Fasting

[Seeker]

What is required? I want the facts please.

God Bless!

[George Australia]

What is required? I want the facts please.

The first day of the fast is November 28th if you follow the old calendar and November 15th if you follow the new.
The canons specify a fast from meat and animal products and dairy products. Fish, wine and oil are permitted, except for Wednesdays and Fridays up until December 13th (new calendar) or December 26 (old calendar). From this date, the fast is stricter and includes abstinence from fish wine and oil. Wine and oil may be used only on Saturday and Sunday during this stricter period. The last day of the Fast is the Eve of the Nativity.

[joasia]

I don't want to confuse Seeker, but George, lets compare notes, since I was acustomed to the Greek tradition (old calendar, of course).

First -
Fish is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday until Dec 12th(old calendar - St. Spyridon), which falls on Dec 25th (new). I know that since I hope it falls on a weekend so that I can have fish with my family when they are feasting on meat for their Catholic Christmas, otherwise, I eat vegetables, pasta and salad.

Second - Restriction of oil is applied to Wednesdays and Fridays, but not Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Many people who want to be stricter and live like monastics, fast for Mondays also, even during non-lental periods. But, that is not for everyone. So after Dec 12/25, oil is still permitted aside from Wed. and Fridays, but it is not a condemnation of the soul if we have oil on these days.

George, your restrictions might be based on a personal habit, don't extend it to others as a fact.

Other requirements that George has not mentioned about the Nativity fast is that confession and communion should be attended more frequently with a contrite heart. This is always required, but many people refocus themselves more during fasting periods. It's a time of spiritual reflection when we are so pre-occupied with our worldy concerns.

Also, the fasting of the heart is necessary at all times, but the designated readings of the lenten period help us to come back to what is really important in life.

Seeker, if you are looking for physical facts of habit, then these are it. But, fasting is more than the mechanical aspect of physical duty... to eat something or not to eat something,that is the question...and then some.

Any more questions?

Joasia

[George Australia]

Any more questions?

Yes, I have one.
Could you please tell me which Canons you are basing your pontifications regarding your requirements for the Nativity Fast on?

May I suggest you take your own advice:

your restrictions might be based on a personal habit, don't extend it to others as a fact.

George

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

The only difference I could see between joasia and George (I call him Gregory ), is fish.

As far as I have ever known in the Greek, fish was only allowed on weekends up until St. Spyridon. I have not been able to put a finger on it, but I have also noticed it is common Russian (maybe not Russian, but some group) practice to allow fish everyday except Wed & Fri until St. Spyidon. I have heard several explainations for this but I have not found any of them completley convincing.

So what we seem to have here is joasia and George both being right. But what thye both failed to mention (:))is that people new to the faith should receive special guidance from their spiritual father on how to fast.

[gphadraig]

On guides to this I tend to look to the typicon or an authorative calendar for details as to the day to day details of what is or is not allowed.

We are not Latins and maybe might avoid their tendency to elect what they may or may not give up for Lent, etc. Rather we should submit humbly to the wisdom of the Church, and not our own fancy or pride.

Those Elders I have spoken to or learned from all liken fasting to a three legged stool. 1) The reduction and limiting of foods eaten, 2) increased private and public prayer - including repentance and communion, plus 3) almsgiving, this taking the form of giving monies and of one's self to those in need. The analogy of the three legged stool being very simple and clear. Unless your stool has all three legs it is virtually useless.

I understand that there are some small differences between the Greek and Russian practice. These are surely not of any importance as, presumably, you may only follow one and not both!

[user_22]

Those Elders I have spoken to ...

Elders? what or who do you mean by this term?