nativity fast, 40 days vegetables, fruit water noegg bread, no greed, anger, coveting ...
Through the discipline offasting, practiced withhumilityandrepentance, it is believed that by learning to temper the body's primary desire for food, that other worldly desires can be more easily tempered as well.
Through this practice one is better enabled to draw closer toGodin the hope of becoming moreChrist-like.
While the fast influences the body, it is important to note that emphasis is placed on the spiritual facet of the fast rather than mere physical deprivation.
Orthodox theologysees a synthesis between the body and the soul, so what happens to one affects the other.
The church teaches that it is not enough to fast from food; one must also
fast from anger, greed and covetousness. In addition to fasting,almsgivingis also emphasized.[2
The fast traditionally entails fastingfrom
red meat,poultry,meat products, eggs,dairy products, fish, oil, and wine.
Fish, wine and oil are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, and oil and wine are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The fasting rules permit fish, and/or wine and oil on certainfeast daysthat occur during the course of the fast:Evangelist Matthew(November 16),Apostle Andrew(November 30),Great-martyr Barbara(December 4),St. Nicholas(December 6),St. SpiridonandSt. Herman(December 12),St. Ignatius(December 20), etc. The Nativity Fast is not as severe asGreat Lentor theDormition Fast.
As is always the case with Orthodox fasting rules, persons who are ill, the very young or elderly, and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting. Each individual is expected to confer with theirconfessorregarding any exemptions from the fasting rules, but should never place themselves in physical danger.
There has been some ambiguity about the restriction of fish, whether it means the allowance of invertebratefish or all fish.
Often, even on days when fish is not allowed, shellfish may be consumed. More detailed guidelines vary by jurisdiction, but the rules strictly state that from the December 20 to December 24 (inclusively), no fish may be eaten.
TheEve of Nativity(December 24) is a strictfast day, calledParamony(lit. "preparation"), on which no solid food should be eaten until
the first star is seen in the evening sky (or at the very least, until after theVesperalDivine Liturgythat day).
If Paramony falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day is not observed as a strict fast, but a meal with wine and oil is allowed after the Divine Liturgy, which would be celebrated in the morning.
During the fast you can eat: fruit, vegetables, no-egg bread/wheat, water for 40 days. no wine. no oil.
no anger, no coveting, no greed, do charity work, become a better person for 40 days.
this is really good.
Through this practice one is better enabled to draw closer toGodin the hope of becoming moreChrist-like.
While the fast influences the body, it is important to note that emphasis is placed on the spiritual facet of the fast rather than mere physical deprivation.
Orthodox theologysees a synthesis between the body and the soul, so what happens to one affects the other.
The church teaches that it is not enough to fast from food; one must also
fast from anger, greed and covetousness. In addition to fasting,almsgivingis also emphasized.[2
The fast traditionally entails fastingfrom
red meat,poultry,meat products, eggs,dairy products, fish, oil, and wine.
Fish, wine and oil are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, and oil and wine are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The fasting rules permit fish, and/or wine and oil on certainfeast daysthat occur during the course of the fast:Evangelist Matthew(November 16),Apostle Andrew(November 30),Great-martyr Barbara(December 4),St. Nicholas(December 6),St. SpiridonandSt. Herman(December 12),St. Ignatius(December 20), etc. The Nativity Fast is not as severe asGreat Lentor theDormition Fast.
As is always the case with Orthodox fasting rules, persons who are ill, the very young or elderly, and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting. Each individual is expected to confer with theirconfessorregarding any exemptions from the fasting rules, but should never place themselves in physical danger.
There has been some ambiguity about the restriction of fish, whether it means the allowance of invertebratefish or all fish.
Often, even on days when fish is not allowed, shellfish may be consumed. More detailed guidelines vary by jurisdiction, but the rules strictly state that from the December 20 to December 24 (inclusively), no fish may be eaten.
TheEve of Nativity(December 24) is a strictfast day, calledParamony(lit. "preparation"), on which no solid food should be eaten until
the first star is seen in the evening sky (or at the very least, until after theVesperalDivine Liturgythat day).
If Paramony falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day is not observed as a strict fast, but a meal with wine and oil is allowed after the Divine Liturgy, which would be celebrated in the morning.
During the fast you can eat: fruit, vegetables, no-egg bread/wheat, water for 40 days. no wine. no oil.
no anger, no coveting, no greed, do charity work, become a better person for 40 days.
this is really good.
Replies
really want to try this fast. i\'m impressed with the whole concept. 40 days of being \"better\" human physically and spiritually. cool.
watched the rise of hitler, it got rave reviews. they portray him as a lunatic since childhood onward. a little too creepy for me. had \"post\" t-day dinner at k\'s. he did the same thing we did, FISH. lol. cracked me up. did anyone do anything traditional at all for it? lol. veggies were the same and pumpkin pie. i noticed this year like last year, everyone is putting away the sweets, so you get one slice. no more multiple pieces. i know why of course. really need to do a diet. don\'t need a banner for that one. wish i would actually do it.
no gluttony. hope i can really do this one.
I never fast, but my DH does all the time.....every Sunday.
If it is a fast....why are you able to eat and drink at all?? The 24th....we are eating like crazy. lol
no idea. its biblical. whatever it is, its supposed to get rid of all the poisons in the person\'s body. you can also leave the fast two times per week with certain foods.
there are all kinds of fasts where you do eat, but only certain foods and each fast claims the same thing, removal of all poisons. biblically, people are supposed to fast once per week, that maintains proper weight and gets rid of poisons.