EVE OF THE FAST OF ST. JAMES

This Sunday, December 8, is the eve (paregentan) of the Fast of St. James (Hagop) of Nisibus. This five-day fast, Monday to Friday, leads us to the Feast of St. James, which is next Saturday. Traditionally the entire fifty-day period of Advent was a period of fasting, similar to Great Lent. In modern times, three week-long (Monday to Friday) fasts are observed during Advent: Fast of Advent (Hisnagats Bahk), Fast of St. James (Sourp Hagopee Bahk), and the Fast of the Nativity (Dznuntyan Bahk).