« previous next »
Pages: 1   Go Down

Author Topic: Saturday Fasts  (Read 3141 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline DavidH

  • High Elder
  • ******
  • Posts: 537
    • Signature Landscape Designs
Saturday Fasts
« on: March 18, 2006, 10:54:57 PM »
My understanding of the canons is that we are not to fast on Saturdays and yet we are not to eat meat during the Fast(s) even on Saturday and Sundays. Is there a difference between fasting and abstinence in ancient Christianity that is obscured nowadays?
Logged

Offline GiC

  • Site Supporter
  • Merarches
  • *****
  • Posts: 9,487
Re: Saturday Fasts
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2006, 12:43:12 AM »
Yes, fasting is about how much you eat and when you eat it...abstinence is something completely different.
Logged

Offline PeterTheAleut

  • The Right Blowhard Peter the Furtive of Yetts O'Muckhart
  • Hypatos
  • *****************
  • Posts: 37,280
  • Lord, have mercy on the Christians in Mosul!
  • Faith: Orthodox Christian
  • Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America
Re: Saturday Fasts
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2006, 01:49:47 AM »
As I understand this, the "fasting" that is forbidden on Saturdays and Sundays (with the exception of Holy Saturday) is the strict fast of not eating anything until sundown.  (This prohibition of fasting on Saturdays except for Holy Saturday explains why Holy Saturday is the only Saturday for which a Vesperal Divine Liturgy is prescribed.)  Alluding to greekchristian's response, not eating meat or dairy is more the definition of "abstinence," which is still required of us even during the Saturdays and Sundays of Lent.
Logged
Not all who wander are lost.

Offline Fr. George

  • formerly "Cleveland"
  • Administrator
  • Stratopedarches
  • *******
  • Posts: 20,873
  • May the Lord bless you and keep you always!
  • Faith: Orthodox Christian
  • Jurisdiction: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh
Re: Saturday Fasts
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2006, 09:26:48 AM »
Quote from: PeterTheAleut on March 19, 2006, 01:49:47 AM
As I understand this, the "fasting" that is forbidden on Saturdays and Sundays (with the exception of Holy Saturday) is the strict fast of not eating anything until sundown.  (This prohibition of fasting on Saturdays except for Holy Saturday explains why Holy Saturday is the only Saturday for which a Vesperal Divine Liturgy is prescribed.)  Alluding to greekchristian's response, not eating meat or dairy is more the definition of "abstinence," which is still required of us even during the Saturdays and Sundays of Lent.

Exactly the way Fr. Dad explained it to me awhile ago.
Logged
Quote from: Mor Ephrem on January 15, 2017, 06:57:30 PM
Quote from: Fr. George on January 15, 2017, 04:25:33 PM
I don't typically presume to speak for Mor
You can presume to speak for Mor.   

Offline Cassiel

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 91
    • More than you should want to know about me - Annichka.
Re: Saturday Fasts
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2008, 02:05:25 PM »
Sorry - I know this is an old thread I'm ressurecting, but it raises a question for me.  I think I spaced out during the catechism class where fasting was explained, because I missed the part about not fasting on Saturday and Sunday.  I realized while I was at a retreat, weeks ago, that the strict fast must be relaxed on Saturday and Sunday, because they fed us three times and snacks were available (this was at a monastery, too).  I know, I know, I should have run to my spiritual father with this question probably, but is it the case that the fasting rule is relaxed on the weekend while the abstinence rule is not?
Logged
More than you should want to know about Cassiel.

Offline Orthodox11

  • Archon
  • ********
  • Posts: 2,994
Re: Saturday Fasts
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2008, 03:12:58 PM »
The abstinence rule is also relaxed in that wine and oil are permitted on Saturdays and Sundays.
Logged
Pages: 1   Go Up
« previous next »