On November 28, Orthodox believers begin the 40-day Feast of Christmas, which ends on January 6. In a conversation with OTR, priest Vyacheslav Lansky noted that this is a time of spiritual preparation for the Nativity of Christ, when a person learns to purify himself internally through prayer, repentance and good works. According to Lansky, fasting helps you see your true state and take steps to improve your mental state.
He emphasized that restrictions apply not only to nutrition but also to behavior – it is important to avoid irritability, laziness and bad habits, pay attention to prayer and help others. The priest explains that Christmas has three aspects: spiritual, mental and physical. According to him, the body is brought out of the comfort zone through work and moderation, the soul needs to pay attention to emotions, and spiritual life is based on prayer and repentance.
Lansky recounts that Lent was less strict than Lent: on some days fish and some wine were allowed. However, he emphasized, the main thing is not fasting but inner work and preparation for Christmas, Radiotochka NSN reported.
