Fasting is a special time in the life of every Christian who considers himself Orthodox. This is a special period of abstinence and striving for God. There are several posts per year. They all differ in the severity of abstinence in food. However, there are principles without which the correct keeping of the fast cannot be imagined.
Fasting in the Christian tradition is called "the spring of the soul." This is a special time of repentance, a person's striving for certain moral goals, the achievement of holiness. There are bans on the consumption of food of animal origin. So, it is forbidden to eat meat, eggs, dairy products, and, sometimes, fish. However, fasting is not a diet in the literal sense of the word. For a Christian, abstinence from food is not the main purpose of fasting.
To fast properly, it is not enough to simply abstain from certain foods. First of all, a Christian should try to abstain from sins and various passions. There is not only a bodily side to fasting, but also a spiritual one. The latter can be seen as a more important component of Christian abstinence.
During fasting, a Christian needs to pray more often, try to spend more time in church at divine services, participate in the holy sacraments of confession and communion. Without this, the usual abstinence in food does not matter, since the diet itself does not benefit the human soul.
During fasting, one should strive to become at least a little better in a moral sense. It is necessary to try to participate less in disputes, conflicts. You cannot condemn and quarrel with your neighbors. If a person has any passions, then the Orthodox must try to overcome them.
During fasting, the Orthodox Church recommends reading the Bible more often, the creations of the Holy Fathers of the Church. At the same time, you should try to watch unnecessary programs and films less. Instead, an Orthodox person is advised to read Christian literature and pray.
Only the fulfillment of the two sides of fasting (bodily and spiritual) can be correct Christian abstinence. If a person only refuses certain types of food, then fasting turns into a senseless, from the point of view of Orthodoxy, diet.
