Yes ... you have grasped the concept. It's better known as asceticism.
While Kolokotronis and I are separated in faith by a thin chord, we both enjoy the beauty of eastern traditions. I can only stand in awe at the strict discipline of fast conserved by the Orthodox and pray that my fellow Catholics will learn from it. For my part, as a Roman Catholic practicing my faith in a Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church, it has been a learning experience. Like their Latin cousins, the Maronites of the diaspora prefer to follow the Latin 'relaxed' forms of fast. Our bishop, however, has encouraged all Maronites to re-adopt the fast of their ancestors. And this is it:
| Traditional Maronite Fast and Abstinence | |
| (in vigour until at least the 1920's) | |
| (Cf. Fr. R.. Janin, A.A. Les Eglise orientales et Les Rites orientaux, Paris 1922) | |
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| The practise of fast and abstinence was regulated by the Maronite synod of 1736 Fast: eating and drinking forbidden until midday Abstinence: abstaining from eating all meat, oil, wine and animal products (eggs, milk, cheese etc.) |
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| 1. Great Lent | from Quinquagesima to Easter abstinence every day; fasting every day except on Sundays and Saturdays (with the exception of Holy Saturday) |
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| 2. Apostles Lent | abstinence four days 25th - 28th June |
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| 3. Assumption Lent | abstinence eight days 7th - 14th August |
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| 4. Christmas Lent | abstinence twelve days 13th - 24th December |
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| 5. Abstinence | every Wednesday and Friday except: from Christmas to Epiphany, the Friday before Great Lent, from Easter to Pentecost, June 24th and 29th; August 6th and 15th |
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| 6 Forbidden food | Like most oriental Christians, the Maronites kept the Mosaic ban on eating blood, suffocated animals and certain animals considered impure; and which Oriental Church Councils have many times renewed. |