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"I neither fasted nor kept vigils, nor slept on bare floors but — to borrow the Psalmist's words — 'I humbled myself' and, in short, 'the Lord saved me.'" [Saint Symeon the Theolgian, On Faith, Philokalia, Vol 4)

Fasting should be an expression of our spiritual maturity and not a legalistic rule. Unfortunately, it is more of the latter than the former, imo.

The early Church did not have these rules. They are man-made, let's be clear on that.

Serbian Patriarch Pavle wrote recently on the subject of both Communion and Fasting where he gives a historical overview of the early Church practice:

"The fasting periods were practiced at certain times as needed and Communion was administered regularly in the fasting seasons as well as when meat and dairy foods were used. During the fasting seasons they fasted and communed, during non fasts, they ate and communed just like the clergy do today. In the early Church there was no special preparation for Communion, nor was a fast considered as the only means for Communion. The preparation for Holy Communion was life-long process of keeping the commandments and guarding against all sin."

Apparently the level of devotion changed when Christianity was no longer persecuted.

"[T]here was a movement in the Church of those "who did not find their treasures hidden in the field and were not ready to sell everything to buy that field (St. Matthew 13,44). At this behavior the level of morality of the Christians fell to a low standard. Many still approached Holy Communion regularly but without a serious commitment to Him. Others began to delay their trip to the Holy Chalice with the excuse of not enough preparation. But the effort of soul cleansing was only from time to time for a few days before Holy Communion. Even this practice became harder for them and they further delayed their preparation and their receiving of Communion until it happened that they communed only four times a year and it gradually became even less."

As a result, the St. John Chrysostom (Bishop of Constantinople) established the 40-day fasting rules.

"In view of this situation, according to St. John Chrysostom, the Church established the forty day fast before Pascha. Realizing the danger that comes from such habits, the Holy Fathers ordered forty days of fasting that we all cleanse ourselves carefully through prayer, charity, fasting, vigils and tears. In this manner we may approach Holy Communion with a clear conscience as much as possible. As for the others, the Church Fathers say that they must make every effort, not only before Holy Communion , but always to live a Godly life in order to receive."

But, the Patriarch warns that fasting has become a ritual

"Of all the methods to cleance the soul for this most important union with Christ in receiving His Body and Blood, our people see only the physical fast. Many priests pose before the faithful just one question - did you fast? When they answer positively, he allows them to approach, as if that one thing is of major importance. Everything else is secondary as does he value the magnitude of what he is receiving, does he knows the Creed, basic prayers, is his tongue and mouth clear of lies, cursing and filthy language, and is he in a quarrel with someone?"

It is by far more important to be Christ-like in our hearts than to fast 'just as He did.'

Fasting rules also do not take into account medical conditions of many people. The life was much shorter in +John Chrysostom's time, and the nature of ailments that killed people was qualitatively different from the most degenerative processes of today.

We live longer to a great extent because of the many amenities of medical science, and that is often a very fine equilibrium that keeps us alive, whether it is sugar, heart, electrolyte or any other aspect of our health.

Rigorous fasting can disturb and even endanger a person's health. A diabetic who avoids all animal products and concentrates his or her fast on carbohydrates during the two 40-day fasts can literally commit suicide fasting.

Someone with compromised kidneys who eats proteins can do the same. People need essential amino acids which are found only in animal products.

The sweeping generalization of fasting rules also ignored to account the rationale for abstaining from all animal products and olive oil!

It so often happens that when the Church is questioned about its (man-made rules) the answers are nothing short of revolting. The other day I asked why is collection being made in the middle of the Lord's Prayer (which is highly distracting and, more so, disrespectful) and the answer the priest gave me was: "that's the way it's always done."

It also goes hand-in-hand with Tolstoy's famous "Three Little Hermits," by all accounts three holy men who, although they walk on water (unbeknownst to a pompous bishop), in their humility say to him that they don't know how to serve the Lord and the bishops says to the effect that he sees they have 'some idea' about God, but he will teach them the 'proper' way to serve the Lord.

The bottom line is that even +John Chrysostom says in his Paschal homily that those who fasted and those who didn't are all welcome.

Echoing +Symeon the Theologian, true fast is humility. All else will follow 'naturally.'

Ping #11

Kosta, do you know priests or bishops who instruct their people to fast to the point of making themselves ill? Any who tell diabetics or others who must eat that they cannot receive communion? I certainly trust not. Fasting is a practice to improve us, not kill us or make us sick. I know of no Orthodox priest or bishop, save for, alas, a few "crazy converts" who are so legalistic about fasting that they would endanger their people for the sake of adhering to fasting rules. On the other hand, serving non fast foods at a parish function during Great Lent or any other fasting period is improper and is a scandal to the faithful.