Nativity Fast

Nativity Fast

December 15th is the commencement of the 10 day Fast of the Nativity of our Lord (sawmo d'Mawlodho d'Moran hesro yaumin) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.The Nativity Fast lasts 10 days, starting on December 15th & ending on December 25th Christmas Day (Hido d'yaldo d'Moran). The thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory writes in regards to this fast: The institution of this fast was towards the beginning of the 4th century AD. This can be gathered from reading memres of St. Ephrem the Syrian (+373) & the hymns he composed in the 4th Century. The Christmas fast is practiced in preparation for welcoming the commemorative day of Lord Jesus’ birth in the flesh & in memory of the grief brought by sin, which we experienced before the Lord’s birth. The darkness of ignorance, Satan’s enslavement of us, & the infliction of the created world, in expectation of salvation accomplished through the birth of the savior, who redeemed us by His incarnation. We practice this fast to become pure in our souls & body & to be worthy of welcoming the commemoration of the redeemer’s birth, the word of God incarnate; in the same way Moses fasted before the written word of God, that is the Law of the Old Testament, was handed over to him.During this fast, the Takrit/Eastern rite (ie the traditions of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Iraq and other parts of the erstwhile Maphrianate) has a special set of prayers. The thrice blessed late Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum writes in his book 'Scattered Pearls', "This rite also includes a medium-sized book containing eight services of the Christmas fasting, known to Easterners as the subbara, i.e., the Annunciation of the Nativity of the Lord Christ. These services are usually repeated three times." These prayers were recited during the weekdays of the Nativity fast, in lieu of the Sh'himo. Although developed in Iraq, the late Patriarch found copies in Mardin, Tur Abdin, and Jerusalem. Copies of this service also made its way to India, and was published as part of the Pampakuda Phanqitho.May our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ abundantly bless all the faithful who wholeheartedly keep the Fast. The Fast is a sign of victory & an unbeatable armour against the evil one. In recent decades, there has been much controversy about the Christmas season. As we look forward to the commemoration of Christ's Nativity on Christmas Day, let's not forget to keep 'Christ' in Christmas; not by simply uttering the phrase but by following what Christ would want us to do. Never forget that Christ is the foundation of all celebrations. While we all rejoice during the festive period, let us not lose sight of the message of salvation proclaimed by the great Prophet Isaiah, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: & the government shall be upon his shoulder: & his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."Malankara World Special Supplement for the Nativity Fast: https://goo.gl/f7bsJWFeast of Nativity through the Hymns of St. Ephrem: https://youtu.be/DB9LxP8Qe_8