Good Friday and water

[Monica4316]

I read on wikipedia that the Eastern fast prohibits any food or drink on Good Friday. Does that include water? If so, - I’m a little lost about what to do, because I try to follow the traditional Eastern Communion fast too which prohibits water, and I want to receive Communion Easter Vigil, so for me it would mean no water for two days. I don’t know if that’s safe health wise? Is it ok to have water after Communion on Friday with the Eastern fast? I know there are “lighter” versions of the Communion fast like fasting from lunch, and water is not universally prohibited, but I’m wondering what the case is with the most “traditional” Eastern fast. Thanks!

 

[edward_george]

If you’re not Eastern, you’re not bound by Eastern fasting rules. And I’m not aware of anything that says that water breaks the communion fast in the East or the West. Be very careful with taking on such a weighty discipline, particularly when it’s so far beyond what’s actually expected. Do you have a spiritual director? Have you discussed this with him or with a trusted priest?

-ACEGC

 

[Monica4316]

I am Eastern and I did read about water breaking the Communion fast traditionally in the East… I heard conflicting things on this because the Latin Church doesnt have this rule and some Eastern Catholic/Orthodox tend to have permission for warer… But i also read from various sources that in the traditional Eastern fast theres no water allowed.

Due to my situation I’m not bound to Eastern fasts (like the Lent fast) because I live outside the territory of my church but its still encouraged I follow it. Since its encouraged, I’m trying to learn about it.

The reason I’m looking at the most traditional Eastern practices is because my sui iuris church is Russian Catholic and I don’t think we have the same changes that the Ukrainians have for instance. I don’t really know. But there’s no Russian Catholic hierarchy. Sometimes I wonder if their rules would be similar to something like ROCOR which is fairly strict.

I’ve heard of Eastern Russian Catholics fasting from after noon but I don’t know if that’s something universal or from their confessor. Its a little confusing navigating through all this. I’m not bound to the Lent fast by pain of sin but since its encouraged I wanted to try it… I think I’m ok not having the food because I did that before.

My diocese told me - I don’t HAVE to.follow the Eastern Lent fast but I am encouraged to. I’ve always followed the Eastern Communion fast and that seems to be in Canon law. So I’m just clarifying what the case is with water on Good Friday.

 

[Monica4316]

I’d be grateful if the thread was just about the Eastern tradition and not about my situation, because I have already inquired about it from my chancery.

 

[edward_george]

I’d be grateful if the thread was just about the Eastern tradition and not about my situation, because I have already inquired about it from my chancery.

I would follow the instructions of your chancery then.

 

[Monica4316]

Well they told me I don’t have to follow the Eastern fasts bit I’m encouraged to. I’m trying to do what I’m encouraged to do. But I don’t know what the Eastern rule is for Good Friday because I read there’s no food or drink on that day. I’m trying to find out if water is allowed.

 

[malphono]

FWLIW, I’ve never heard of water not being permitted in any fasting tradition. When speaking of a full day, the absence of water intake could have health implications, even for those who are generally considered healthy.

 

[Monica4316]

Yea… Since I’m not bound to this anyway, even if its true somewhere, I think it would be best to have some water tomorrow just so I’ll make it through. I just don’t know how it could affect me and I don’t want to get sick and have to break my Communion fast Saturday evening…

 

[5Loaves]

I’d be grateful if the thread was just** about the Eastern tradition** and not about my situation, because I have already inquired about it from my chancery.

Remember, in the East fasting is always to be done only with the guidance of your spiritual father. If you continue to insist on trying to include fasting from the Eastern Catholic tradition in which you have never lived, you will continue to be frustrated and unsuccessful in the real goals of fasting. If you follow the recommendation you’ve already received from the Chancery that would be a good discipline.

Spiritual direction could be a path to overcoming the ongoing anxiety you struggle with. May you one day find peace.

 

[Monica4316]

Remember, in the East fasting is always to be done only with the guidance of your spiritual father. If you continue to insist on trying to include fasting from the Eastern Catholic tradition in which you have never lived, you will continue to be frustrated and unsuccessful in the real goals of fasting. If you follow the recommendation you’ve already received from the Chancery that would be a good discipline.

Spiritual direction could be a path to overcoming the ongoing anxiety you struggle with. May you one day find peace.

5Loaves, but the Chancery said I’m encouraged to follow the Eastern fast. I really hope this thread could be about the Eastern tradition on Good Friday and not my situation… I don’t feel anxiety over this. I was just trying to learn about what the tradition is because I don’t know. I think I am doing what the Chancery said to do by trying to follow the Eastern fast but voluntarily without obligation or sin if I can’t.

 

[Casilda]

Here is the schedule for a ROCOR parish:

The strictest monastic fast rules are bread, vegetables and fruit (no oil, meat, butter, eggs or even fish). They run on the Old Calendar, so Great Lent began March 14, and Pascha is May 1. So ‘Good Friday’ is April 28.

holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/

 

[5Loaves]

5Loaves,** but the Chancery said I’m encouraged to follow the Eastern fast**. I really hope this thread could be about **the Eastern tradition **on Good Friday and not my situation.

in the East fasting is always to be done only with the guidance of your spiritual father…
Spiritual direction could be a path to overcoming the ongoing anxiety you struggle with. May you one day find peace.

Fasting in the Eastern tradition should be done with guidance from your spiritual father. How can that not be your “situation” if you are asking about the Eastern tradition for your own use? We need spiritual direction to follow the fast appropriately. I know you have heard this from many others here before in previous posts.

There are many people in a Chancery. I have no idea who gave you spiritual direction there when you contacted them to review this concern. Perhaps you misunderstood the person, or they misunderstood you.

 

[5Loaves]

I read on wikipedia that the Eastern fast prohibits any food or drink on Good Friday. Does that include water? If so, - I’m a little lost about what to do, …

It would be best to not look to wikipedia for spiritual guidance.

so for me it would mean no water for two days. I don’t know if that’s safe health wise?

Is this really a serious question?
If it is, then let me assure you that it would NOT be “safe health wise”, spiritual health or physical health to go without water for two days.

From the guidelines on the Lenten Fast on our parish website:

The guidelines from the canons of our Church are here to assist you, together with your spiritual father or mother, to follow the Lenten journey effectively. We do not hold fasting to be bound under sin, seeing this in the medical, rather than legal, model. Many people, because of health or life situation, must modify the strict fast, and so have Christians done very legitimately throughout history. Recall, however, that fasting from food is secondary: First fast from sin, aided by the awareness of the season that avoiding certain foods brings. Pray more regularly, and do extra works of charity, or of kindness. Fast as well as you can, and prepare for Pascha!