www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Fasting Rules

I can't recall if I asked this before or not. But I was wondering what the rules are for fasting in most of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Does canon law address this at all? What do most people do? Do you follow Orthodox fasting rules? My priest has told me that I am basically free to follow western or eastern tradition but I am curious about canon and current practice with other people. Thanks.

In the Ruthenian church they fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.(Lent) The Melkites try to keep it like the Orthodox. The Romanian Catholics are like the Melkites. I haven't a clue on the UGCC. I haven't fasted in years because I was having babies and then major surgery.

Thank you! I am actually not sure what the (Lent) part means in there though. During Lent the Melkites try and keep it like the Orthodox? Or in the Ruthenian church they fast on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent?

I haven't fasted in years either with near constant pregnancy or nursing here. But my youngest is 15mo and only nursing a few times a day so I was thinking about doing a little fasting now.

According to the Ruthenian Catechism which was written in collaboration with the Melkite Church. The following fast periods are generally observed by Byzantine Christians:

Every Wednesday & Friday (except for weeks immediately following Pascha, Christmas, the sunday of the Pharisee and Publican, and Pentecost)
The Great Fast (forty days before the great and Holy week)
The Great ad Holy Week (especially the last three days before Pascha)
The Christmas Fast (Nov. 15- Dec. 24)
The Fast of the Theotokos (Aug. 1 - Aug 14)
The Fast of Peter and Paul (the day following All saints day through June 28)
Prior to receiving Holy Communion

Thank you, Mike. That helps a lot.