Believers who have recently been baptized ask many questions regarding church life. They are especially concerned about how to fast correctly on Wednesday and Friday. After all, for most this is a completely new life experience. Many do not understand why additional abstinence in food is needed, since there are already enough long fasts in the year. But if a person decides to observe two weekly ones, how to do it correctly? You will find the answer to these and many other questions in the article.
About the author About the book
What is fasting
Speaking about church customs and rituals, we should not forget that many of the first Christians were Jews. This religion had well-established traditions, which in terms of strict observance were equal to legal laws. Therefore, the followers of the new teaching decided that it was not worth eradicating customs, it was better to make sure that they smoothly merged into Christianity.
But before delving into the historical aspect, let’s figure out why it is generally necessary to fast every Wednesday and Friday. Are there really not enough days in the year for abstinence? After all, in Orthodoxy there are 4 multi-day fasts, with a total duration of 180 to 212 days (depending on the duration of Peter's fast, which depends on the date of Easter in a particular year).
- Most holy fathers are firmly convinced that abstinence is simply necessary to maintain spiritual health. After all, the devil is cunning, he uses every opportunity to tempt a person and lead him astray from the path of obedience to God. Fasting is a kind of spiritual practice, it is an exercise for the soul.
- On Wednesday, members of the Christian church remember the betrayal of one of Christ's disciples, namely Judas. Friday is dedicated to the crucifixion of the Savior.
Work as a courier at Yandex.Eda (up to 3,400 rubles per shift) leave a request →
Many churchgoers are too focused on what they can and cannot eat.
But these days you should not only exclude certain foods from your diet, but also avoid sinful acts:
- avoid overeating;
- refrain from unkind thoughts;
- do not speak evil words;
- do not do bad things;
- It's time to begin the sacrament of repentance.
This aspect is much more important than eating a certain food. After all, a person consists not only of a body, he has a spiritual, divine principle. Only for many, life is subordinated to the dictates of the flesh and is spent in search of pleasure. It is weekly fasting that is one of the tools for spiritual growth. It allows the Christian to restore the correct hierarchy - the spirit should rise above the body.
One day post July 2022
The numbers 17,19,24,26,31 are distinguished. Cooking with the addition of vegetable oil and fish products is allowed. Peter's Fast lasts from 1 to 11 inclusive. They fast intensively on the 3rd, 5th, and 10th.
Believers celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist, Peter and Paul.
The tradition of fasting
According to the records of the church historian Tertullian (lived in the 3rd century), fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays was designated by a word that means “military guard.” This is not without reason - the author compared Christians with the soldiers of the Lord. According to the treatise, abstinence from food lasted until the 9th hour (according to modern times - up to 15 hours). These days the services were special.
The choice of time is not accidental - it was at 9 o’clock that the Savior died on the Cross, according to the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 27, verses 45-46). In ancient times, people completely refused not only food, but did not even take water. Today the rules have changed somewhat; believers fast throughout the day, giving up some foods. Christians of the first centuries brought all the food that they did not eat during these days to their bishop. The priest gave them to those who were in need.
If in our time the tradition of fasting days is quite established, then at first it was the voluntary choice of the believer. But even then the fast ended with the reception of Communion. True, the holy gifts were kept in every home. Gradually, Wednesday and Friday became days of meetings, when believers studied the Holy Scriptures together.
Become a courier of the Yandex.Food service right now (up to 3,400 rubles per shift) leave a request →
Already in the 4th century St. Epiphanius writes that Wednesday and Friday are obligatory fast days, along with Pentecost. Those who ignore them oppose themselves to God, because Christ fasted, setting an example for us. In the 5th century, the Apostolic Rules were written down, according to which abstinence is obligatory for everyone - both clergy and laity, and the punishment for non-compliance is excommunication and deprivation of the priesthood.
One day post June 2022
The numbers 5,7,12,14 are highlighted. Cooking with the addition of vegetable oil and fish products is allowed. The 15th is set aside to remember deceased relatives.
Orthodoxy celebrates the Ascension of the Lord and Trinity.
In the last week of the month, believers keep the St. Peter's Fast. It is allowed to prepare fish products with the addition of vegetable oil.
How to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays correctly
The vanity of life, intemperance in food, drunkenness, harm the human soul. The Christian needs to awaken within himself the will to do good through the practice of abstinence. What is eaten on Wednesdays and Fridays depends on the strictness of a particular period of the church year. You should exclude meat and dairy products at any time:
- meat products;
- milk and all its derivatives (kefir, butter, yogurt, etc.);
- eggs.
There is a more stringent degree of abstinence, when fish products, vegetable oil and all food that is boiled or fried are also prohibited. This type of fasting is called dry eating; during this period, a limited number of foods are allowed:
- nuts;
- dried fruits;
- fresh as well as pickled and pickled vegetables;
- honey;
- bread;
- greenery.
To know exactly how to fast on Wednesday and Friday, you should purchase a church calendar. The dates and degree of abstinence are indicated there.
One day post January 2022
One-day January fast days include 1,18,23,25,30. It is allowed to cook dishes with the addition of vegetable oil and fish.
Strict fasting days continue from 2 to 6. 18th, religious celebration of Epiphany Eve. It is supposed to be carried out in complete strictness, refusing food and all kinds of entertainment programs. Orthodoxy is preparing its soul for the Baptism of the Savior. Believers spend the entire next day in prayer, visit the temple, and bless the water. At dawn you are supposed to take a swim; it is believed that the water that flows from the tap is blessed and has healing properties.
Who does not have to fast?
If a believer has health problems, relaxations are possible. You need to inform your doctor about your faith, he will tell you what degree of fasting will not harm the body. Pregnant women, the elderly, manual workers, military personnel, athletes during training camps, and children under 7 years of age may not fast.
If in doubt, you should consult with your confessor about how you personally should observe weekly fasts. Also, several times a year they are canceled for everyone, during those periods when the so-called continuous weeks take place:
About the author About the book
- After the Nativity of Christ (Christmastide);
- Before the beginning of Lent (14 days before, on the week of the Publican and the Pharisee);
- Everyone’s favorite Maslenitsa (also before Lent, only meat is excluded from the diet, other food of animal origin can be eaten);
- Bright Week (immediately after Easter);
- Trinity Week (after the holiday of Trinity).
There are also instructions about this in church calendars.
One day post April 2022
Believers fast for the entire month. The 6th day will be set aside to remember deceased relatives.
The church allows you not to fast on the 7th and 21st. Because religious celebrations fall on them. Annunciation of the Mother of God and Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
The preparation of fish products is allowed, and the consumption of red wine is allowed. The Lenten period ends with the celebration of Easter.
Lenten recipes
Although on Wednesdays and Fridays you cannot eat meat and sausages, you can still prepare a wide variety of salads and soups. If fish is allowed, it serves as the main dish. It can be stewed, fried, baked. But if oil and fish are prohibited, then you will have to use your imagination.
- Okroshka is a good first choice. Since dairy products are prohibited, water is used as a basis. Cucumber and tomato are ground on a grater. Fresh herbs are chopped with a knife. Use salt and pepper as seasoning.
- Buckwheat is interesting because it can be prepared without cooking. To do this, it is recommended to fill it with water in the evening and leave it under the lid. By morning it will swell and the main dish is ready. A vegetable salad is suitable as a side dish.
- Lenten salad based on beets. Boil the beets, peel and pass through a coarse grater. Chop the nuts. Prunes are soaked in warm water, then cut into small pieces. Lenten mayonnaise is suitable for dressing.
- Vitamin salad is prepared from carrots, radishes and apples. The ratio of ingredients is taken to taste. Vegetables are finely grated and mixed. You can season the dish with chopped garlic and lemon juice.
As you can see, even on days of strict abstinence you can eat tasty and varied food.
- How to properly fast before Easter;
- See here how to properly take communion and confess in church;
- How to properly confess in church: https://bogolub.info/kak-pravilno-ispovedatsya-v-cerkvi/.
One day post September 2022
The numbers 4,6,11,13,18,20,25,27 are distinguished. Cooking with the addition of vegetable oil and fish products is allowed. The exceptions are the 11th and 27th.
Believers fast in all severity, dedicated to the religious celebration of the Beheading of John the Baptist and the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord.
The Mother of God does not fast on Christmas Day.
Red hill
Red Hill in 2022 fell on Sunday, May 9. This holiday is also called St. Thomas Sunday. Red Hill is always celebrated after Easter - exactly a week later.
It is customary to celebrate the holiday noisily and cheerfully. It is customary to have fun on Krasnaya Gorka, organize round dances, sing songs and go on visits. In addition, this is a traditional time for matchmaking and weddings.
This holiday is closely connected with a special memorial day - Radonitsa. It is celebrated on the first Tuesday after the Red Hill celebration.
Signs of the last week preceding Lent
on Solid Week they burn all old things to get rid of problems;
- an unmarried girl baked the first pancake beautifully, and it easily turned over in the frying pan - she will have a wedding soon;
- cold, frosty, rainy A continuous week promises a warm spring with good weather;
- rosy pancakes - there will be good health;
- white pancakes - frequent illnesses will begin to overcome;
- thin pancakes promise an easy life;
- it became sharply cold, the frost hit - the summer will not be dry;
- there are a lot of icicles hanging from the roofs - the harvest will be good and rich throughout the year;
- if the pancake stuck to the frying pan and generally came out lumpy, then remain unmarried for the next three years;
- if the pancake turns out to have torn edges, you need to take a closer look at the groom;
- if the pancake turns out to have smooth edges, the chosen one will become a good husband;
- It’s raining all through the Whole Week - there will be a lot of mushrooms;
- beautiful smooth pancakes - well-being, prosperity.
Radonitsa
In 2022, Radonitsa is celebrated on May 11 . Radonitsa is the first day of special commemoration of the dead after Easter. On this day, it is customary to remember loved ones in the cemetery and with prayer in the temple. You can order a lithium to be served at the cemetery.
According to the theological interpretation, in this way believers congratulate the dead on the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ. This is where another name for the day came from: Parents' Easter.
Photo source: Pixabay
Easter
Easter is the most important holiday of Christianity. In 2021 it falls on Sunday, May 2.
Photo source: Pixabay
On this holiday you cannot engage in heavy physical labor. The clergy also advise putting aside household chores.
On Easter it is not recommended to quarrel, offend or be offended. The task of every Orthodox Christian is to share the joy of the holiday, the clergy notes. Therefore, on this day you should not neglect works of mercy.
At Easter, eggs are traditionally painted in different colors. As Orthodox priest Sergei Senchukov said, each of them carries its own meaning. Red is the main color for Easter services. It has a solemn meaning, but at the same time it recalls the death of the Savior on the cross and his resurrection. The green color is dedicated to the saints, the blue color to the Mother of God.
Photo source: Pixabay
Korean herring with potatoes for lunch
- 1 kg fresh frozen herring
- A glass of tomato juice
- 80 ml (less possible) 9% vinegar
- 120g sunflower oil without aroma
- tablespoon salt
- a teaspoon of sugar, the same amount of ground pepper
- 3-4 onions
Carefully fillet the herring and cut into pieces. Boil the oil with the tomato, remove from the heat, add spices, cool and pour the sauce over the herring. Leave it like this for a day. Boil the potatoes, make a salad or take pickled cucumbers out of a jar, and your Lenten lunch is ready!
For the first step, you can prepare a delicious soup from canned fish - look at the step-by-step recipe with photos, it is very simple and easy, this is on those days when fish is allowed.
Food diary for Lent 2022 - 2019
In 2022 and 2022, 4 large Lenten periods have been identified: Easter, Petrov, Assumption, Christmas.
The special fast days designated in the Orthodox calendar are strictly observed. Only the consumption of dry foods, baked or boiled fruits and vegetables, and food without oil is allowed. It is allowed, subject to partial strictness, to prepare lean liquid and boiled food with the addition of vegetable oil. You can take the approximate menu from the provided diary as a basis. The menu can be expanded and improved. But be sure to adhere to the Orthodox calendar.
Diary of food during the very strict Easter and Dormition Lent.
Diary of food during Christmas and Peter's fast.
