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

I was curious what the origins of the various fasting requirements are aslisted on the Orthodox calendar. Anyone who follows the strict order as they are indicated would need to be highly discliplined, and I have the utmost respect in their ability to maintain them. They are very complex and would obviously require a calendar or some tracking device to keep them straight.

How did these requirements come about? I know the Didache indicates that fasting should be on Wednesday and Friday, but what about the days that restrict wine or oil, or those that restrict dairy, eggs and fish or that allow fish?

You will find many on the forum who do follow them stictly. It is coming up pretty soon too. The favorite food of course is dark chocolate Since Charles hasn't seen the thread yet, or some of the others, just thought I would give you an advance heads up

Well, it is documented in the Didache that Christians fasted on Wed. and Fri.

That's from around or before 70 a.d.

And it just grew from there.

Father John,

Bless me a sinner, but I think it was a bit sooner than that

Matthew 4:2 (New International Version)

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matthew 9:15 (New International Version)

15 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

And then there is fasting in the old testament too

Fasting and/or abstaining is practiced in almost every religion. It's not unique to Christianity.

Alexis