Z
ziapueblo
Guest
Is fasting a practice that is more commonly made in the Eastern Catholic Churches? Thanks,
God bless,
ZP
God bless,
ZP
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A
Aramis
Guest
4 fasts in byzantine praxis, 2 long, 1 medium, 1 short.
Great Lent (2 days more than roman), Phillips Fast (Advent plus a week), Dormition Fast (2 weeks), Apostle’s Fast.
Each Rite has its own traditional fasts, and there is much overlap.
Each Particular Church sets the rules for fasting based upon tradition and the bishop’s will. Therefore, the specific details of the fasts may vary from eparchy to eparchy within a given Church Sui Iuris, and from Church to Church within a Rite.
The Syriac and Armenians observe at least one fast Byzantines don’t… Rogation of the Ninevites.
D
Diak
Guest
Actually in the Byzantine-Constantinopolitan tradition the 40-day Great Fast or Great Lent begins on Monday [Sunday evening] after Forgiveness Vespers and extends to the evening before Lazarus Saturday [the Saturday before Palm Sunday].
To make 40 days Saturdays and Sundays are also included within this time. While fasting is relaxed a bit on Saturdays and Sundays, abstinence still applies for those keeping the stricter fast.
Great and Holy Week is technically beyond the Great Fast, the Great Fast being the proximal ascetic preparation for Holy Week and Pascha, and Great and Holy Week the immediate preparation for Pascha by living liturgically the Passion of our Lord. Great and Holy Week is considered as one integral celebration of the saving Passion of our Lord.
Historically the monks would go to the ‘desert’ or solitary cells if they literally did not live in a desert during the 40 day ascetic Great Fast and return for Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and Great and Holy Week.
To make 40 days Saturdays and Sundays are also included within this time. While fasting is relaxed a bit on Saturdays and Sundays, abstinence still applies for those keeping the stricter fast.
Great and Holy Week is technically beyond the Great Fast, the Great Fast being the proximal ascetic preparation for Holy Week and Pascha, and Great and Holy Week the immediate preparation for Pascha by living liturgically the Passion of our Lord. Great and Holy Week is considered as one integral celebration of the saving Passion of our Lord.
Historically the monks would go to the ‘desert’ or solitary cells if they literally did not live in a desert during the 40 day ascetic Great Fast and return for Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and Great and Holy Week.
Z
ziapueblo
Guest
Thanks for the replies 
S
stivvy
Guest
Ahhh, if I could only do my adult life over again… I think I would be a monk…
F
firstmode
Guest
What do the fasts involve?
In the Protestant church I attend (Assemblies of God) we do 2 separate types of fasts.
All Food fasts where water is primarily taken, but juices can be consumed to keep some calories in your body for brain function, etc.
I have seen these fasts go as long as 50 to 55 days before eating again.
Another fast done in the Protestant church more widespread is the 21 day Daniel’s fast. This of course is usually avoiding most good foods and just living off of very plain foods, etc. Not a very detailed description, but this fast can be for just certain foods that really give you enjoyment, or all the way down to a VERY strict diet of basic foods.
In the Protestant church I attend (Assemblies of God) we do 2 separate types of fasts.
All Food fasts where water is primarily taken, but juices can be consumed to keep some calories in your body for brain function, etc.
I have seen these fasts go as long as 50 to 55 days before eating again.
Another fast done in the Protestant church more widespread is the 21 day Daniel’s fast. This of course is usually avoiding most good foods and just living off of very plain foods, etc. Not a very detailed description, but this fast can be for just certain foods that really give you enjoyment, or all the way down to a VERY strict diet of basic foods.
A
Aramis
Guest
Tye Typical “Fast and Abstinence” mode for most catholics is two normal meals, and one snack-sized or skipped. Many take more severe fasting, but typically that means reducing size; eating three small meals, or even just two.
No meat, either. Minimum for Roman Catholics is avoid meat on fridays of the fasting seasons. For Byzantines, Wed and Fridays.
Certain particular churches have “nothing by day” for certain fasts; from sunup to sundown, nothing, but a decent meal after sunset.
The Eucharistic Fast, however, is a different beast: nothing but water and medications for at least 1 hour before reception of the Eucharist, longer for certain particular churches; traditional was from bedtime the evening before, or even sundown.
No meat, either. Minimum for Roman Catholics is avoid meat on fridays of the fasting seasons. For Byzantines, Wed and Fridays.
Certain particular churches have “nothing by day” for certain fasts; from sunup to sundown, nothing, but a decent meal after sunset.
The Eucharistic Fast, however, is a different beast: nothing but water and medications for at least 1 hour before reception of the Eucharist, longer for certain particular churches; traditional was from bedtime the evening before, or even sundown.
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