If you’re looking to observe the Fast of the Apostles or another specific day of the year, you may wonder what foods are forbidden during the orthodox church fasting calendar. Here are some helpful hints:
Table of Contents
Foods forbidden in orthodox church fasting calendar
There are several periods of fasting during the Orthodox Church year. Generally speaking, fasting rules are based on the Church’s cycle of feasts, as found in the Typikon. Other fasting periods include Great Lent, Apostles’ Fast, Nativity Fast, and Dormition Fast. These periods can also be divided into two parts, one lasting forty days, and the other only lasts one day.
The fasting calendar of the Orthodox Church has specific times when a particular type of food is forbidden. However, all fasting disciplines are not created equal. There are many exceptions to these rules, and the Orthodox Church has always exempted small children, nursing mothers, and those with physical conditions from fasting. Those who are non-religious or live in households with non-Orthodox members may find it difficult to fast. For these people, a compromise is advisable.
The practice of fasting developed slowly with the observance of feasts. The early Christians had Jewish backgrounds and inherited Jewish traditions of fasting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. By incorporating the fasting calendar into their worship, the Christians gave fasting a new meaning. They moved the fasting days to Fridays and Wednesdays, owing to the Jewish conspiracies against Christ. Fasting on these days is an excellent opportunity to reflect on your faith and seek forgiveness of past sins.
Intermittent fasting
Orthodox Christians may be interested in more disciplined forms of fasting. These days, fasting can be as simple as avoiding certain foods for a period of time. However, some fasting also involves abstaining from marital relations, limiting entertainment, and refraining from evil thoughts. Generally, there are three types of fasting that are practiced by Orthodox Christians.
Studies have shown that abstention from animal products and reduced intake of saturated fat and cholesterol are beneficial to health. Various studies have also demonstrated that these fasting periods reduce biochemical and obesity indices. Nuns’ diets, for example, contain low levels of cholesterol and saturated fat, and are high in fiber and antioxidant vitamins. Their consumption of fruit and vegetables is also high, a fact that could be attributed to the nuns’ diets.
The purpose of fasting is to exercise the Spiritual fruit of moderation, and to avoid the sins of gluttony and drunkenness. While many days are allowed in the Orthodox fasting calendar, excessive consumption is harmful, and even worse when it happens often. In addition, it’s important to remember that overeating is a common temptation during non-fast days, and repeated overeating will lead to a distorted state of mind.
Paschal fast
Breaking the fast for the Holy Week marks the end of the Lenten penitential season, which ends with the Easter Vigil Mass. Traditionally, the Great Lent, which coincides with the hungry gap in the northern hemisphere, is observed by Orthodox Christians as a period of abstinence from certain foods. The feast of Unleavened Bread is observed on Nisan 14, the full moon of the Hebrew calendar, on the eve of Pascha.
The great lent is a tremendous spiritual exercise, lasting forty days in some churches and even 56 days in others. It is distinguished by its uncompromising holiness. Orthodox Christians spend their time more in prayer, confessing, forgiving, kindness, and humility. These practices, combined with holy traditions and scriptures, allow the faithful to experience God’s ultimate grace. In this way, the fasting season is a time of true spirituality.
Apostles’ fast
The Apostles’ fast, also called the Fast of the Holy Apostles or the fast of Peter and Paul, is a observance for Christians. It is observed by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Reformed Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. The fast has different meanings for Eastern Orthodox Christians, but it is commonly observed by those who believe in the Apostolic Fathers. Here’s a closer look at this fast.
The Apostles’ fast begins on June 16, and lasts for 13 days, from the Sunday following All Saints’ Day to the feast of the Apostles on June 29. This Christian fast is an opportunity to commemorate the life of St. Paul, and it is often observed in conjunction with the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul on June 29. The Apostles’ fast ends on June 30, but it may last for eight to forty-one days depending on the Pascha date.
