At the end of autumn, Ukrainian churches begin one of the key liturgical periods of the year — the Christmas Fast, known in folk tradition as Filippovka. It is a forty-day period of spiritual preparation for the celebration of Christmas. According to the Revised Julian calendar, which the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) switched to on September 1, 2023, the fast in 2026 starts on Sunday, November 15, and lasts until Thursday, December 24, inclusive. Thus, believers will have exactly 40 days to prepare for Christmas, which under the new style is celebrated on Friday, December 25. These dates are confirmed by the official church calendars of both churches for 2026.
Why the fast is called Filippovka
The popular name for the period is linked to the feast day of the Holy Apostle Philip, which falls on November 14 according to the Revised Julian calendar. Since the fast begins the next day, November 15, it became known in popular tradition as "Filippovka" or the "Philip Fast." This name has taken root in Ukrainian religious culture and is used alongside the official name "Christmas Fast."
The meaning of the fast and rules of abstinence
In the Christian tradition, this period symbolizes spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ: for 40 days, believers focus on the feast through prayer, abstinence, good deeds, and caring for their neighbors. A statement by the UGCC emphasizes that the meaning of the fast lies not only in dietary restrictions but also in spiritual work on oneself. Specific dietary rules depend on church tradition: in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, according to current regulations, believers abstain from meat products and dishes on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the Christmas Fast, while all types of food are allowed on other days. The church also calls for refraining from loud entertainment, weddings, dances, and similar events during this period.
Who is exempt from the fast
Fasting is not a diet or a competition in the strictness of limitations; its main goal is spiritual purification, prayer, and preparation for Christmas. Exempt from the duty to fast are, in particular, children under 14, people aged 60 and over, pregnant women, the seriously ill, as well as mothers after childbirth and breastfeeding women. This allows for a conscious approach to the practice of fasting, taking into account the physical condition of each believer.
Historical roots: from six days to a forty-day tradition
The tradition of the Christmas Fast developed gradually. The first mentions of preparation for the celebration of Christmas through abstaining from food and other restrictions date back to the 4th–5th centuries. Initially, the fast was significantly shorter: in some Christian communities, it lasted only six days, in others longer, and for a long time in the East, there was no consensus on its duration. An important stage occurred in 1166, when the Council of Constantinople approved the forty-day Christmas Fast for many churches, making it equal in duration to the Great Lent before Easter. The number 40 has special biblical significance — it recalls the forty-day fast of Moses before receiving the divine commandments. Therefore, the Christmas Fast received the name of the Minor Quadragesima, while the Great Lent before Easter is called the Great Quadragesima.
Ukrainian traditions of preparation for Christmas
In the Ukrainian tradition, Filippovka was not only a time of dietary restrictions but also a period of active household and family preparation for the holiday. According to the Great Ukrainian Encyclopedia, throughout the entire fast, housewives and householders gradually put their homes in order: they whitewashed walls, decorated rooms with paintings, and took out the best embroidered towels and carpets. A special place in the corner was reserved for a decorated candle or lamp, as well as a "didukh" — one of the oldest symbols of a Ukrainian Christmas. Preparation for caroling was no less important: people sewed and repaired costumes in advance, and prepared for Christmas processions and festive rites. Thus, Filippovka became for Ukrainians an entire period of household chores, family preparation, and preservation of traditions, rather than just a time of waiting for the holiday.
