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Orthodox Terminology


FOREFEAST PDF Print E-mail

FOREFEAST - A forefeast (also known as prefeast) is a period of time preceding certain major feasts of the Christian year during which the Church anticipates the approaching festival. The liturgical life of the Church reflects this anticipation by foreshadowing the feast in the divine services celebrated during the forefeast.  Most commemorations that have a forefeast also have an afterfeast and a leavetaking.  The period of a forefeast varies from 1 to 5 days, depending on the particular feast.

  • Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8)—forefeast: 1 day (September 7)
  • Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14)—forefeast: 1 day (September 13)
  • Presentation of the Theotokos (November 21)—forefeast: 1 day (November 20)
  • Nativity of Christ (December 25)—forefeast: 5 days (December 20 - December 24)
  • Theophany (January 6)—forefeast: 4 days (January 2 - January 5)
  • Presentation of Christ (February 2)—forefeast: 1 day (February 1)
  • Annunciation (March 25)—forefeast: 1 day (March 24)
  • Transfiguration (August 6)—forefeast: 1 day (August 5)
  • Dormition (August 15)—forefeast: 1 day (August 14)

 

 

The Sayings of the Fathers


It was said of Abba John the Dwarf that he withdrew and lived in the desert at Scetis with an old man of Thebes. His Abba, taking a piece of dry wood, planted it and said to him, 'Water it every day with a bottle of water, until it bears fruit.' Now the water was so far away that he had to leave in the evening and return the following morning. At the end of three years the wood came to life and bore fruit. Then the old man took some of the fruit and carried it to the church saying to the brethren, 'Take and eat the fruit of obedience.'

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