As the Orthodox fasting schedule is far and away different than the RCC fasting calandar it made me wonder if there are also different ways that fasting is looked at by both.
Does an Orthodox offer up these fastings for their own spriritual Theosis or can/do Orthodox also offer up these things in expiation for offenses against God, for the conversion of sinners, souls departed, the Church, etc.,,
Is this up to the individual?
I have in confession offered to take others penances along with my own to "help out the next guy in line",, can the Orthodox do this too?
Yes, Catholic and Orthodox fasting are dissimilar.
An Orthodox fasts to make a positive step towards defeating the passions. It's not exactly an offering, but more like the taking of spiritual vitamins.
Um, fasting is not an offering in this sense. We offer OURSELVES, His own of His own, and not our efforts as sacrifice.
We don't penance in the same way as what you might have experienced, but even then, no, b/c in it's essence (if not in practice) RCC penance is supposed to help the penitent by making them spend time in prayer--so "taking" someone else's penance won't do them any good, as it would take away the medicine that would help them get better.
