Epistle of the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine on the occasion of the Nativity Fast
To the God-loving pastors, venerable monastics and all the faithful children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Diaspora and in Ukraine,
Glory to Jesus Christ!
In forty days’ time the Holy Orthodox Church will be rejoicing in the appearance of God in the flesh on the feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Before this wondrous feast day, starting on November 28, the Mother Church will lead its faithful through 40 days of preparation called the Nativity Fast. This period is also known as St. Philip’s Fast because it begins on the day following the Feast Day of St. Philip.
In the Orthodox Church it is the custom to prepare ourselves before the celebration of major feast days through fasting, almsgiving and prayer. We are like the Men from the East following the Star of Bethlehem, becoming gradually illuminated by this extraordinary light as we approach our destination, the humble cave of the birth of our Saviour.
These forty days before Christ’s Nativity are used to ready our whole being—our bodies through fasting, our hearts through prayer, our soul through good works and our mind through directing our thoughts towards God. We are blessed to freely practice our faith in our democratic societies, unlike other regions of the world where Christians today face increasing persecution. At the same time, our hectic, materialistic lifestyles are themselves an oppression, making the Nativity Fast a particular challenge. If we hope to make spiritual gains during this period, let us focus on its real spiritual goals as the Lord taught when He first fasted in the desert (Mt 4:1-11).
Too often, we get caught up in avoidance or abstention during this and other fast periods. Instead, we ought to strive for achievement and benefit. The Nativity Fast could be regarded as a kind of “boot camp” for Orthodox Christians. Here, we can immerse our entire being in “spiritual training” to realize Christian perfection and to reach salvation, becoming closer to God.
The Fast calls us to physical discipline. While the emphasis may appear to be on food restrictions, the Nativity Fast is not a diet. It is a spiritual tool to train our will, sculpt our virtues and tame our passions. St. Basil states,
“Nothing subdues and controls the body as does the practice of temperance. It is this temperance that serves as a control to those youthful passions and desires.”
Temperance conditions our psyche and our hearts. Because our spiritual and physical are intrinsically entwined, our resolve to limit our food intake translates into spiritual resolve to withstand the temptations of the secular world in which we live. In this way, we gain by developing our
Christian virtues, which are so pleasing to the Lord.
The Fast also calls us to philanthropic works. Doing good deeds—large and small — for those around us, sadly, remains one of the most underdeveloped aspects of our spiritual preparations during fasting periods. A kind word to a stressed out colleague or a phone call to a shut in may be as powerful as a large tax-deductible donation to a local charity. Just as we condition ourselves in food intake, this Nativity Fast helps us to condition the way we act towards others. Orthodox Christians are called upon to don our spiritual armor of virtues and extend tolerance and patience, as well as assistance to others, even when it is inconvenient for us. St. John Chrysostom states,
“True fasting is distancing ourselves from sin, holding our tongue, putting away our anger, stifling our passions, stopping our gossip and deceit.”
It also helps to temper our will. By opening our hearts and minds, we can be enlightened by God’s Holy grace. Charitable works help us to purify our conscience and achieve moral perfection, which is the obligation of every Christian.
We also call upon our faithful during this Nativity Fast to consider aiding others in need in the world. “What you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,” Jesus explained the purpose of helping others (Mt 25:40). Our brothers and sisters in our spiritual homeland of Ukraine have suffered greatly following a year of revolution, foreign invasion and war. They have great need of our charity and prayers. The Lord has blessed our Ukrainian Orthodox Diaspora with prosperity and opportunities, which we are encouraged to share with those in our homeland. Elsewhere, Christians in the Middle East face brutal persecution and have been forced to flee their native lands. Let us keep their suffering in our Nativity prayers and assist where possible.
The Fast also calls us to prayer. It provides a unique opportunity to commune more deeply with God. We may use our prayer time for repentance and tears to
cleanse our hearts. We may offer supplications of thanksgiving for His gifts as well as for those unpleasant experiences which are sent to teach us important lessons of patience, humility and tolerance. We may also use our prayer time to pray for the well-being of others — for our parents, grandparents, teachers, co-workers and siblings, for the departed and for those in need. Let us also pray for peace in our spiritual homeland of Ukraine and for the protection of oppressed Christians in the world.
The Nativity Fast is a time to shake us out of our spiritual lethargy in order to find joy in the Lord. This spiritual tool humbles our entire being and cleanses us from sin so that we may be prepared to greet the Lord our God who became human in order that we may parttake of the divine.
May the All-Merciful Lord God help us to observe this Nativity Fast in the proper manner so that in purity of heart and spiritual joy we will become worthy to greet the Newborn Christ Child in forty days.
With Archpastoral Blessings,
† YURIJ, Metropolitan
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
† ANTONY, Metropolitan
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Locum Tenens of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora
† IOAN, Archbishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora
† JEREMIAH, Archbishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy of Brazil and South America
† ILARION, Bishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
† ANDRIY, Bishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
† DANIEL, Bishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA