Fasting
Notes on Fasting:
(the following is excerpted from THE MEANING OF THE GREAT FAST), by MOTHER MARY AND BISHOP KALLISTOS WARE.
The primary aim of fasting is to make us conscious of our dependence upon God. If practiced seriously, the Lenten abstinence from food - particularly in the opening days - involves a considerable measure of real hunger, and also a feeling of tiredness and physical exhaustion. The purpose of this is to lead us in turn to a sense of inward brokenness and contrition; to bring us, that is, to the point where we appreciate the full force of Christ's statement, 'Without Me you can do nothing' (John 18: 8). If we always take our fill of food and drink, we easily grow over-confident in our own abilities, acquiring a false sense of autonomy and self-sufficiency. The observance of a physical fast undermines this sinful complacency. Stripping from us the specious assurance of the Pharisee - who fasted, it is true, but not in the right spirit - Lenten abstinence gives us the saving self dissatisfaction of the Publican (Luke 18: 10-13). Such is the function of the hunger and the tiredness: to make us 'poor in spirit', aware of our helplessness and of our dependence on God's aid.
(the following is excerpted from the OCA website).
The purpose of fasting is to gain mastery over oneself and to conquer the passions of the flesh. It is to liberate oneself from dependence on the things of this world in order to concentrate on the things of the Kingdom of God. It is to give power to the soul so that it would not yield to temptation and sin. According to St. Seraphim, fasting is an "indispensable means" of gaining the fruit of the Holy Spirit in one's life (cf. Conversation with Motovilov), and Jesus Himself taught that some forms of evil cannot be conquered without it (Matthew 17:21, Mark 9:29).
Generally speaking, fasting is an essential element of the Christian Life. Christ fasted and taught men to fast. Blessed fasting is done in secret, without ostentation or accusation of others (Mt 6:16; Rom 14). It has as its goal the purification of our lives, the liberation of our souls and bodies from sin, the strengthening of our human powers of love for God and man, the enlightening of our entire being for communion with the Blessed Trinity.
In the below list of the various Fasting Seasons, where there is no indication of a fast given, this means that all foods may be eaten (except during Cheesefare Week, when meat is forbidden for every day). Where the notation Fast Day is found, this means that a strict fast is observed, in which no meat, eggs, dairy products, fish, wine or oil are to be eaten. For more, click here.
FASTING SEASONS
Nativity (St. Philip's Fast) - Nov. 15 through Dec. 24
From Bishop THOMAS
This fasting period is ordained by the Holy Church in order to prepare for the Glorious Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. The particulars of the fast are as follows:
During the first 28 days of the fast; from Nov. 15 until Dec. 13: all meat products and dairy products are forbidden. On Wednesdays and Fridays, of course, olive oil and wine (all alcoholic beverages) and fish are also forbidden as on most Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year.
This means that one can eat fish, shellfish, vegetables and fruit during this time. On Wednesday and Fridays, only Shellfish, vegetables and fruit.
During the last 12 days, from Dec. 13 - 24, fish, olive oil and wine (all alcoholic beverages) are not used at all; except that oil and wine may be used on Saturdays and Sundays. Therefore, for the last 12 days we may eat Shellfish, vegetables and fruits, giving thanks to God for helping us in our labors.
In addition to what we eat, we should also be very careful of how we live. We should increase our prayer lives, read more scripture and spiritual books, lives of saints, etc. We should be very watchful that we do not sin through anger, gossip, or laziness. We also do not need to watch as much television or engage in entertainments during this time. We really should not become involved in pre-Christmas parties, since these are completely outside of the spirit of penitence and preparation.
If we prepare in this way, as much as we are able and according to our strength, God will bless us, and we will find Christmas to be far more spiritually rewarding than ever before. May God help us to struggle courageously!
Meatfast - Monday after the Sunday of Last
Judgment through Cheesefare Sunday
Great Lent & Holy Week - 1st Monday of Great
Lent through Great and Holy Saturday
Apostles' (Peter & Paul) Fast -2nd Monday of
Pentecost through June 28
Dormition (Theotokos) Fast - Aug. 1 through
Aug. 14
FAST-FREE SEASONS
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Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ to Theophany Eve
- Dec. 25 through Jan. 4
The week following the Sunday of the Publican & Pharisee - 2nd Week of the Lenten Triodion
Bright Week and Paschaltide- The week after Pascha until Ascension (Antiochian practice)
Trinity Week - The week after Pentecost until the Saturday before All Saints Sunday
FAST DAYS
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Every Wednesday and Friday of the Year, except for Fast-Free
Weeks
The Eve of Theophany - January 5
The Beheading of St. John the Baptist - August 29
The Elevation of the Cross - September 14
Quotes on Fasting
The Savior began the work of our salvation with fasting. In the same way, all those who follow in the footsteps of the Savior build on this foundation the beginning of their endeavors, since fasting is a weapon established by God. Who will escape blame if he neglects this? If the Lawgiver Himself fasts, how can any of those who have to obey the law be exempt from fasting? This is why the human race knew no victory before fasting, and the devil was never defeated by our nature as it is: but this weapon has indeed deprived the devil of strength from the outset... As soon as the devil sees someone possessed of this weapon, fear straightway falls on this adversary and tormentor of ours, who remembers and thinks of his defeat by the Savior in the wilderness; his strength is at once destroyed and the sight of the weapon given us by our Supreme Leader burns him up.
St. Isaac the Syrian
Wednesday is to be fasted, because then the Jews conspired to betray Jesus; Friday, because he then suffered for us. We keep the Lord's Day as a day of joy, because then our Lord arose"
Ancient Epitome of Canon 15 of Peter the Martyr; cf. Canon 69 of the Apostles
The fast should be kept not by the mouth alone but also by the eye, the ear, the feet, the hands and all the members of the body: the eye must abstain from impure sights, the ear from malicious gossip, the hands from acts of injustice.
St. John Chrysostom
"Fasting is abstention from foods according to the meaning of the word, but the food does not make us either more just or more unjust. Yet, in its mystical meaning it declares that as the life of each one depends upon food, total abstention is the sign of death. Thus we ought to abstain from worldly things, for we would die as far as worldly matters are concerned, and after that, when we partake of food of divine nature, we will live in God. Above all, total abstention empties the soul of matter, and presents the soul pure and nimble to the body according to the divine words. Then, on the one hand, worldly nourishment consists of temporal life and iniquities, while divine nourishment is faith, hope, love, patience, knowledge, peace, prudence as our Lord said in Matthew: 'Blessed are theywhich do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled' (5:6), where truly He attributes this longing to the soul and not to the body."
Clement of Alexandria
...in fasting one must not only obey the rule against gluttony
in regard to food, but refrain from every sin so that, while fasting,
the tongue may also fast, refraining from slander, lies, evil
talking, degrading one's brother, anger and every sin committed
by the tongue. One should also fast with the eyes, that is, not
look at vain things...not look shamefully or fearlessly at anyone.
The hands and feet should also be kept from every evil action.
When one fasts through vanity or thinking that he is achieving
something especially virtuous, he fasts foolishly and soon begins
to criticize others and to consider himself something great.
A man who fasts wisely...wins purity and comes to humility...and
proves himself a skillful builder.
St. Abba Dorotheus, 7th c., Directions on Spiritual Training
And when you fast, do not look dismal like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men, but your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
(Matthew 6:16-18)
Because we did not fast, we were chased out of Paradise; let us fast now, so that some day we return there.
St. Basil the Great
"Let us fast an acceptable and very pleasing fast to the Lord. True fast is the estrangement from evil, temperance of tongue, abstinence from anger, separation from desires, slander, falsehood perjury. Privation of these is true fasting."
A Hymn of First Monday of Lent By St. Basil the Great
Fasting in respect of food is of no benefit for those who failto fast with all their senses; for whosoever is successfully waging his battle must be temperate in all things.
Isidore
