Dear N.;
May the All Holy Trinity bless you with peace, love and faith now and always!
Thank you for the note. Fasting in the Byzantine Tradition is a somewhat complex and diverse subject. First, a few basic notes. When one fasts, nothing passes the lips (water and medicines excluded) until Noon. Then one may have two meals that together do not equate with one regular non-fasting meal. It is true that different Churches have variations on the rules for abstinence. The main thing for the individual person would be to be consistent in whichever set of rules chosen for the particular fasting season.
The actual practice regarding abstinence is called Xerophagy – "dry eating". This implies that the foods consumed be natural with little fancy preparation. So, for example, spinach could be cooked, but with no additional condiments, etc..
Also the prohibition on meat includes most fish – a commonly misunderstood point. Only sea creatures that do not have scales, blood or a backbone may be eaten – i.e., creatures like shellfish or squid. Here we see the clear effect of location and culture in fasting practice as these creatures were very common and inexpensive in the Mediterranean world and considered peasants’ foods.
Having said that, fasting and abstinence both reminds us of humanity’s original state as vegetarian (Genesis mentions when the Lord first opened to man the consuming of flesh meats) and solidarity with the poorest among us. Every culture has some cheap grain product (lentils, rice, etc.) that are staples for the poor. By Orthodox fasting we proclaim our solidarity with them – thus the king dines on the same fare as the poorest peasant. Moneys saved should be devoted to charitable purposes.
It should be noted that my point above about the cultural origin of most fasting combined with the concept of extra charitable activities indicates that some ‘acculturation’ must be enacted if you don’t live in an area like Lebanon, Greece, Egypt or Israel. It certainly defeats the spirit of the practice to spend great sums of money on lobster and shrimp while ‘fasting’. Thus although ‘fish’ are off the list, many in North America will buy up inexpensive tins of tuna in preparation for the fast instead of feasting on a favored and extravagant “acceptable” seafood.
The important thing in fasting is increased prayer and offering of oneself to the Lord through charitable activities. The hunger reminds us that everything, truly everything, we have comes from God; and reflecting on His Great Mercy and Love should impel us show that love to our brothers and sisters in Christ in the world around us. (Better to help those in your local area than a “feel good” cheque to some national or international fund – situations like the emergency in Haiti today, or Tsunami relief a few years ago are exceptions to this concept.)
My seminary spiritual father the Reverend Athanasios Demos put together a very nice summary of fasting rules and levels of participation. I reprint it every year in the parish community bulletin to remind us all of the real purpose and teachings on fasting.
For your convenience, I am reproducing it below. It is also printed somewhere on byzantineramblngs.blogspot.com .
May our Lord bless you with a spiritually enlightening Great Fast and the heavenly joy of the annual Paschal celebration,
Your servant in Christ,
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Your servant in Christ,
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HOW TO FAST DURING LENT
By the Reverend Father Athanasios Demos
If one truly desires to fast, s/he must not sin! The spiritual fast is the truest form of fasting, from evil thoughts, words and deeds. Being weak and vulnerable beings, we find ourselves “prone” to sin. The church recognises our need to experience a physical fast to assist us in training ourselves to fast spiritually. Even the terminology we use is a misnomer. We do not fast, we abstain! To fast physically one does not eat. For example, we truly fast from midnight until we receive Holy Communion during Divine Liturgy by partaking of nothing! So when we speak of fasting in preparation of a feast day, such as Pascha (Easter), we are actually abstaining from certain foods. I would like to offer these following suggestions for your Lenten fasting:
1. Try to do the best you can without condemning yourself or others.
2. Read the suggested “degrees of fasting” list below and select one that you believe you can accomplish.
3. During each “fasting” period try to “upgrade” your previous “degree of fasting” until you reach a level which inspires you to seek an even higher degree of fasting and higher spiritual goals.
Note: Persons who are ill, on prescribed medications or specialised diets or who have other valid reasons are exempted from fasts which could harm their health. In most cases, the fast may more than often aid one’s health, especially in light of recent physiological findings. Strict abstinence is not allowed on Saturday (the seventh day of God’s creation and day of rest) nor on Sunday (The day of Christ’s Holy Resurrection). The strictest monks touch oil to their lips on these days in order to break their fast. In al cases, please consult with your parish priest for guidance and assistance.
Please examine the “degrees’ below and begin where you feel you can accomplish that particular degree of fasting:
1. THE MINIMAL DEGREE:
a. The first week of Lent abstain from meat
b. On all Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent abstain from meat.
c. Holy Week: abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil. This includes all day Holy Saturday, the strictest fast day of the year. The fast must be continued even after you have received Communion on Holy Saturday morning.
2. THE LIGHT DEGREE:
a. The first week of Lent abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil.
b. On all Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent abstain from meat.
c. Holy Week: abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil. This includes all day Holy Saturday, the strictest fast day of the year. The fast must be continued even after you have received Communion on Holy Saturday morning.
3. THE MODERATE DEGREE
a. The first week of Lent abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil.
b. On all Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil.
c. Mid Lent week: abstain from meat all week.
d. Holy Week: abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil. This includes all day Holy Saturday, the strictest fast day of the year. The fast must be continued even after you have received Communion on Holy Saturday morning.
4. THE CONSERVATIVE DEGREE
a. The first week of Lent abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil.
b. All during Lent abstain from meat.
c. Holy Week: abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil. This includes all day Holy Saturday, the strictest fast day of the year. The fast must be continued even after you have received Communion on Holy Saturday morning.
5. THE STRICT DEGREE
a. All during Lent abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs.)
b. Holy Week: abstain from meat, fish, dairy products (including milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and oil. This includes all day Holy Saturday, the strictest fast day of the year. The fast must be continued even after you have received Communion on Holy Saturday morning.
6. THE CANONICAL DEGREE
a. All during Lent and Holy Week: a glass of water and a morsel of bread each day.
Note: Even the strictest fast should be broken on The Annunciation (March 25) and Palm Sunday, when fish is allowed.
Please do your best without condemning yourself and others. In all cases, you should spend more time in Worship, by attending Lenten services and giving more time to Prayer. Meditate on God’s love for you and how you can return that love to God through your love for others. Partake often of the Holy Sacraments. Read your Bible each day as well as the spiritually inspiring writings of the Church Fathers. Give to those in need. Offer more of your time, talent and treasure to the church. Turn off the TV and spend more time with family and friends. Use moderation in food, drink, and social engagements. Judge not, rather humbly seek your own true repentance, to change and return to the path of righteousness as your soul continually seeks union with God each day of your life and forever more
May you be blessed with a spiritually edifying and inspiring Lent!
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