TheodoraElizabeth3
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« on: July 02, 2011, 09:40:34 PM » |
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An off-hand comment by a fellow parishioner piqued my interest...
A very pious, observant middle-aged Orthodox fellow (raised in the US, if that matters any) made an off-hand comment to me about racing me to the coffeepot after Liturgy as he's thirsty since fasting since Vespers. We'd been joking about what we needed more after Liturgy, caffeine or food?
How common is this? I've not had a chance to ask him further about it. You don't eat after Great Vespers/Vigil on Saturday evening, beginning the communion fast then, rather than at midnight.
I don't know if I've ever encountered this before.
Thanks!
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Anastasios
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« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2011, 09:46:12 PM » |
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I don't know anyone who fasts from water from Vespers, but I do know of some people who fast from food from Vespers onward, and we are certainly encouraged not to be gorging ourselves right up until 11:59 pm anyway. It's certainly a pious practice to fast from food from Vespers on, but I am not aware of it being commonly practiced.
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Check out my personal website with 130+ articles: www.anastasioshudson.comDisclaimer: Past posts reflect stages of my life before my baptism may not be accurate expositions of Orthodox teaching. I served as an Orthodox priest from June 2008 to April 2013, before resigning for personal reasons |
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« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2011, 09:53:11 PM » |
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As with many Orthodox practices I've come across several variations on this (more online than anything else). For some it's no food after Vespers, for others it's no meat after noon, for still others it's no meat for the three days prior to Communion with the full fast starting after Vigil, but I think everyone I know just does the midnight (though not gorging ourselves). But then I also hear that the Orthodox in Lebanon don't count coffee as part of the Sunday morning fast.
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"Funny," said Lancelot, "how the people who can't pray say that prayers are not answered, however much the people who can pray say they are." TH White Oh, no: I've succumbed to Hyperdoxy! |
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TheodoraElizabeth3
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« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2011, 09:55:23 PM » |
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This is in a parish where pretty much every one communes weekly.
I figured it was a "small o" pious tradition.
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augustin717
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« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2011, 11:03:46 PM » |
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With the blessing of my Spiritual Father, Elder Patermuthios of the Springfield Caves, I fast from the mid-third hour on Saturday.
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Anastasios
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« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2011, 11:19:46 PM » |
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With the blessing of my Spiritual Father, Elder Patermuthios of the Springfield Caves, I fast from the mid-third hour on Saturday.
I defended your approach before, but it is kind of getting old. The poster asked a question, but did not make any demands or presuppositions. She does not deserve a mocking response. |
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« Last Edit: July 02, 2011, 11:20:00 PM by Fr. Anastasios »
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Check out my personal website with 130+ articles: www.anastasioshudson.comDisclaimer: Past posts reflect stages of my life before my baptism may not be accurate expositions of Orthodox teaching. I served as an Orthodox priest from June 2008 to April 2013, before resigning for personal reasons |
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« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2011, 12:01:58 AM » |
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Our priest has counseled us to fast from Saturday midnight on, but to eat lenten (if anything is eaten) after Vespers.
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orthonorm
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« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2011, 01:43:49 AM » |
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With the blessing of my Spiritual Father, Elder Patermuthios of the Springfield Caves, I fast from the mid-third hour on Saturday.
I defended your approach before, but it is kind of getting old. The poster asked a question, but did not make any demands or presuppositions. She does not deserve a mocking response. Father, I understand your concern here, but I just have to say I appreciate augustin's brilliant one-liners. Really they are often inside baseball, so I don't think they would harm anyone new, just seem odd (maybe he has scandalized others in the past, I dunno). And if not new, then the sense of humor I hope would be appreciated. Again. It was a literal laugh out loud. And the message I get from him is not take myself, at least, too seriously. For the little it is worth. |
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joasia
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« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2011, 04:18:16 PM » |
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An off-hand comment by a fellow parishioner piqued my interest...
A very pious, observant middle-aged Orthodox fellow (raised in the US, if that matters any) made an off-hand comment to me about racing me to the coffeepot after Liturgy as he's thirsty since fasting since Vespers. We'd been joking about what we needed more after Liturgy, caffeine or food?
How common is this? I've not had a chance to ask him further about it. You don't eat after Great Vespers/Vigil on Saturday evening, beginning the communion fast then, rather than at midnight.
I don't know if I've ever encountered this before.
Thanks!
I think the basic rule is not to eat or drink anything after midnight. I'll have tea, in the evening, after I come back from Vespers and try to drink enough water as I don't want to be dehydrated and distracted from praying, during Liturgy. But, there are those who don't take anything after Vespers and that is good too, if the person can do it. As an aside, we have Trapeza after Liturgy, during the Fall and Winter seasons and we always make sure a pot of coffee is ready for us. After the Trapeza blessing, we grab a cup.  |
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The proper activity of the intellect is to be attentive at every moment to the words of God. (Philokalia 2: p. 308 - # 30) - St. Thalassios
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Anastasios
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« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2011, 09:53:51 AM » |
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With the blessing of my Spiritual Father, Elder Patermuthios of the Springfield Caves, I fast from the mid-third hour on Saturday.
I defended your approach before, but it is kind of getting old. The poster asked a question, but did not make any demands or presuppositions. She does not deserve a mocking response. Father, I understand your concern here, but I just have to say I appreciate augustin's brilliant one-liners. Really they are often inside baseball, so I don't think they would harm anyone new, just seem odd (maybe he has scandalized others in the past, I dunno). And if not new, then the sense of humor I hope would be appreciated. Again. It was a literal laugh out loud. And the message I get from him is not take myself, at least, too seriously. For the little it is worth. God bless you! I can appreciate Augustin's approach in some cases. I think some of his criticism of American Orthodoxy is right, and I agree that sometimes it is funny. However, I don't always think it's appropriate, and sometimes I think it takes the tone of mockery. I would hope that he would exercise some restraint in the future in cases where people are just asking an honest question. |
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Check out my personal website with 130+ articles: www.anastasioshudson.comDisclaimer: Past posts reflect stages of my life before my baptism may not be accurate expositions of Orthodox teaching. I served as an Orthodox priest from June 2008 to April 2013, before resigning for personal reasons |
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