Three Lents

[AlexPetrosPio]

I have heard of the three Lents in Eastern traditions. Could someone please elaborately explain these three Lents to an ignorant (in the true sense of the word: “unknowing”) Latin who doesn’t call Advent a Lent?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Is this about the 3 periods of fast? The Dormition Fast, Advent Fast and Lenten Fast? But also there is the Apostle’s Fast which can be a significant amount of time if Easter (and thus Pentecost) is early enough in the year.

 

[SVP]

I have heard of the three Lents in Eastern traditions. Could someone please elaborately explain these three Lents to an ignorant (in the true sense of the word: “unknowing”) Latin who doesn’t call Advent a Lent?

Advent is a ‘lent’.
The four fasting periods in the Eastern Church
Great Lent the 40 days before Lazarus Saturday, Holy Week and up to Pascha (Easter) are also fasting days
Apostles fast, variable in length, always begins the Monday following All Saints Sunday and ends on June 29, the feastday of Ss. Peter and Paul.
Dormition fast, Aug1 to Aug 15, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.
Philips fast, the 40 days before Christmas, starting Nov. 15th.

Article on Philips fast from RC point of view: catholicism.about.com/b/2010/11/15/celebrate-advent-with-a-fast.htm

 

[Rawb]

As others have said, “Lent” can refer to any fasting period in the East. It’s actually a term borrowed from the West in, I believe, predominantly English speaking countries. “Lent” actually comes from an Old English word meaning “Spring” so it properly only refers to the Great Fast, but it’s been adopted to mean “fasting period”. There are really four fasting periods, but the Apostle’s Fast, as others have said, can be pretty short.

What is called in Lent in the West can be called, in the East, “Lent”, “Great Lent”, or “The Great Fast”.

What is called Advent in the West can be called, in the East, “Advent”, “The Nativity Fast”, “St. Philip’s Fast”, “The Advent Fast” or, I’ve heard rarely, “Little Lent”.

The other two Lenten periods don’t really have an equivalent in the West, but the period before the Dormition is called the Dormition Fast, the period before The Feast of Ss Peter and Paul is called the Apostle’s Fast. You’ll hear different terms, so I was just trying to list them…I think I got 'em all.

 

[Vico]

I have heard of the three Lents in Eastern traditions. Could someone please elaborately explain these three Lents to an ignorant (in the true sense of the word: “unknowing”) Latin who doesn’t call Advent a Lent?

The Montanists had three lents “as though three Saviours had suffered” with one after Pentecost (founded second century in Phrygia, Montanus, and the two prophetesses Maximilla and Prisca).

Also lent can be 40 days (counting contiguously), such as Great Lent, which was for catechumens to prepare for baptism on Holy Saturday, later moved a week earlier to Lazarus Saturday.

 

[5Loaves]

Traditional Strict Fast to prepare for Dormition (Aug 1-14):
M-F, no meat, fish (w. backbone), eggs, dairy, wine, or oil.
Sa/Su, no meat, fish (w. backbone), eggs, or dairy. .

Our Russian calendar allows for fish both Saturdays, as well as on the 9th, the Feast day of St. Herman of Alaska Wonderworker of All America. I don’t eat fish that often but Saturday being the Transfiguration I figure on having some salmon. Bought my grapes today for the blessing.

 

[rowlands]

In some years, when Pascha is late, those following the new calendar may lose the Apostles’ Fast altogether if the Monday after All Saints’ Sunday falls after the 29th June!

 

[Alexander_Roman]

There was/is a rule in the Byzantine tradition that one is to go to Confession and Communion once in each of the four fasting periods/lents of the year, but twice during the Great Fast/Lent.

What is really beautiful about the Byzantine liturgical practice is how the prayers reflect the lenten times.

The Feast of the Dormition of our Lady and her Assumption, body and soul, into Heaven is a Patronal feast in the Kyivan/Ukrainian Church. There are three “Lavras” or chief monasteries in Ukraine, all of which are dedicated to the Dormition: Pochaiv in the west, Kyiv Caves Lavra in the centre and the Donsk in the east.

The icon of the Dormition depicts the Most Holy Mother of God reposing while her Son stands over her bier, holding her in His Hands. Before she reposed, she asked her Son to come and take her directly to protect her against the “spirits of the air.”

There is a beautiful, miraculous icon of the Dormition of our Lady that hangs about the Royal Doors of the iconostasis in the Kyivan Caves Lavra on ropes that are lowered so tha the faithful may reverence it with a kiss at certain times. The same is true of the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Pochaiv in Volyn.

Some of our Orthodox and Catholic Churches in Toronto have taken up this practice as well.

Alex

 

[AlexPetrosPio]

I thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut! Kind of ironic i asked this question in the start of the Dormition Fast, so I’ll start that now, because I love that Mary is our Mother.

 

[Vico]

Our Russian calendar allows for fish both Saturdays, as well as on the 9th, the Feast day of St. Herman of Alaska Wonderworker of All America. I don’t eat fish that often but Saturday being the Transfiguration I figure on having some salmon. Bought my grapes today for the blessing.

Quite relaxed from the original abstinance. In the Byzantine, only Friday is required and simple, only meat is avoided.

Personally I use a lot of olive oil, so I eschew that and also all meat, eggs, and fish. Also dairy on most days (I have been having a problem getting enough calcium, but I found that figs are good source).

Oh, the grapes sound like a good idea.

 

[5Loaves]

Personally I use a lot of olive oil, so I eschew that and also all meat, eggs, and fish. Also dairy on most days (I have been having a problem getting enough calcium, but I found that figs are good source).

I love figs, too. Blackstrap molasses is a great source of calcium. I eat a fair amount of tofu, tempeh, and greens but I also have been taking calcium supplements for a number of years because of the risk of osteoporosis at my age.

I don’t have such a challenge going without meat and eggs but dairy is what I miss.

I’m not going to have fish after all on the Feastday. I forgot that the Latin Church I’m attached to is having a big fund-raiser dinner on Sat. So unless someone brings fish for our Agape after DL Sat. morning I’m won’t be having any fish that day. The fund-raiser has an Hawaiʻian theme with pork and chicken, so I’ll be having the rice, salad and vegetables from the rest of the buffet.

Oh, the grapes sound like a good idea.

Grapes are the traditional fruit for blessing at the Feast. I got some berries to bring too because they’re still very much in season here.

 

[Rawb]

I’ll enjoy my turkey sandwich that I’m having right now twice as much, for all of y’all fasting right now, but come August 14th y’all better enjoy your feasting twice as much, for us who’ll just be starting to fast!

And I generally survive on veggie burgers. A can of beans mashed with whatever else, fry it, and I’m good to go. I tried tofu. Bleugh.

 

[5Loaves]

I’ll enjoy my turkey sandwich that I’m having right now twice as much, for all of y’all fasting right now, but come August 14th y’all better enjoy your feasting twice as much, for us who’ll just be starting to fast!

And I generally survive on veggie burgers. A can of beans mashed with whatever else, fry it, and I’m good to go. I tried tofu. Bleugh.

Bravo for you Old Calendarists!!! Sometimes I wish we were also. We only are for the Paschal season. The Cathedral up the street from us is Old Calendar. A number of our people go to Vespers there. Others of us go to OCA parishes with the same calendar we use.

Now my kids are grown I could live on rice and beans and spinach happily… well and of course chocolate! Tofu is great. You just have to crumble it into something else flavorful, or marinade it.

This is what I’m making for church for Sunday: Korean BBQ Sunset Magazine Oct 1981-- 1 C Soy Sauce,1/3 C sugar, 2 ½ TB fresh garlic, 2 ½ TB fresh ginger,1/3 C sesame oil. Cube the tofu into about 1/2 in cubes and marinade it “overnight”. Toss over cooked pasta, along with about 3/4 Cup thinly sliced scallions. Sometimes I put out a bowl of toasted sesame seeds or toasted nuts along side to garnish, but I’m being more frugal these days so not doing that. I got my ginger root in Chinatown yesterday, speaking of frugal.

Whenever I bring any tofu dish it gets wolfed down at our Agape. Our deacon is a vegetarian so year round I always bring a main dish that is vegetarian and many times it happens to also be vegan. I see you’re in CA. Note the marinade is from an old Sunset magazine.

 

[Rawb]

You know, I might try Tofu again come our Dormition Fast. Your recipe sounds really good. Nervous though because I think it’s a texture thing more than anything else. Maybe if I dice it really small so I don’t even have to bite it in half…

Honestly I wish we were on the New Calendar (except Pascha, I prefer Pascha being kept separate from Easter). It gets annoying having to double check the days date - I know Dormition is on the 15th…but when’s the 15th?!

There’s an interesting discussion - is your parish Old or New Calendar and do you wish you were on the Old or New Calendar?

I’m gonna go feast it up for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles!

 

[wynd]

For Pascha and feasts based off the date of Pascha (e.g., Pentecost), all Orthodox follow the same “calendar” and celebrate them on the same day. The “old” or “new” calendars only affect the feasts that are tied to a specific date (e.g., the Nativity).

 

[5Loaves]

You know, I might try Tofu again come our Dormition Fast. Your recipe sounds really good. Nervous though because I think **it’s a texture thing **more than anything else. Maybe if I dice it really small so I don’t even have to bite it in half…

I like to use the firm silken tofu which can be more expensive but I like the texture for marinated cubes.
You can take any tofu and squish it through your hands to break it up into small bits. Also if you put it in the freezer and then thaw it the texture changes and it will break up into small pieces similar to sautéed hamburger. I haven’t done this in years… but I used to do that and mix it into pasta sauce instead of sautéed hamburger. My kids were perfectly happy with that substitution.

Honestly I wish we were on the New Calendar (except Pascha, I prefer Pascha being kept separate from Easter). It gets annoying having to double check the days date - I know Dormition is on the 15th…but when’s the 15th?!

There’s an interesting discussion - is your parish Old or New Calendar and do you wish you were on the Old or New Calendar?

I’m attached to an OCA parish as my home-away-from-home for festal vigils my parish doesn’t have. We use their calendar. I don’t know if some OCA parishes are on the Old Calendar. I would prefer it for Nativity of Our Lord season, and of course Paschal season. The rest I don’t care about but that could be because I’m not well catechized enough.

I’m gonna go feast it up for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles!

I’m off to a Latin parish for St. John Vianney

 

[tjt3]

I’ll enjoy my turkey sandwich that I’m having right now twice as much, for all of y’all fasting right now, but come August 14th y’all better enjoy your feasting twice as much, for us who’ll just be starting to fast!

And I generally survive on veggie burgers. A can of beans mashed with whatever else, fry it, and I’m good to go. I tried tofu. Bleugh.

I hope its not Cargill shredded turkey. Its been recalled for a number of salmonella cases
across the country in which some people actually died. As for me I am exempt, being a senior citizen although, it probably would`nt hurt to do penance for my sinfull past. Pax

 

[Rawb]

I hope its not Cargill shredded turkey. Its been recalled for a number of salmonella cases
across the country in which some people actually died. As for me I am exempt, being a senior citizen although, it probably would`nt hurt to do penance for my sinfull past. Pax

I went and checked lol, Oscar Meyer.

I’m attached to an OCA parish as my home-away-from-home for festal vigils my parish doesn’t have. We use their calendar. I don’t know if some OCA parishes are on the Old Calendar. I would prefer it for Nativity of Our Lord season, and of course Paschal season. The rest I don’t care about but that could be because I’m not well catechized enough

My friend’s OCA parish is dual-Calendar, so there’s at least that. Are any Eastern Catholics on the Old Calendar?

I don’t mind the Nativity being on the New because we still have Theophany which is a major celebration that’s not been completely commercialized, but that’s why I want Pascha to stay on the Old; helps keep it away from bunnies (but, of course, eggs and baskets are fine )

 

[5Loaves]

My friend’s OCA parish is dual-Calendar, so there’s at least that.

Do you mean Julian except for the Pascal season which is Old Calendar? That is what my parish uses and the OCA I go to also uses.

Are any Eastern Catholics on the Old Calendar?

St. Elias UGCC in Brampton is Old Calendar.

 

[Rawb]

Do you mean Julian except for the Pascal season which is Old Calendar? That is what my parish uses and the OCA I go to also uses.

Nope. I’m honestly not sure how it works; I think they commemorate both saints of the day, and some people follow the Old and some the New for things like fasting.