent cases of recovery from illnesses and other miracles that occur by the will of God.

The main shrine of the Church should be approached after appropriate preparation. An important step this preparation is fasting. Fearing breaking church rules, inexperienced parishioners often ask priests how to fast before Communion? Is fasting obligatory for everyone? In what cases can it be weakened or canceled? It will help to understand this short excursion into the history of the ancient Church.

How did the tradition of fasting before Communion come about?

In the first centuries of the existence of the Christian Church, Communion was obligatory for any Christian present. Every Sunday, and sometimes more often, people gathered in the house of one of the Christians and had a meal with prayers and sharing bread. Then there was no special fasting before this action, because the Eucharist was celebrated in the evening and all participants in the action had already had lunch and even dinner.

It often happened that the dinners of wealthy Christians were too luxurious and were combined with music and dancing, as was customary in the East. The Apostle Paul, who himself often celebrated the Eucharist, considered it unacceptable that such Christians approach Communion after feasts and entertainment, when their thoughts cannot concentrate on prayer. Over time, the Liturgy began to be celebrated in the morning and the custom arose of eating the Body and Blood of Christ on an empty stomach, “before any food.” However, even then they did not fast for several days, as is customary in the modern Church.

When the persecution of Christians stopped in 4 AD, many began to be baptized. What were once small, close-knit communities that met secretly in homes became large gatherings of worshipers in spacious churches. Due to human weaknesses, the moral level of believers has decreased. The Holy Fathers of the Church, seeing this, called on every Christian to carefully examine his conscience when approaching Communion.

It was not allowed to approach the Sacrament if a person ate food the night before the Liturgy, had sexual contacts or “unclean visions” (dreams). Christians who revealed these involuntary sins during confession were temporarily removed from Communion and followed a special prayer rule. There were no restrictions regarding food on other days, since believers strictly observed Wednesday, Friday and four fasts a year.

The tradition of fasting before Communion for three or seven days was established during the synodal period (XVIII-XIX centuries). This was associated with a general decline in spirituality and religiosity. Many began to go to church “out of habit,” and received communion only because it was taken into account in church documents. If there was no record in the church register that a parishioner had confessed and received communion, trouble in the civil service could follow.

At this time, the tradition of “fasting” was introduced - preparing for Communion for several days in order to distract a lazy person from the bustle of life and help tune in to prayer. This custom is preserved in Russian Orthodox Church up to this day. Retreat consists of food restrictions and confession on the eve of Communion. How many days to fast - the confessor decides. You can also read about this in the Rules, a stand with which is usually located in a visible place in the temple.

Rules for fasting before Communion

So, there is no church-wide rule of obligatory fasting and confession before communion. But many priests strongly recommend to their parishioners fast for three days before entering the Sacrament. Is it worth rejecting a good tradition for the sake of the letter of the law? It is impossible to argue with the priest or consciously refuse to fast, since condemnation and insults only add sin to existing ones. It is better to fulfill the prescribed rule based on your physical strength.

The Orthodox Church prescribes avoidance of the following foods:

• meat of any animal or bird, even lean;
• milk (kefir, cottage cheese, whey, etc.);
• eggs of any bird;
• fish (not always).

In fact, at the disposal of a fasting Christian there remain fruits, vegetables, cereals, pasta and bread. Don’t give in to the temptation to cook delicious “lenten dishes”: food should not become a source of pleasure, but only maintain strength.

Is it permissible to eat fish before Communion? In most cases, a healthy person should refuse it. The exception is accommodation on Far North or ships where fish is the main source of food. Seafood is considered a leaner food than fish and is allowed in moderation. Short fasting before Communion is also associated with other restrictions, refusing the following:

• sweets;
• sexual contacts;
• alcoholic drinks;
• smoking;
• participation in various entertainments (weddings, parties, concerts).

6 hours before the start of the Liturgy, food and drink should be completely avoided.. This six-hour fast is called "Eucharistic". If the Eucharistic fast is broken, the priest may not allow you to participate in the Sacrament.

Many believers strive to receive communion during church-wide fasts. This makes it possible to calmly prepare, especially if loved ones are also fasting and do not offer unnecessary temptations.

Is it permissible to take communion if you have smoked or unwittingly broken your fast? All excesses committed during the fast should be reported tell the priest in confession. Through confession, admission to the Sacrament is made and concealment of even a small offense is considered a great sin before God.

How to fast for children

There is a tradition in the Russian Orthodox Church compulsory confession for children from the age of seven. At the same age they should be accustomed to fasting. But children receive communion from the very moment, i.e. with infancy.

Fasting before communion is not mandatory for a child if he is under three years old.

From three to seven years of age, restrictions are introduced gradually; the child must not only be deprived of tasty food, but be aware of the need and purpose of fasting. You can support your child by your own example by removing savory foods from the family menu. Parents themselves should begin confession and Communion together with their child.

The decision about whether fasting can be made easier should be made by parents after a conversation with the priest, based on the child’s health condition. Children who grow up in non-believing families and do not have proper spiritual development cannot be forced to fast.

Fasting for pregnant women

For pregnant women and sick people who want to receive communion but are on a strict diet, the fast can be weakened or canceled. This is only done with the blessing of the priest. Before you go for such permission, you should test yourself: will a short-term fast really turn out to be an unbearable burden, or because of laziness you don’t want to disrupt the usual course of life?

If it is impossible for a pregnant woman to give up dairy products, this can be replaced by giving up sweets or other things to which she feels affection. Such abstinence will be accepted by the Lord as a significant feat.

Posting in a dormitory

It is allowed to ease or cancel the fast for Christians who are on emergency military service, study, hospital, boarding school or places of detention, where meals are provided in common canteens and there is no opportunity to choose lean food. In this case, you should adhere to the blessing of the confessor visiting a military unit or boarding school. Refusal of fast food can be replaced by other restrictions or prayer. It is better for those wishing to receive communion to resolve this issue with the priest a week before the Sacrament or (if impossible) before confession.

When can you take communion without fasting?

During the Christmas holidays - from the Nativity of Christ to Epiphany - and on Bright Week - seven days after Easter - a five-day fast is not required for the communicants; only the six-hour Eucharistic fast is maintained. But this permission can only be granted to those who have fully complied with the previous ones, Christmas and Lent.

Lenten preparation is canceled for seriously ill and dying people.