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Mar 25th, 2025
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Joined: Apr 2008
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OK, I need some assistance here:
1. What is the point of the Dormition Fast?
2. How is this fast different from the other fasts in the church year? (In the sense of meaning, not rubrics)
3. What are some good things to do to provide focus during the Dormition Fast (aside from the fast itself, I mean)?
I understand the basic points behind the Advent fast and Great Lent - it's these other fasts that have me stymied. I found a few interesting reads online regarding the Apostles Fast, but none about the Dormition Fast (at least none that come to mind).
I have never met anyone who has done this fast (who has openly talked about it, I mean), nor have I heard a sermon about it - any thoughts you may have would be greatly appreciated.
HC
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Also, take a listen to Fr Loya's lecture on the Feast Days of the Church [ oltv.tv] here on the OLTV site. In the second clip [ oltv.tv] he talks about the bell curve rhythm in life including in our liturgical life- rising climatic, falling resolution. He uses this for talking about bell curve for fasting, feast day, post feast.
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Don't forget that we chant the Paraclesis most evenings during the Dormition Fast. Meditate on the words of the chant and be carried away by the lovely Byzantine melodies. This will provide ample food for understanding the devotion.
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Thank you for all your suggestions and advice! These will help me understand why this particular fasting season is important, and what its meaning is for those who participate in the fast.
I will keep checking back to see what else gets posted here.
HC
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The article linked in Rybak's post correctly points us to the New Testament basis for fasting in the absence of the Bridegroom.
The Dormition Fast is a Fast of anticipatory grief.
Anyone who has watched over a terminally ill parent knows that the caregiver's appetite diminishes as the final days draw near. King David fasted as the love-child he had conceived with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite became gravely ill (2 Samuel 12:15-23) and broke his fast upon the child's death.
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There is also a great lecture called "Sacred Time" by Metropolitan Kallistos on five different calendar cycles of the Eastern Churches that he recorded for the opening session of our OL XII Conference on Feast Days. In addition to discussing the various cycles, from daily to life-long, he also has a wonderful discussion on the notion that "you cannot have feasting without fasting!" All eight clips that make up his 40-minute lecture can be found here to watch: http://www.oltv.tv/id455.htmlCD and DVD recordings of his lecture and the others from that conference can also be purchased for home and car listening, or for adult education programs in parishes: https://ssl.webvalence.com/ecommerc...dia&class=DVD&subclass=plen-ol12Jack
Last edited by JLF; 08/05/10 04:15 PM.
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Thank you for the additional advice, Thomas the Seeker and JLF! I'll check out that website w/ Metro. Kallistos' lectures ...
Whoo this week has gone by fast ...
HC
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