August 12, 2025
What is Fasting?
Fasting is one of the three pillars of a Christian’s spiritual life (alongside prayer and almsgiving). Fasting is a gift from God, a tool that assists us in aligning our hearts and minds towards Him and His saving work, a tool that delivers us from the passions.
Being a tool, fasting is purposeful. It is not an obligation, but rather it is an opportunity to exercise self-denial, to enter into spiritual obedience to Christ’s Church, and to reduce outward distractions and temptations.
We, being embodied souls, understand that physical actions can communicate and deliver spiritual change. Learning to control our behaviors with food, learning to deny our own desires and impulses: we can translate that mastery to other aspects of our lives. Learning to tell ourselves no, with food, helps us to say no to other temptations, and to conquer the passions.
There are two kinds of fasting in the Orthodox Church.
Lenten Fasting
On all Wednesdays and Fridays, and during the major Fasting Seasons of the Church, we are directed to abstain from all meat, dairy, wine, and oil. Shellfish and honey are permitted. In the Russo-Slavic tradition, which the OCA receives, it is customary to interpret “wine” as being all alcohol.
Eucharistic Fasting
In preparation for Holy Communion, we are directed to abstain from all food and drink, including water, starting from the midnight before. If the Liturgy is to be served in the evening, such as with Presanctified Liturgy during Great Lent, it is a common dispensation to abstain from food and drink for at least 6 hours before receiving Eucharist.
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The point of laying out these definitions is to communicate what is normative. These are the guidelines of the Church. Relaxing the rules must only be done with the blessing and guidance of your priest, and any dispensation does not change what the ideal is. Likewise, engaging in anything stricter than what is prescribed is generally discouraged, and must never be done on your own. Fasting too rigorously or according to your own contrived rules is exceedingly foolish and is missing the point.
As we deny ourselves by abstaining from food, we also deny ourselves by submitting to the normative practices of the Church. In doing so, we seek the guidance and Wisdom of Christ. When you fast, expect it to be inconvenient and even uncomfortable. Expect it to be a challenge and expect to fail. Failure is at the heart of spiritual growth. But make sure to be responsible, healthy, and normal in your fasting practices, so that you might rightly receive the fruits of your spiritual labors.
