Posted on 02/16/2020 5:31:25 PM PST by NRx
Within this developed pattern of Great Lent, what precisely do the rules of fasting demand? Neither in ancient nor in modern times has there ever been exact uniformity, but most Orthodox authorities agree on the following rules:
(1) During the week between the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and that of the Prodigal Son, there is general dispensation from all fasting. Meat and animal products may be eaten even on Wednesday and Friday.
(2) In the following week, often termed the 'Week of Carnival, the usual fast is kept on Wednesday and Friday. Otherwise there is no special fasting.
(3) In the week before Lent, meat is forbidden, but eggs, cheese and other dairy products may be eaten on all days, including Wednesday and Friday.
(4) On weekdays (Monday to Friday inclusive) during the seven weeks of Lent, there are restrictions both on the number of meals taken daily and on the types of food permitted: but when a meal is allowed, there is no fixed limitation on the quantity of food to be eaten.
a) On weekdays in the first week, fasting is particularly severe. According to the strict observance, in the course of the five initial days of Lent, only two meals are eaten, one on Wednesday and the other on Friday. In both cases, after the Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts, on the other three days, those who have the strength are encouraged to keep an absolute fast: those for whom this proves impracticable may eat on Tuesday and Thursday (but not, if possible, on Monday), in the evening after Vespers when they may take bread and water, or perhaps tea or fruit juice, but not a cooked meal. It should be added at once that in practice today these rules are commonly relaxed. At the meals on Wednesday and Friday xerophagy is prescribed. Literally, this means dry eating. Strictly interpreted, it signifies that we may eat only vegetables cooked with water and salt, and also such things as fruit, nuts, bread and honey. In practice, octopus and shellfish are also allowed on days of xerophagy: likewise vegetable margarine and corn or other vegetable oil, not made from olives. But the following categories of food are definitely excluded:
(i) meat;
(ii) animal products (cheese, milk, butter, eggs, lard, dripping);
(iii) fish (i.e. fish with backbones); and
(iv) oil (i.e. olive oil) and wine (i.e. all alcoholic drinks).
(b) On weekdays (Monday to Friday inclusive) in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth weeks, one meal a day is permitted. To be taken in the afternoon following Vespers, and at this one meal, xerophagy is to be observed.
(c) Holy Week. On the first three days there is one meal each day, with xerophagy; but some try to keep a complete fast on these days, or else they eat only uncooked food, as on the opening days of the first week.
On Holy Thursday one meal is eaten, with wine and oil (i.e. olive oil).
On Great Friday those have the strength follow the practice of the early Church and keep a total fast. Those unable to do this may eat bread, with a little water, tea or fruit-juice, but not until sunset, or at any rate until after the veneration of Epitaphion at Vespers.
On Holy Saturday there is in principle no meal, since according to the ancient practice after the end of the Liturgy of St. Basil the faithful remained in church for the reading at the Acts of the Apostles, and for their sustenance were given a little bread and dried fruit, with a cup of wine. If, as usually happens now, they return home for a meal, they may use wine but not oil; for on this one Saturday, alone among the Saturdays of the year, olive oil is not permitted.
The rule of xerophagy is relaxed on the following days:
(1) On Saturdays and Sundays in Lent, with the exception of Holy Saturday, two main meals may be taken in the usual way, around mid-day and in the evening, with wine and olive oil; but meat, animal products and fish are not allowed.
(2) On the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25) and Palm Sunday, fish is permitted as well as wine and oil, but meat and animal products are not allowed. If the Feast of the Annunciation falls on the first four days of Holy Week, wine and oil are permitted but not fish. If it falls on Great Friday or Holy Saturday, wine is permitted, but not fish or oil.
(3) Wine and oil are permitted on the following days, if they fall on a weekday in the second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth week:
First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist (February 24);
Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (March 9);
Forefeast of the Annunciation (March 24);
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel (March 26);
Patronal festival of the Church or Monastery;
(4) Wine and oil are also allowed on Wednesday and Thursday in the fifth week, because of the vigil for the Great Canon. Wine is allowed and, according to some authorities, oil as well on Friday in the same week, because of the vigil for the Akathist Hymn.
It has always been held that these rules of fasting should be relaxed in the case of anyone elderly or in poor health. In present-day practice, even for those in good health, the full strictness of the fast is usually mitigated. Only a few Orthodox today attempt to keep a total fast on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the first week, or on the first three days in Holy Week. On weekdays – except, perhaps, during the first week or Holy Week it is now common to eat two cooked meals daily instead of one. From the second until the sixth week, many Orthodox use wine, and perhaps oil also, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and less commonly on Mondays as well. Permission is often given to eat fish in these weeks. Personal factors need to be taken into account, as for example the situation of an isolated Orthodox living in the same household as non–Orthodox, or obliged to take meals in a factory or school canteen. In cases of uncertainty each should seek the advice of his or her spiritual father. At all times it is essential to) hear in mind that you are not under the law but under grace (Rom. 6:14), and that the letter kills, but the spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:6).
The rules of fasting, while they need to be taken seriously, are not to be interpreted with dour and pedantic legalism: “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
IIRC, The British Government aka the Anglican Church designated Fish days to support the fishing industry.
“Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church”
I believe the Serbian Orthodox emphasize frequent showers, whereas the Latvian Orthodox place more emphasis on solemn hats. That’s just what I’ve heard.
Thanks for posting this. My Dad (RIP) was Serbian Orthodox. The discipline of fasting is a good practice.
It’s when it’s practiced for “Righteousness” that is so wrong. God is NOT impressed. He is impressed with ONE thing; the FINISHED work of Christ for our salvation.
Fasting is not simply for God, it is a spiritual discipline for our growth so we may strengthen our will not to simply follow any passion that arises, but to follow the revealed will of God, sometimes called ‘natural law.’ Performing spiritual disciplines together develops community bonds that further give us strength, and hopefully enable us to further avoid the temptations that destroy civil bonds that are necessary for living in a free republic.
So, is fasting God ordained? And what if you don’t fast?
"But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting."
[Matthew 17:20]
"And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them."
[Acts of Apostles 13:2]
"And when they had ordained to them priests in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed."
[Acts of Apostles 14:22]
Different groups or individuals have differing spiritually-supportive disciplines, there are lists and entire books on them. Who you are and where you belong are the clue to what may be best for your situation.
Col.2:16: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an Holy day, or if a new moon, or of the Sabbath days:”
And:
Col.2:20-23: “Wherefore if he be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are he subject to ordinances, (touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a SHOW of wisdom in WILL WORSHIP, and HUMILITY, and NEGLECTING OF THE BODY; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
AND BTW: Acts 14:23 SAYS “And when they had ordained them ELDERS in the church..”. NOT “PRIESTS” in the church.
bookmarked
There is another Gk word for "priest", "hiereus," which is the word more typically translated "priest" in the English NT.
More here: What is a Greek priest?
1 Peter 5:1. “The elders which are among you I exhort, WHO AM ALSO AN ELDER,...”
So..Peter was just an elder/priest and not a pope. Or the “elders which are among you” are all priests/elders/popes?
So I see you’re a cherry-picker of the Bible. I’m not surprised.
I’m not cherry picking anything FRiend. I am giving you God’s word. Are you calling Him a liar?
I gave you scriptural references of fasting. So if anybody is calling God a liar, it’s you.
Either that, or you’re a cherry-picker.
Are you forgetting that the Catholic Bible including the Old Testament and New Testament came long before what you are quoting? What Bible are you quoting from?
And i’M giving YOU scriptures about NOT being subject to what to eat and when and how and why
If you don’t like that, take it up with God. Of course if you followed GOD’S way of STUDYING HIS word, RIGHTLY DIVIDED, you would not be confused and lost in the LAW, ebb.
So I’m guessing you probably fast for RIGHTEOUSNESS. You will never be able to fast enough to satisfy God. Only His Son’s FINISHED WORK for you will satisfy a Holy RIGHTEOUS God.
I am not forgetting that is what the RCC teaches. My Bible has the GREEK New Testament, not the Latin, as your’s. I do believe the Greek was changed INTO Latin for a group of people who believe Peter was their first pope. Or is he an elder? Or is he a priest? Only YOUR Bible is seemingly confused over that. Along with every other doctrine we disagree over. Think about that
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