Russian News Publishes Deep Spiritual Reflection on Orthodox Christian Fasting
A powerful, deeply edifying message — Imagine a country where national news outlets run major stories about lenten fasting in the Orthodox Church
Uninformed American:
The Orthodox Church? What is that? Some new religious sect? Some new cult?
Orthodox Christian:
Yeah, pretty much. It was started 2000 years ago by a group of twelve guys and someone named “Jesus”.
In America, Orthodox Christians are used to being marginalized and misunderstood. There are more Catholics in Cleveland than there are Orthodox Christians in the entire country, so it’s not surprising that most Americans aren’t familiar with the world’s most ancient Church.
The Orthodox Church may be older than Protestantism, older than Catholicism, and the second largest Church in the world, with hundreds of millions of members worldwide, but in America, it only makes up 1 or 2 percent of the population, so a lot of Americans just don’t know much about it.
Imagine what it would be like living in a large country — a world superpower — where more than half the population considers themselves to be Orthodox Christians, with literally tens of millions of adherents. Imagine living in a country where the Orthodox Church is so prominent in society, that you can find Christian artwork by city limits signs, Christian gifts from savings banks, food in local grocery stores labeled as Orthodox fast-friendly, and Orthodox icon corners for prayer in some public restaraunts. Imagine that the Orthodox Patriarch is on television almost every day, and that a leading national media outlet publishes a major story about Lent, discussing fasting rules for Christians.
That’s what it’s like living in Russia.
Today I was reading the Russian Gazette (Rossiyskaya Gazeta), and was particularly interested in one of the stories I encountered. RG has a special status in Russian media because it is the official publication of the Russian Government. It's one of Russia's biggest newspapers. And what did this major national media outlet decide to write about this week? They published a major story about fasting rules observed by Orthodox Christians.
I’ll include an English translation of the article below. While reading it, remember, this isn’t an article published for a handful of parishioners in some obscure religious newsletter. This is a major story that ran just this week, in one of Russia’s largest national news outlets:
Lent: why is it needed, what is not allowed, what can and can’t be eaten
On March 18, Lent begins in Russia, which will last until Pascha (Easter), the Bright Resurrection of Christ (May 5). "RG" decided to figure out, why is Lent needed? What are the rules, and how does one avoid breaking them? And when is fasting dangerous?
Lent: why is it needed?
How to start observing Lent
Do's and Don'ts
Is fasting harmful to one’s health?
Physical fasting and mental fasting
Prayers during Lent
How to understand if you are fasting correctly
Lent: why is it needed?
“A full belly is deaf to God,” is a common saying here. The apostle Paul said, “their god is their belly.” In ordinary life, attachment to momentary things can alienate us from God so much that we forget who the Creator of the world is, sincerely believing that everything is up to us. Fasting is a restoration of the true hierarchy of the universe, when we clearly realize our smallness and dependence on the Creator.
We realize this not a situation of death, illness, or catastrophe, where everyone instantly remembers Who actually holds everything in His Hand. Rather, fasting is a kind of micro-catastrophe which a person undertakes voluntarily, giving up everything that brightens up ordinary life, and which even seems to constitute its essence, giving up the needs of the body. And by making such a turn away from our bodily self, we return to God. That is, fasting is not a religious diet, but a person’s revitalization of his relationship with God. Is it worthwhile to limit yourself in food, entertainment, and the joys of surfing the Internet for this? Indeed, as seminarians joke, it would be better for me to hasten to God myself, than for illness and grief to lead me to Him.
Should we come out to meet Christ and walk the long road of Lent out of fear? No! And certainly not for the sake of fashion, and not in order to feel “holy” while arrogantly looking down on those who do not fast. Fasting is not a food restriction, or even a way of self-improvement. Fasting is an act of love for our Creator. And if this phrase seems pompous to some, let them remember how natural it is for a mother to give the last piece of bread to her child — an act of effective love.
The logic of the fast is simple. Once upon a time, two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ came. Sinless, and immortal in his divine nature, He voluntarily and —important!— out of love for us people, made His way to meet us. He walked the road to Golgotha, and He went through the Suffering of the Cross, Crucifixion, and Death. Today is our turn to make our sacrifice to Him, to begin our journey towards Christ.
Yes, it is extremely difficult. Even if we only give up something small — just some food from our normal diet or one of our usual entertainments, not even depriving ourselves according to the strictest standard — then suddenly life is over, it's impossible to live, and we feel like we're going to die, even though we're just barely leaving our comfort zone.
You actually need to sacrifice something, and not according to the principle of, “For you, God, I’ll give up whatever is worthless to me.” Rather, you need to sacrifice what is dear to you, what is important for your body. God does not need us to give up a piece of meat, a piece of sausage. He made His sacrifice out of love for us, and He desires our love in return.
How to start observing Lent
Let's be honest with ourselves; even minor food sacrifices are difficult for us. And they may not be up to par. This means that Lent must begin by coming to church and talking with the priest: “Father, what lenten restrictions would you bless for me, in my situation?” In food, in marital relationships, and in prayer, everyone has their own abilities, and they must proceed according to their level of strength. So what are our options? Why do we avoid certain foods during Lent?
Do's and Don'ts
The highest level of restrictions are found in the monastic charter, in which, for most of the week, it is recommended to eat raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts, not cooking anything, and avoiding any vegetable oil or olive oil. In order not to cause problems for anyone, I won’t go into the details. A beginner shouldn’t fast like that, because you would inevitably overstrain yourself. The fast must be reasonably within one’s abilities.
To set the limits of self-restraint in regard to food, it is important to take into account a person’s age, sex, and health status, as well as physical and mental stress. For laymen, the most common food restrictions involve abstinence from meat, dairy, and alcohol. Minimal attention to this aspect of bodily life is the most correct way.
Regarding intimate relations within marriage, unbridled activity is unacceptable during Lent, and restraint is appropriate. Of course, in such a delicate issue as the performance of marital duties, priests urge spouses to be guided by the principles of love and respect, paying close attention to the feelings and needs of their other half.
Is fasting harmful to one’s health?
The media often writes about the “dangers” of fasting, as if it were a cause of malnutrition. Fortunately, that particular problem is rare. Those who know how to fast properly will go through all 48 days of Lent without any harm to their health. But a neophyte might simply break down. Fasting is fraught with danger, but of a different kind. With any bodily abstinence, our body — the “veil of flesh” that separates us from the invisible world — becomes thinner, and we become more receptive to the spiritual world. That is, abstinence from food is only a means to an end. And it could become harmful or even dangerous if done on its own, for no higher purpose.
If the heart is not cleansed by confession, is not turned to the Lord in prayer, does not participate in the Sacrament of Communion, is not immersed in the prayerful mood of divine services, and is not prepared to respond with good deeds, then when it comes into contact with the invisible world, it finds itself unprotected against dark spiritual forces. “If the body is weakened by fasting, and the soul is not cultivated by prayer, then fasting gives rise to numerous weeds — the passions of arrogance, vanity, and contempt,” writes St. Ignatius Brianchaninov.
Physical fasting and mental fasting
Fasting can be physical or mental. Bodily fasting is when the stomach fasts from food and drink. Mental fasting is when the soul abstains from evil thoughts, deeds, and words. The Saints say that bodily fasting without mental fasting is nothing:
“Many fast with the body, but do not fast with the soul. Many fast from food and drink, but do not fast from evil thoughts, deeds, and words — and what good does it do them? Many fast every other day . . . but they don’t want to fast from anger, rancor, and revenge. Many abstain from wine, meat, and fish, but with their tongues they devour other people like themselves — and what good does it do them? Some don’t touch food with their hands, but they use their hands for bribery, theft, and robbery of other people's property — and what good does it do them? True and direct fasting is abstinence from all evil. If, Christian, you want fasting to be useful to you, then while fasting physically, also fast mentally, and fast always. As you impose fasting on your belly, so impose fasting against your evil thoughts and whims. Let your mind fast from vain thoughts. Let your memory fast from resentment. Let your will fast from evil desire. Let your eyes fast from looking upon evil things. ‘Turn away your eyes, so as not to see vanity.’ Let your ears fast from hearing nasty songs and slanderous rumors. Let your tongue fast from slander, condemnation, blasphemy, lies, flattery, foul language, and every idle and rotten word. May your hands fast from fighting, and from stealing other people's property. Let your feet fast, no longer running towards evil deeds. ‘Turn away from evil and do good.’ This is the Christian fast that God requires of us. Repent, abstain from every evil word, deed, and thought, and take care to learn every virtue.”
— St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Indeed, fasting goes well if the heart responds to goodness.
Prayers during Lent
One must pray especially diligently during Lent, trying not to miss the morning and evening prayer rules. Priests advise expanding the daily cycle of prayers to include the Psalms, studying the texts of the church services (in order to better understand what happens during them), and studying the Lenten prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. In order to tune your heart to repentance, you must attend at least one evening service at which the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read (it takes place from Monday to Thursday during the 1st week of Lent and on Wednesday in the 5th week of Lent).
If you have received Communion rarely during the year, then during Great Lent, oblige yourself to receive the Sacrament of Communion weekly. Spiritual warfare intensifies during Lent — it’s an invisible struggle against the attacks of demons who seek to hinder our efforts and deeds — and without the grace-filled help of the Sacrament we cannot cope with this. Venerate the Cross of the Lord during the Week of the Cross, the 4th week of Lent, and visit church on Friday in the 5th week of Lent, when the akathist to the Mother of God is read at the evening service. Also take time to pray during the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts (it is celebrated at church on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent). Pay special attention to the services of Holy Week. All of this will pave the way for you, and will become the context of your fasting.
How to understand if you are fasting correctly
How do you know if you are fasting correctly? There is one criterion for whether your fast is going well. “Fasting becomes a sacrifice pleasing to God when it is adorned with the fruits of love” (St. John Cassian). This means that while fasting, you need to check up on yourself: see whether you still have love for people, even if all they do is eat lots of goodies right before your eyes.
Source: rg.ru (Russian)
I was fasting today, or rather from sundown yesterday until sundown today. I'm not Orthodox, although there is a lot about it that appeals (and some which doesn't, admittedly).
Anyway, I found this a very helpful and will apply it when I next fast.