What is the purpose of fasting in the Orthodox Church?

The purpose of fasting is to cleanse the body as well as the spirit in preparation for accepting the Resurrection at Easter, which is the most sacred of all observances in the Greek Orthodox faith. Through fasting, we also learn to feel compassion for the poor and hungry and to save our own resources so that we can help those in need.

What is the Greek Orthodox Lenten fast?

In the Greek Orthodox Church, the Lenten fast involves more than abstaining from meat. The faithful forego meat by-products, too, which means no cheese, butter, or eggs.

What can you eat while fasting in Greece?

Greek Orthodox or otherwise, you can eat well while you fast thanks to all the fresh vegetables, grains, herbs, and seafood that abound in the Mediterranean. Here are 15 great Greek recipes to start with this Lent.

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Why Do We Fast In The Orthodox Church? – Greek …

· We can also fast with our eyes, our ears and our very thoughts. That is what it means to be vigilant, to pay attention to what we are really doing with our lives, and with what motives. As one or two Fathers have stated with …

Fasting – OrthodoxWiki

· Fasting in the Orthodox Church is usually considered abstaining from certain foods during specific days or periods. However, fasting means more than simply abstaining from foods. It also may include refraining from marital relations and limiting entertainment, for instance. Certainly, it is a time when there is increased focus on refraining from evil actions and thoughts.

An Orthodox Reflection on Great Lent and Fasting

· For Orthodox Christians to experience the benefits and purpose of any Lenten season, fasting is as much a part of this journey as prayer is in the Christian faith. There are 180-200 fasting days in the yearly Orthodox calendar. Great Lent is a special journey of 40 days where one refocuses on repentance and forgiveness, noetic prayer, and the …

Five Lessons the Orthodox Church Taught Me about …

· Throughout the year, most Orthodox fasting periods are short, and fasting days follow an essentially vegan diet—no meat or dairy, although shellfish is permissible. … and its true purpose is lost. … the great fourth …

What was the Original Purpose of Fasting from "Wine" and …

The Orthodox are required to fast from “wine” and “olive oil” most Wednesdays and Fridays, for Lent, the Dormition of the Theotokos, the Nativity, and other fasts. … The original purpose of fasting is to discipline ourselves from our dependance to earthly cares. In the early church, people store their wine and olive oil inside an animal skin …

Fasting | A Russian Orthodox Church Website

· The Apostles and Saints fasted because they knew their weakness, because of their dependence on God, because of their weak, fickle and unreliable self. In their weakness they fasted, and in fasting found God’s strength. I no longer read St. Paul’s use of weak and strong in this passage as examples of facetious language.

Fasting and Great Lent | Antiochian Orthodox Christian …

The week before Easter, Holy Week, is a special time of fasting separate from Great Lent. Like the first week, a strict fast is kept. Some Orthodox Christians try to keep a total fast on Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday. Most eat a simple Lenten meal at the end of each day before going to the evening Church services.

Effects of Greek orthodox christian church fasting on …

· The purpose of holy unction. Healing and forgiveness are the purpose of holy unction in the Orthodox Church. Because of mankind’s fall into sin, illness, pain, and death entered the world. We lost our organic connection with the source of our being and life: God. And without this vital connection, we become enslaved to death and decay.

Why is Meat Excluded from the Orthodox Christian Diet …

Weekly Fast. Unless a fast-free period has been declared, Orthodox Christians are to keep a strict fast every Wednesday and Friday. The following foods are avoided: Meat, including poultry, and any meat products such as lard and meat broth. Fish …

What Is Holy Unction? » Saint John the Evangelist Orthodox …

The Orthodox rules for lenten fasting are the monastic rules. … growth in Christ-likeness through fasting that should fire our self-discipline according to the canons and rules of the Church. Adherence to dietary prescriptions alone easily deteriorates as a negative preception of Lent which does violence both to the intent and purpose of …

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What is the purpose of fasting in the Orthodox Church?