Every pious Orthodox Christian strives to observe the fast. In addition to many-day periods of abstinence for a Christian, there is a fast on every Wednesday and Friday throughout the year (except for continuous weeks - Trinity, Svetlaya, Christmastide, the week before Maslenitsa and Maslenitsa itself).
The Christian's practice of abstaining from animal foods on Wednesday and Friday dates back to the early centuries of Christianity. It must be understood that fasting for the Orthodox includes not only eating certain foods, but also remembering the great events of New Testament history.
So, on Wednesday, the Orthodox fast in memory of the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas. The Holy Scripture of the New Testament announces that it was on the Wednesday before the Jewish Passover that Judas Iscariot sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver to the Pharisees and Jewish teachers of the law. On this day, an Orthodox person fasts in memory of this sorrowful event.
The biblical story also explains why Orthodox Christians fast on Friday. It was on this day of the week that the death of the Lord Jesus took place. On Friday, Christ was crucified. According to the teachings of the Church, it was on this day that the Savior of the world died for the sins of all mankind. A godly Christian should be mindful of the price he received for salvation. Therefore, Friday for the Orthodox is a time of special bodily and mental abstinence.
It should be noted that the church charter stipulates different degrees of abstinence on Wednesdays and Fridays of the year. So, if these days fall on fasts of many days, then it is prohibited to eat fish. On Wednesdays and Fridays other than fasting, eating fish is permitted.
