So what are the orthodox rules for Lent?
It’s different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but . . .
The first rule is the whole “why are you doing it.”
The food rules are generally as follows:
No meat after one week before Lent.
No dairy after Lent begins.
No oil on many days, although this is generally not observed outside of monasteries.
For Greeks, no alcohol except on special wine days, which are very rare.
For us weak slavs, no alcohol means no hard liquor and, often, no wine. Beer is not considered alcohol by some of the Slavic jurisdictions.
Sunday’s liturgies are (for all jurisdictions) the Liturgy of St. Basil, which is longer than our normal Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
More home prayers, liturgies, etc.
How many people actually observe the fast? It’s hard for me to tell and I don’t ask. It seems that most at my church follow it, but it’s a taboo subject. A person may have an ailment that requires dispensation. Dispensation is almost always from the priest.
A person can get dispensation based on the fact that they’ve never fasted before and it’s too hard. The priest then makes a rule of fasting for that individual, which is usually very challenging.
Unfortunately, the Eastern Rite Catholics have had the tendency to leave their own fasting traditions (used to be Orthodox) and follow more RC stuff. Most of the ECs don’t eat meat or dairy on Wednesdays and Fridays, but do not fast otherwise.
If you want a good challenge for Lent, skip meat and cheese on Wednesdays and Fridays (talk to your priest first). Stick to bread and inexpensive fruit. Take the cheese and meat you would have eaten and donate it to your local food bank, or whoever.
Sorry to go on and on. I was just trying to give you guys a hard time.
Have a blessed Lenten season.