Fasting and Praying

[Giggly_Giraffe]

I don’t “understand” how fasting and praying works. Why is it pleasing to God? How does a person incorporate more fasting and praying as a gift to God? How does fasting work during non-Friday fasts? Basically, I’ve been obedient, but now I’m wondering g “why” & “how” & “when” & “length” & stuff like this. Is fasting limited to food?

 

[Kmon23]

There was a small section of a book? I read explaining fasting. I think one of the things with fasting is that it’s supposed to help us, in one way showing our dependence on God and to help remove passions of the body. I remember this vaguely so hopefully some of our Christian brothers can expound on this aspect at least.

 

[pianistclare]

It’s about not being “of this world, and consumed by this world”.
All major disciplines incorporate meditation (akin to prayer) and fasting or denying of self as a way to be able to focus.
When we fast, we entrust out well-being to God, we focus on His Passion, and our own interior prayer lives.
It’s a way of denying self, and turning to God. It’s pleasing to God because it shows that our dependence and trust is His alone. Not in things, or our desires or feelings and opinions.
People do get hung up on the particulars. But as we see many times in the Scriptures…even the smallest offering is pleasing to God. Rules have sprung up because people naturally have questions and desire guidance. But when we focus on the nuts and bolts, we can also lose our purpose. Be wise about how you spend your time and your actions, and all will be well. Many people report that they feel healthier after fasting, which is a sign of its goodness.
God bless.

 

[thistle]

I don’t “understand” how fasting and praying works. Why is it pleasing to God? How does a person incorporate more fasting and praying as a gift to God? How does fasting work during non-Friday fasts? Basically, I’ve been obedient, but now I’m wondering g “why” & “how” & “when” & “length” & stuff like this. Is fasting limited to food?

FASTING is only required on two days a year and they are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is not required any other days of the year (leaving aside the one hour fast before Communion).
Apart from those two days all other fasting is voluntary which means there are no rules and you can do it however you want.

 

[Proton]

In Orthodox Church, fasting is very strict and important. We can eat only fruit, vegetables and sometimes fish. While cheese, milk, eggs and meat is forbidden. During the Great (Easter) lent, 7 weeks, fish is forbidden, it is allowed only during Palm Sunday. To receive Holy Communion one must fast 7 days, must confess and must not eat or drink anything after midnight before the Liturgy. When there is no lent period, one must fast Wednesday (Day Christ was betrayed) and Friday (Crucified). There is also “no oil” fast, you cant use oil, that means you cant bake anything, you can only use water to cook.
The canons are very strict, but Church is not able to enforce them. If one doesn’t fast on a fasting day, he cannot receive Holy Sacraments for one entire year. And if a cleric person doesn’t fast, he is to be dismissed from his high service.
Of course, for married People, sex is not allowed during fasting days. And People are asked to double their prayers and more.
There is also “bread and water fast”. People eat only bread and drink only water for 7 days. Mostly used only by monks, but also regular People are welcome.

Saint Nikolai Velimirovich said that People should not reject fasting, because it is good for our bodies and souls, and that is why Lord commanded it through His Church, it is for our good.

 

[Kmon23]

In Orthodox Church, fasting is very strict and important. We can eat only fruit, vegetables and sometimes fish. While cheese, milk, eggs and meat is forbidden. During the Great (Easter) lent, 7 weeks, fish is forbidden, it is allowed only during Palm Sunday. To receive Holy Communion one must fast 7 days, must confess and must not eat or drink anything after midnight before the Liturgy. When there is no lent period, one must fast Wednesday (Day Christ was betrayed) and Friday (Crucified). There is also “no oil” fast, you cant use oil, that means you cant bake anything, you can only use water to cook.
The canons are very strict, but Church is not able to enforce them. If one doesn’t fast on a fasting day, he cannot receive Holy Sacraments for one entire year. And if a cleric person doesn’t fast, he is to be dismissed from his high service.
Of course, for married People, sex is not allowed during fasting days. And People are asked to double their prayers and more.
There is also “bread and water fast”. People eat only bread and drink only water for 7 days. Mostly used only by monks, but also regular People are welcome.

Saint Nikolai Velimirovich said that People should not reject fasting, because it is good for our bodies and souls, and that is why Lord commanded it through His Church, it is for our good.

I thought we could eat fish during the Feast of the Anunciation? Or is it because it’s not counted as part of Lent? And I’m not sure what you mean by fasting for 7 days to receive communion? Does that mean a person has to fast 24/7 to receive communion every sunday

And I thought canons are applied in Orthodoxy based on context and isn’t absolute?

 

[Proton]

I thought we could eat fish during the Feast of the Anunciation? Or is it because it’s not counted as part of Lent? And I’m not sure what you mean by fasting for 7 days to receive communion? Does that mean a person has to fast 24/7 to receive communion every sunday

And I thought canons are applied in Orthodoxy based on context and isn’t absolute?

During Lent period, a believer must fast 24/7 to receive Communion, 7 days to prepare for the Holy Communion, with special dedication to Wednesday and Friday, these two days should be fasted without oil. While when it is not Lent period, person must fast only Wednesday and Friday in order to receive Holy Communion. Almost every Wednesday and Friday are fasting days in Orthodoxy, only few of Wednesdays and Fridays are not fasting, the ones after Easter and Christmas. Also believer, during Lent period, can receive Holy Communion even 7 times during the week, because monasteries during Lent offer Holy Communion every day. But only one communion per day of course. There are more than 150 fasting days in the Calendar of the Orthodox Church.

Joyful feasts allow fish if they are celebrated during the Great Lent, but some feasts are moved by the Synod after or before the Lent, if the great Lent occupies their regular date.

.

 

[Kmon23]

During Lent period, a believer must fast 24/7 to receive Communion, 7 days to prepare for the Holy Communion, with special dedication to Wednesday and Friday, these two days should be fasted without oil. While when it is not Lent period, person must fast only Wednesday and Friday in order to receive Holy Communion. Almost every Wednesday and Friday are fasting days in Orthodoxy, only few of Wednesdays and Fridays are not fasting, the ones after Easter and Christmas. Also believer, during Lent period, can receive Holy Communion even 7 times during the week, because monasteries during Lent offer Holy Communion every day. But only one communion per day of course. There are more than 150 fasting days in the Calendar of the Orthodox Church.

Joyful feasts allow fish if they are celebrated during the Great Lent, but some feasts are moved by the Synod after or before the Lent, if the great Lent occupies their regular date.

.

Oh ok, I misunderstood the 24/7 fasting. I thought u meant throughout the entire year, and not just lent. Thanks for the post.

But since u mention canons, do you think we (Orthodox) must follow the fasts as a rule we must must follow to the t. Such as fasting for oil, some may follow all the fasts but oil, and also cases where we are presented with non-fast food from family or friends.

 

[Proton]

Oh ok, I misunderstood the 24/7 fasting. I thought u meant throughout the entire year, and not just lent. Thanks for the post.

But since u mention canons, do you think we (Orthodox) must follow the fasts as a rule we must must follow to the t. Such as fasting for oil, some may follow all the fasts but oil, and also cases where we are presented with non-fast food from family or friends.

According to the canons (theory) yes we must follow fasts, in practice many do not fast, but they do not commune. But if one wants to receive holy communion, a non-clergy believer, during the Lent, Church allows them the use of oil and even fish, but one must not use meat, eggs and milk productions. Of course, confession and no eating and drinking after midnight, before the Liturgy.

But it would be very good for a believer to follow the exact Church’s rules of the fast. (No oil and no fish, during Easter Lent)