www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Fasting for the Dormition?

Mike - even amongst many Orthodox you will see a distinction in adhering to the minor fasts vs. adhering to the Great Fast.

St. Peter Moghila in his Catechism tells us there is no fasting on Saturdays and Sundays of minor fasts (i.e. Dormition, Apostles, and Nativity Fasts). Fastng is strict for certain single days such as on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept 14th/27) as well as the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (Aug 29/Sept 11).

Angela gives great advice. Concentrate on one thing only the first fast you make - be it meat or dairy Mon-Friday for a minor fast such as for the Dormition.

I was told by my priest if attending a function with friends or family not to refuse anything offered and not to bring up the fact that one is fasting. He said try and limit the portion given or consumed and if you're not offered something, you should observe the normal fasting standard for that day.

This is the same for all extended fasts and the normal Monday and Friday fasts. It is expected that everyone observe all fasts throughout the year.

Andrew

One of the Desert Fathers once had a guest and a younger spiritual child. The guest had brought quite a spread for the monks. The old father was hospitable, and although not a glutton he partook of the food and drink offered.

His young spiritual child was quite scandalized, and later the father told the young man it is far greater to give hospitality and not be seen fasting in a scrupulous way then it is to bring much attention to one's ascetic feats which should stay between the man, God, and his spiritual father.

Last semester, I was doing a research project on fasting in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and I was surprised to find out that August 14th, the Vigil of the Dormition, was a fast day in the Latin tradition; June 28th, the Vigil of Ss. Peter and Pail, was a fast day as well. Those are short Dormition and Apostle's Fasts, but hey, they were still there!

Dave

Dear Chtec,

I think that nowadays when the Latin Church refers to a "fast day," it means a day that will doubtless "go by fast . . ."

Alex

Dear Alex,

The person in my avatar is Mar Ivanios - the Metropolitan who reconciled Malankara Orthodox to the Pope. He is not yet canonized.

I am Malankara Catholic - we hold the same beliefs as the Syriac Orthodox and Malankara Orthodox, while accepting the service of the Pope of course.

All 'Syriac Christians of Kerala' are generically known as Mar Thoma Christians, but we are divided between Indian Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox (these two are in a jurisdictional legal battle, altho beliefs are exactly the same), Syro-Malankara Catholic, Syro-Malabar Catholic, Church of South India (Anglican), and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church (a protestant community in the Anglican communion). There is also a very small remnant "Church of the East" in India, most of these eventually became Syro-Malabar Catholic but a small number remain.

There is a chart found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Christians_of_Kerala#Contact_with_Western_Christianity , that is helpful in delineating the jurisdictions for the various Mar Thoma groups in India.

I have heard one of the priests I know tell us that breaking the fast is not a sin and should not be confessed. In my practice and experience we have observed the fast when possible and when not we ate normally. The point of fasting as I have been taught(by Protestant parents and my experience in the East) is the state of the spirit: the focus is on praying and growing in strength, humility and holiness, coming closer to God and walking with Him closer. The physical rigors of fasting(all different kinds) are to be used as an aid in your spiritual journey. Also for health reasons, as has been stated before, we have been more relaxed; I, personally, am not able to only eat one meal a day all week, I tried that and got very ill so I eat the minumum amount of calories I need for the day.
Blessings and prayers,
Sarai

Dear Sarai,

In my church, it IS a sin.

One of our very Eastern priests was giving a woman a very hard time in confession - we all heard him yell, "Madame, so just how many times DID you eat meat on Friday?"

Even if we went back to the confession box, we'd have to make it sound-proof.

Alex

As my spiritual director puts it, charity comes before fasting. So rather than refuse the food offered you by a host, accept it graciously and thank God for blessing you with a brief break in the fast.

Charity is also a concern within the family when there are small children or a nursing or pregnant mother who cannot manage the full fast. It is not fair for a man to expect his wife to fix him a separate meal, or to consistently eat apart from his family.

Nor is it charitable for a husband and father to weaken himself through fasting to the point that he cannot adequately help his wife.

Lest someone object that the above are merely excuses to justify minimal fasting, let me admit that I have had to learn the hard way the keeping the fast is not always best; it can become a matter of pride to maintain a rigorous fast even when it places a burdern on others.

Everything I've read about fasting points in this direction too. There is an ideal towards which one stives, but which is modified according to circumstances.

With that in mind, I'd like to ask what fasting guidelines people have come up with for the different fasts. I'm still working on what I will do myself and with my family (seven kids from 2wks to 13yrs) for the Dormotion Fast, but here are a couple of ideas:

• The entire family will abstain from sweets and desserts Monday through Friday.
• The entire family will abstain from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• I will abstain from dairy Wednesdays and Fridays and also abstain from meat on Mondays.
• I will abstain from alcohol for the entire fast period.

In addition, as many family members as are able will attend additional liturgies, vespers, etc.

-- Eric Scheidler