Fast of Catechumens starts Jan 26
The Fast of Catechumens starts on January 26 and will last for five years, until January 30. The fasting of Catechumens is specific only to the Armenian Church. It begins three weeks before the Great Lent. In ancient times people could eat only bread and salt during the fast of Catechumens. On those days it was not allowed to celebrate Divine Liturgy either. The meaning of the fasting of Catechumens is the purification of the five human senses from pagan impurity. In the ancient Church there was a custom to fast for five days before baptism. St. Gregory the Illuminator ordered King Trdat and others to fast for five days before baptism in order to be freed of evil. That is also the reason for the fasting of Catechumens to be called "fast of salvation" from the evil. According to the tradition, the fasting of Catechumens was initiated by St. Gregory the Illuminator in memory of the above-mentioned practice. More details are available here
