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

I am a latin rite Catholic that sometimes attends a Byzantine Divine Liturgy. I was wondering what are the fasting requirements?

In addition, my fiance often brings water with her to Mass (were in AZ and therefore often carry water around with us wherever we go), is alright to bring water into Divine Liturgy, or would that break a fast?

Thanks.

In general, most Byzantine Catholics will fast from midnight until after the Liturgy. Water does not break the fast. The absolute minimum is the same as for the Latin Rite -- fast for one hour before communion.

Fr. Deacon Edward

Thank you.

brining a bootle of water into Liturgy? How just plain tacky.

I don't think it's a bit tacky. I almost always bring a "bootle" of water with me into the Liturgy because when I sing, my throat gets sore and dry.

As long as you're just discreetly sipping from it and not chug-a-lugging, it's between you and the Lord.

Thanks for the constructive post, bud.

At Divine Liturgy this Sunday, the priest mentioned the Advent (is that what you call this season in the east also) fast. He talked about the option between the simple and the strict fast.

The simple being no meat on Wednesdays and Fridays, however he did not go into the details of the strict fast.

What does the strict/traditional fast include of?

Thank you.

Strict fasts can be no cheese, no meat, no alcohol, no olive oil. It can also include abstaining from marital relations for some days of the week, or even for the whole of advent/lent.

And it can get complicated. Such as finding foods that contain no product of oil,dairy, eggs.. you still have to make sure you are getting the right nutrition. There are posts archived on this board that have recipes for lent you could follow for the nativity fast.

I'm not sure if Eastern Catholicism uses the same calendar for the more strict fast, but a good calendar that I have found is here: http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/calendar.asp

If there is an Eastern Catholic calendar, then ignore this .

Cool thanks drewmeister, that will be very useful.

Here is a page we keep adding to. If you do a search you will find many more
https://www.byzcath.org/bboard/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=001810

You're welcome .

Let me add something though. When fasting, you really need to talk to your priest, who should be your spiritual father. Take his advice. He might say to only do the minimum fast at first, then, gradually get into the more strict fast. Listen to him.

Will do, I probably won't be able to do the strict fast until I get married in June and move out of my parents house, but I'll talk to the priest.

In the eastern church we usually use the term "Nativity Fast". It is the 40 days before the Feast of the Nativity; started on Nov 15th. Last year I did my first Nativity Fast, and my priest advised me not to jump in "gung-ho" at first but to try to work up to a stricter fasting lest I should become discouraged.
I recently read a phrase that's been on mind lately "abstaining from certain foods not accompanied by prayer, spiritual study and almsgiving isn't fasting..it's dieting". I try to remind myself of that.
I do find that fasting enhances my prayer life.