Fasting

THE ORTHODOX PRACTICE OF FASTING

THE LENTEN REQUIREMENTS

The practice of FASTING in the Orthodox Church is one of the most beneficial spiritual exercises available to the faithful. To be of any substantive value, it needs to be joined with PRAYER and ALMSGIVING (works of compassion).

There are two attitudes towards fasting:

Some overemphasize eternal rules about food in a legalistic way.
Others scorn these rules as out-dated and unnecessary.

REASONS FOR FASTING

Primary reason is to become conscious of our dependence on God. Fasting leads us to a sense of an inward brokenness and contrition. To consume our normal fill of food causes us to become over-confident in our own abilities with an accompanying false sense of self-sufficiency. By proper abstinence, we become aware of our helplessness, shortcomings and total dependency on God.

Second, fasting has an inward significance the aim of which is to convert the heart and will, to return to God, to turn from self to Christ.

CAUTION REQUIRED
Fasting has to be combined with PRAYER and WORKS OF COMPASSION AND MERCY to be of any use. But another important factor must be considered. It is useless to abstain from certain food and yet indulge in cruel criticism and slander. Thus we can speak of two types of fast - the MATERIAL and the SPIRITUAL. Both are necessary. Otherwise to perform one and reject the other is folly.

Fasting must also lead us to REPENTANCE. For without it, fasting remains useless. Since we sin daily, we need to avail ourselves of this blessed sacrament which absolves us from our sins and reconciles us with God and man.

AGAINST A FORMAL OR HYPOCRITICAL FAST
In vain do you rejoice in not eating, O soul!
For you abstain from food,
but from passions you are not purified.
If you have no desire for improvement,
You will be despised as a lie in the eyes of God,
You will be likened to evil demons who never eat!
If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast;
Therefore, remain in constant striving so as to
stand before the Crucified Savior, or rather,
To be crucified with the One who was crucified for your sake.!
(Wednesday of Cheese-Fare)

Regulations on Fasting

Weeks or Days

The Holy Canons Specify the Following

From
Sundown on Cheese Fare Sunday
to
Pascha

Abstinence of:	No Abstinance of:

Meat/Meat Products Dairy Products Fish Olive Oil Wine	Shellfish Fruit Vegetables Vegetable Products

During this period, Orthodox Christians regulate both the amount of food they consume and the number of times per day they eat. In other words, NO food should be eaten between meals and at meal time only a small portion should be eaten.

Saturdays and Sundays
Throughout the Great Fast

*(all but Great Saturday on which a strict fast is kept)

Abstinence of:	No Abstinence of:

Meat/Meat Products Dairy Products Fish	Shellfish Vegetables Vegetable Products Fruit Olive Oil Wine

On Saturdays* and Sundays of the Great Fast the quantity and number of times food may be consumed is not restricted

Feast of the Annunciation
(March 25)
and
Palm Sunday

Abstinence of:	No Abstinence of

Meat/Meat Products Dairy Products	Shellfish Fish Olive Oil Wine Vegetables Vegetable Products Fruit