Happy Feast tonight!

[gtsecc]

I know you all are starting a fast tommorrow.
Happy fasting.
I am going out with a monk tonight to celebrate before the fast.

Peace.

[Mary of Bethany]

Thanks! Actually, the fast starts Wednesday (for those on the new calendar).

Enjoy yourself tonight!

Mary

[gtsecc]

After Vespers Monday, is Tuesday.
Dinner Tuesday evening, is a fast, I think. Right?

[kamikat]

No, after Vespers Tuesday night. Officially, it starts on the 15th.

[gtsecc]

No, after Vespers Tuesday night. Officially, it starts on the 15th.
Right - the fast starts after vespers Tuesday.

So, tonight(Monday), after vespers is the last big evening meal for folks who say Vespers.

[kamikat]

I guess that depends on one normally eats the evening meal. If Vespers is said at 5:30 or 6pm, it's possible to have the evening meal prior to Vespers. In my house, when we do say Vespers, it's always just after the evening meal.

[ClementofRome]

I plan on a steak tomorrow early evening. I don't often eat a lot of red meat anyway, but since this is my first marathon fast, I thought I would treat myself. :)

I told Fr. yesterday that the regular weekday fasts were going well, but this upcoming Nativity fast had me nervous. He said, "relax, and do what you are able." That made me feel much better.

[kamikat]

You'll do just fine. This past Great Lent was my first long fast. I was very nervous right before it started.
From the venerable Robbie Robertson
She said "There's one thing you've got to learn
Is not to be afraid of it."
I said "No, I like it, I like it, it's good."
She said "You like it now
But you'll learn to love it later."

[ClementofRome]

Thanks Kamikat! :)

[eoe]

I think that most if not all of us fast midnight to midnight right?

[Dewi Sant]

What exactly are we meant to fast from?

I am distanced from my home parish at the moment and I will have to wait till next month to get contact with my visiting priest again.

I notice that on the goarch website it says you are allowed fish.

So is it everything but meat? (apart from Wednesdays and Fridays)

[kamikat]

and dairy!

[choirfiend]

Kami, we look very alike! Nice blazer;)

[kamikat]

Oh, no! Now I'll have to change, again!
Yeah, I saw it on you and decided to buy it. I bought a bunch of items today that I had seen on other dolls. Maybe I'll exchange it for a different color.

[Tsarina]

For the first time i'll be fasting with all you other new calendar peeps. The new mission that i joined in my city very recently is new calendar.. my previous church was on the old one.

[authiodionitist]

I plan on a steak tomorrow early evening. I don't often eat a lot of red meat anyway, but since this is my first marathon fast, I thought I would treat myself. :)

I told Fr. yesterday that the regular weekday fasts were going well, but this upcoming Nativity fast had me nervous. He said, "relax, and do what you are able." That made me feel much better.

Excuse my ignorance, but you've only recently converted to Orthodoxy?

[Akathist]

Clem is in the process of converting. Many serious inquirers and catechumens get their Priests blessings to do the fast.

Which is a good reminder: it is important not to do fasts like this without the blessings of your Priest or Spiritual Father or Mother. Part of being Orthodox is to be in obedience on things related to ascetics.

Keep in mind too that the fast is not supposed to make one sick. (as I am reminded by my Priest every time) and if you have health problems to tell your Priest and to tell your doctor about your fasts.

Ramesis, traditionally we fast from meat, dairy (milk, cheese) and eggs and fish during the weekdays and then I think there are some weekends when fish is allowed during the Nativity Fast. Also many fast from all forms of oil but all fast from olive oil except on days when it is allowed. Strong alcohol and wine is restricted during the week but allowed on some days of the fast (like on some weekends.) The safest way to know what is allowed when is to consult the calendar of the jurisdiction your parish is in. (since there are some traditional variances.)

But the fast is meaningless (or has less meaning) if not accompanied with increased prayers, bible reading, spiritual reading and giving to charity. These may even be considered more important than the fast itself by some.

______________

I wanted so much to have a nice steak either Tuesday evening or late afternoon Wednesday, but with my bad tooth I can't. I am sitll on mostly a liquid diet right now. I am thinking of going to a resturant that sells a good cheese soup instead.

[Monica, child of God]

I think Greeks have fish every day except Wednesdays and Fridays during the Nativity fast until the 2 weeks before Christmas. OCA (and Rocor?) have fish on weekends and certain feast days during the week, otherwise its the standard fast. Remember that shrimp, squid, crab etc. is always allowed regardless. Dairy is pretty much never allowed during a fast except during Cheesefare before Great Lent.

M.

[theoforos]

I think Greeks have fish every day except Wednesdays and Fridays during the Nativity fast until the 2 weeks before Christmas. OCA (and Rocor?) have fish on weekends and certain feast days during the week, otherwise its the standard fast. Remember that shrimp, squid, crab etc. is always allowed regardless. Dairy is pretty much never allowed during a fast except during Cheesefare before Great Lent.

M.


Greeeaaaat! It's going to be fast tomorrow and we can all start to speak just about food again! :D

As for fish during the Nativity fast, over here, according to the church calender, we can eat fish on all other days except Wesnesdays and Fridays and the very last week of the fast.

[theoforos]

and the very last week of the fast.

Or maybe it's the last two weeks of the fast as Monica said above? I'll have to check the calendar... or maybe it's best not to check so I can eat fish one week more? ;)

[ClementofRome]

Excuse my ignorance, but you've only recently converted to Orthodoxy?

The process has taken many years, but "officially", yes, recently. Thanks for asking.

[Ilian]

I know you all are starting a fast tommorrow.

The Nativity Fast for those of us on the Old Calendar begins the 28th. I do believe the majority of people here are on the revised calendar though.

Regarding the fast, the OCA site says the following:

While most Orthodox Christians are perhaps aware of the general rules of fasting for Great Lent, the rules for the other fasting periods are less known. During the Dormition Fast, wine and oil are allowed only on Saturdays and Sundays (and sometimes on a few feast days and vigils). During the Apostles' Fast and the Nativity Fast, the general rules are as follows (from Chapter 33 of the Typikon):"It should be noted that in the Fast of the Holy Apostles and of the Nativity of Christ, on Tuesday and Thursday we do not eat fish, but only oil or wine. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we eat neither oil nor wine.... On Saturday and Sunday we eat fish. If there occur on Tuesday or Thursday a Saint who has a [Great] Doxology, we eat fish; if on Monday, the same; but if on Wednesday or Friday, we allow only oil and wine.... If it be a Saint who has a Vigil on Wednesday or Friday, or the Saint whose temple it is, we allow oil and wine and fish.... But from the 20th of December until the 25th, even if it be Saturday or Sunday, we do not allow fish."

[Mary of Bethany]

After Vespers Monday, is Tuesday.
Dinner Tuesday evening, is a fast, I think. Right?

Most of us fast from "sleep to sleep" as one priest puts it, so for most of us, tonight's dinner will be non-fasting. I know it will be for me! :D

The only time I can think of that we actually start the fast in the evening is with Great Lent, because the fast starts with Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday evening.

Mary