Fasting is one of the tests of faith in Orthodoxy, a spiritual vow and rejection of earthly joys. This is cleansing both carnal and spiritual. Orthodoxy, perhaps, like no other religion in the world, is rich in fasting.
The concept of true fasting
It is a gross and unpleasant delusion to believe that fasting is a simple restriction in food, refusal from meat or dairy products. Not! Fasting is a spiritual feat, which consists in abstaining from carnal pleasures, a small part of which is occupied by food.
“Eat meat, but be pure in deeds and thoughts,” said Archimandrite Simeon. This phrase is the whole essence of fasting: there is no point in torturing yourself with meager food if the foul language, rudeness, callousness and darkness of thoughts are not conquered by the person himself. Do not swear, do not please the body, help your neighbor, pray - and now you are fasting, even if you allow something "forbidden" to be eaten. On the days of fasting, it is forbidden to be baptized and get married, entertainment and festivities were also not welcomed, in tsarist Russia even theaters were closed on these days, and the planned balls were postponed to other dates.
Post types
The most severe monastic fasting, worldly fasting over the centuries has become closer to the real possibilities of a sinful and weak person, and therefore the practice of dry eating or complete fasting has almost been abandoned in the world today.
The rules of fasting, their types and duration are described in different church books, most of all information in the Nomokanon and Typicon, where each fast is given a rationale.
Most of the fasts are tied to Orthodox holidays, which make up the annual liturgical circle. The longest and strictest is the Nativity Fast. It starts on November 28 and ends on January 7. Before him is a one-day fast - Autumn meat-eater, which is held on September 14. During the Christmas fast - Winter meat-eater, and from March to April - Great Lent. The spring meat-eater falls on Easter. From June to July 12, Peter's fast is held, and from August 14, the two-week Dormition fast begins.
On Wednesdays, in memory of the betrayal of Judas, the church holds a weekly fast, and on Fridays - a fast in memory of the earthly sufferings of the Savior. There are fasts that are held during the day, until 16-00, the time when the news of the death of Christ came.
Three festive dates Beheading (September 11), Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 27), and Epiphany Christmas Eve (January 18) are also fast. However, on these days, both monks and laymen are allowed to eat vegetable oils.
There are also special posts in Orthodoxy, they are little known, and confessors rarely insist on observing them. So, it is recommended to fast for a week for those who plan to get married or perform the rite of baptism, and those who are subjected to penance - punishment after confession - also fast.
Children under 7 years old do not fast at all, and the transition to lean food - the church rules prescribe - should be gradual.
Despite the abundance of fasts and their severity, the church openly recommends to the laity to reasonably observe food restrictions. Before the start of the church holidays, priests tell us that people with illnesses, employees who perform especially important work, pregnant women, the elderly and children can be exempted from abstaining from "fast" food.
