So far, for some post is only a way to lose weight and improve health, whereas for believers it is a ritual, without which it is not necessary. There is a legend that people began to fast in the 1st century, but the historian Alexey Shirkov claims that it is impossible. According to him, in the 1st century, our era really laid the beginning of the Great Post, however, people are hungry no more than 40 hours, and most often 1 day. Want to know more about this event? Read our material.
Exclusion of traditions
In the same period of the 1st century there was no unified system of post: in each church its duration and even the date of the celebration of Easter was established in their own way. In the 2nd and 3th century, the post is changed - the complete abstinence from food is replaced by the ban on certain products, which makes it possible to increase the duration of the Great Post. He lasted, according to historians, about 7 days, but the date still installed each church in its own way. It became accepted to prepare for Easter - it included the ritual of spiritual and domestic practices, while respecting people were prescribed to fast.
Even Muslim countries earlier observed post
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The first mention of the 40-day post
In the 4th century Athanasius, the Great leaves the Easter message, in which it indicates that the Great post begins for "six weeks to Easter", that is, in 6 weeks before it, otherwise, 42 days, with the exception of resurrection. Already by the end of the 4th century, almost all churches observe a single duration - it was mandatory to observe post 40 days, but not everywhere Sunday excluded from the total number of days of fasting, and sometimes, on the contrary, they excluded Saturday and Sunday. It turned out that in some churches, the post was stretched for 8 weeks, and in others passed for 6 weeks.
According to the memoirs of the historian of the statement, in Egypt and Palestine, the post was observed 6 weeks, in Constantinople - 7 weeks, and others could comply with the post of 2 or 3 weeks. From this point on, the dispassion of the traditions of the posts begins - see how different they are in Russia and other countries. However, it is believed that this phenomenon is normal and remain unchanged.
See also: Great Post: Traditions, Recipes and Useful Tips