Advent in the Eastern Catholic Church

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Hello folks,

How do you observe the season of Advent in the Eastern Catholic/ Orthodox Church.

Even as I’m writing this, something is telling me there is a similar thread out there somewhere. If there is, please refer me to it.

Thanks!
 
Look up the Nativity Fast. That is pretty much the traditional method of celebrating Advent in the Eastern Churches; I believe there is a similar fast in the Oriental Churches as well. Used to be one in the Western Churches, too, but it has kind of died off.
 
ThatOneGuy92 said:
Look up the Nativity Fast. That is pretty much the traditional method of celebrating Advent in the Eastern Churches; I believe there is a similar fast in the Oriental Churches as well. Used to be one in the Western Churches, too, but it has kind of died off.
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Alrighty. Thank you.
 
TrueLight said:
Okay. Is that a one meal fast?

Also, are there any devotions you do?
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Its not as rigorous as the Lenten Fast. Fish is forbidden in Lent, but not in Advent.

Fasting in the East isn’t like fasting in the West. There’s no prescriptions on how much to eat. There are certain types of food that should be avoided (red meats and dairy) and it depends on how strict a fast is which means oil, wine and fish could also be prohibited. But as to amount, it always done with a spiritual father or mother. For some people, fasting from the types of foods is already a spiritual exercise. Fasting is never a catch-all activity.
 
Entry of the Most-holy Theotokos into the Temple, Feast of St. Andrew, Feast of St. Nicholas 👍, Conception of the Mother of God, Feast of St. Hermon, Feast of the Three Holy Youths, Sunday of the Holy Forefathers…
😃

See Ancient Faith Radio for related podcasts.
I imagine Fr. Tom Loya has already spoken some about it but his podcasts aren’t up to date yet.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Its not as rigorous as the Lenten Fast. Fish is forbidden in Lent, but not in Advent.

Fasting in the East isn’t like fasting in the West. There’s no prescriptions on how much to eat. There are certain types of food that should be avoided (red meats and dairy) and it depends on how strict a fast is which means oil, wine and fish could also be prohibited. But as to amount, it always done with a spiritual father or mother. For some people, fasting from the types of foods is already a spiritual exercise. Fasting is never a catch-all activity.
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That actually depends. At times, there are prescriptions. During the first five days of Clean Week, for example, one should only take one meal after vespers on Wednesday and Friday. During the rest of the weekdays of Great Lent, one should only eat one meal a day, again in the evening after vespers or when vespers would occur, excepting Holy Friday and Saturday, which like Clean Monday, Tuesday and Thursday traditionally involve complete abstinence from food. Saturdays and Sundays, excepting Holy Saturday allow for two meals with wine and oil.

That being said, these guidelines are rarely observed strictly by the laity.
 
Cavaradossi said:
That actually depends. At times, there are prescriptions. During the first five days of Clean Week, for example, one should only take one meal after vespers on Wednesday and Friday. During the rest of the weekdays of Great Lent, one should only eat one meal a day, again in the evening after vespers or when vespers would occur, excepting Holy Friday and Saturday, which like Clean Monday, Tuesday and Thursday traditionally involve complete abstinence from food. Saturdays and Sundays, excepting Holy Saturday allow for two meals with wine and oil.

That being said, these guidelines are rarely observed strictly by the laity.
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Thats the thing, in the East its more of guidelines. In the West, its more of “do this or its mortal sin and you go to hell”. The problem with legalism is that people adhere only to the rules, not its true purpose. Fr. Stephen wrote that he’s seen fasting having greater spiritual benefit on people who ended up breaking the fast and feeling the effects of that failure (admitting their weakness), than those who like Pharisees observe the fast strictly.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Thats the thing, in the East its more of guidelines. In the West, its more of “do this or its mortal sin and you go to hell”. The problem with legalism is that people adhere only to the rules, not its true purpose. Fr. Stephen wrote that he’s seen fasting having greater spiritual benefit on people who ended up breaking the fast and feeling the effects of that failure (admitting their weakness), than those who like Pharisees observe the fast strictly.
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So if someone does not really adhere to the fast,out of laziness for example, is there any sense of disapproval among the laity or priests?
 
TrueLight said:
So if someone does not really adhere to the fast,out of laziness for example, is there any sense of disapproval among the laity or priests?
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It all depends on the particular clergy and parish. Where I am, I do not look at other peoples plates nor judge them. I believe this is typical. If one doesn’t one is really only harming oneself.

As for devotions, the calendar in the Byzantine churches is set to be a
preparaton through the feast days from December 15th on. Father Thomas’ referenced ook the Winter Pascha AFAIS is the best English discussion of this. This calendar I am told was set by monastic practice. And reminders of the nativity come not only through some liturgical additons (in Divine Liturgy and in the Orthros Katavasiae), but also through some daily proper texts.

And, not to be a jerk, but this only applies to the Byzantine churches. Coptic, Assyrian, or Syriac traditiona may be different. 😉
 
TrueLight said:
So if someone does not really adhere to the fast,out of laziness for example, is there any sense of disapproval among the laity or priests?
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When I said “sin” earlier I was using the Western understanding of it. In the East, anything that falls short of the Glory of God is a sin. Therefore there is such a thing as “involuntary sin”. Not fasting is not a sin of doing something wrong, but a sin of failure to do something that brings you closer to God. Because we don’t get closer to God by doing nothing, or remaining where we are.

If people do not fast, then they need better spiritual guidance.
 
ConstantineTG said:
The Advent fast has begun as of Vespers Monday night, which is typically sun down.
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Traditionally the fast begins at vespers one of three days. When Nov 15 is a
  1. Saturday, vespers on Nov 13,
  2. Monday through Friday, vespers on Nov 14, and
  3. Sunday, vespers on Nov 15.
 
Thanks everyone.

Does fast refer to abstaining as well as not eating?

If I wanted to follow this fast, is it okay to jump in right in the middle?

And I guess you guys don’t celebrate Thanksgiving? 😃
 
TrueLight said:
Thanks everyone.

Does fast refer to abstaining as well as not eating?

If I wanted to follow this fast, is it okay to jump in right in the middle?

And I guess you guys don’t celebrate Thanksgiving? 😃
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Being in Canada, we already did 😉

Think about this, Ukrainian Catholics have a 12-course meal on Christmas Eve. That is still a period of Great Fasting. Of course its a meal without meat, but still. Fasting in the East is always a combination of what the West has defined as fasting and abstinence. Again, consult with a spiritual father/mother/director on how to proceed. He or she may say that you can have Thanksgiving meal with the Turkey and everything. The East has always viewed fasting as something that shouldn’t ruin your relationship with your brothers and sisters. If skipping out on Thanksgiving makes your family have ill feelings about you, what good is the fasting then if you have created animosity among yourselves? Its better to eat meat and break the fast than complete the fast and have caused your family to sin by creating a situation for them to be angry at you.
 
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