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Offline DavidH

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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?
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Offline GiC

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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.
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Offline PeterTheAleut

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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.
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Offline Fr. George

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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.
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Offline Cassiel

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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?
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Offline Orthodox11

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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.
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