Fasting and Other Thoughts from Fr. Andrew
Whenever we enter a fasting period, I am often asked “How should I fast?” and “How often should I come for confession?” It is considered a bare minimum requirement if you are coming regularly to communion, to come for confession during the Church’s 4 fasting periods (Great Lent, Apostles, Dormition & Nativity). Of course, confession is a great healing sacrament and so whenever we have need we should be coming and not pay too much attention to these minimum “rules.”
Although I am not one that likes to give “rules,” I am happy to discuss this issue with you as you pray and seek God’s guidance in leading you, with the goal of adopting a confession and also a fasting practice. First of all concerning fasting; if you have any medical or other issues such as blood sugar levels, please do not put fasting ahead of these requirements.
The Church rules as contained in the Typikon are well summarized in an article by Mother Mary and Metropolitan Kallistos Ware found in the St. Tikhon’s Monastery Liturgical Calendar and rubrics book. Please contact me and I will e-mail you a copy if you would like to read it. You will quickly see that the strict fasting rules contained therein are not generally followed outside of monasteries; however, it is good to develop and stick to an intentional fasting rule, which is based on the principles contained in the article – although for most, lessened in severity. It is not a good idea to invent new rules of fasting for yourself, just stick to the ones given to you by the Church and work within their outline. It is not an Orthodox practice to pick something to give up during Great Lent at random.
One other consideration is that the Greek’s avoid fish with backbones, whereas the Russian tradition often allows fish. The shellfish prescribed in the Greek fasting rules were the easily obtainable and simple and inexpensive food which was a good source of protein and sustenance. In Russia, fish often fulfilled the same role. In this spirit, it probably doesn’t make a lot of sense to feast (fast) on lobster and other elaborate “fasting” meals regularly during the fast. The spirit of a fasting period in the church is to keep it simple. Hopefully to use the time saved in not having to prepare elaborate meals, in prayer and scripture reading, and the money saved for increased almsgiving. During the major Church fasting periods, on all weekends except Holy Week during Great Lent, fasting is relaxed, and wine and oil are permitted.
You should establish a fasting rule that you feel challenges you, and yet you will be able to keep. Generally, the minimum for fasting before receiving communion all year would be to not eat or drink before receiving communion for at least 6 hours before an afternoon Liturgy or Pre-sanctified Liturgy (during Great Lent), and midnight (or earlier) before Sunday Divine Liturgy. Avoid meat, and try to avoid or at least lessen your consummation of dairy and eggs on Wednesdays and Fridays and during the proscribed fasting seasons. Again, some will not be able to manage this due to health and blood sugar issues, so they should simply do what they can manage, but do something and stick to it, after consulting with your priest or spiritual father!
As the preparation for receiving communion at Liturgy really starts from Vespers the night before, it is also good to try to have a reasonably quiet night, going to Vespers if available or doing evening prayers if not, and avoiding parties, rock concerts and such as much as possible. Either the night before or in the morning before going to Church it is also strongly recommended to read the Pre-communion prayers (some people include the cannon) which take about ½ an hour. As you start out, it is better to start slowly and gradually, and you can then later increase your efforts as God leads. Perhaps choose 1 or 2 of them to get going. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
I will quickly add that some would disagree with this “lightening” perspective and insist on the “true” strict fast, so please forgive me if I am scandalizing anyone. I believe that my advice would be in keeping with what our beloved patron St. Aidan advised. When the first missionary, Bishop Corman returned from attempting to bring Christ to the Northumberland natives in the 7th century, he complained that they were unteachable and obstinate. Aidan told Bishop Corman he was too severe with these untaught people, and instead of blaming them for being obstinate, he should realize that the fault lay with himself for feeding them solid food which they couldn’t digest, rather than doing as the apostle said and feeding them milk as new babes (1 Cor. 3:3). It should be noted that St. Aidan himself was a very strict ascetic, and likely followed the fasting rules completely.
The Fathers valued hospitality as a greater law than fasting, so when you find yourself in a situation where you are being offered food by those who have only good intentions and know little or nothing about the Orthodox fasting seasons, it is best not to make a big deal about needing to fast. Just quietly bless the food and partake, perhaps try to take a little less. This especially applies to family festive occasions during the Christmas season. Generally, the advice given is to simply accept what has been given to you in hospitality and love with a spirit of gratefulness. Fasting like prayer is best done in secret, and should never be made a spectacle of, so discussing your fasting rule, and especially judging others for not following what you might consider the “correct” fasting regime is a particularly bad idea.
With fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, you will find that you are blessed in proportion to the effort you make, but always remember that fasting is only a tool for the goal of drawing closer to Christ and a means to this end. It should never become the goal in itself. We are under grace, not the law. If you end up fasting very rigorously and perfectly in your own strength, you will probably need to repent of the more serious sin of pride. The Fathers are always reminding us that the demons never eat, and so if we fast perfectly but devour our brothers and sisters, we will actually be imitating the demons. When we do fail, we must always remember to start again and ask the Lord for His strength. The goal is to turn our hungering and thirsting into remembering to hunger and thirst for God!
Individual circumstances vary widely; living with non-Orthodox families, ages when children should start some fasting, your personal health concerns and energy levels, and many other factors should be considered and discussed with your priest or spiritual father. I am always happy to discuss your particular fasting practice or any other aspect of your spiritual life with you, so please give me a call or arrange for a coffee meeting anytime.
May you have a blessed and fruitful fast during this wonderful Lenten season! Love in Christ…Fr. Andrew