What you can and cannot eat while fasting. Very strict fasting - dry eating

02.03.2009 21:27:22 Vorkuta
Hello. What means strict fast.

Dear reader of our site!

Lent is the strictest of all the fasts that exist in the Orthodox Church because this fast is prohibited from eating not only meat, but also dairy products (kefir, cottage cheese, milk, yoghurts, etc.), egg and even fish dishes.

Lent is established in memory of the 40-day fast of the Lord Jesus Christ in the desert. This is the longest and most severe of the four fasts of the year. The most strict are the first week and the last - Holy Week (strictly speaking, Holy Week is already outside the calendar fast, this is a special time, different from Lenten, but strict fasting is preserved, its severity intensifies during Holy Week). During Lent, it is not allowed to eat meat and dairy foods; fish is allowed only twice - on the Feast of the Annunciation (April 7, new style) and on Palm Sunday a week before Easter. Relaxation of fasting with the blessing of the priest is allowed for the sick, elderly people, travelers, and pregnant women.

During Lent the whole system changes Everyday life Orthodox Christian. The spirit of repentance, self-absorbed attention to what is happening in the soul, excludes much of what does not correspond to the “bright sadness” of Lenten time. Previously, in Orthodox countries, all entertainment (balls, salons, receptions) was canceled throughout Lent, theaters were closed, and classes were stopped in the first week of Lent and Holy Week. educational institutions, all state and church (except, of course, churches) institutions were closed. For married people, a marriage fast is established for the entire duration of Lent; for children of conscious age, there is some limitation on games and fun, which allows them to feel the atmosphere of the difference between fasting and all other times of the church year.

Significant changes are taking place in the home and church prayer. In the temple, singing gives way to long reading, all vestments in the temple are replaced with dark ones, during services in the temple there is twilight, many prayers are accompanied by prostrations to the ground. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the first week of Lent, the Great Reading is performed in the evenings. Canon of Penance St. Andrey Kritsky. This is a very large canon, divided into four parts, in which the entire sacred history of the Old and New Testaments is seen through the prism of states, sins, passions and repentance human soul. Characters and events sacred history figuratively represent the entire diversity of human spiritual life: from slavery to the ugliness of passions and enslavement of the flesh to the beauty of repentance and the royal freedom of the spirit bestowed by God. “Where will I begin to cry about my accursed life of deeds, will I lay the foundation, O Christ, for this present weeping; but as I am gracious, grant me remission of my sins.”,” the Great Canon begins with these words. “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,” the choir repeats in a special Lenten chant after each troparion of the canon.

Orthodox Rus' sacredly honored Lent. On this day, all the songs fell silent at once, and the table, which had just been bursting with delicious and plentiful dishes, became scarce. Accepted voluntarily as a feat, for the salvation of the soul, fasting enlightens the soul, gives new strength and opens the way to heaven, to God. That is why the soul responds so joyfully to the Church’s call to repentance.

Since the 4th century, Lent has existed everywhere. The fast was very strict. The ancient Christian writer Tertullian says that only bread, dried vegetables and fruits were allowed, and then not before the evening. We didn’t even drink water during the day. In the East, dry eating persisted until the 12th century. Any joy and fun was considered a violation of fasting. General rule consisted of abstaining from stimulating foods and moderate consumption of even permitted foods.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the strict observance of fasting became firmly established. Russian society, becoming integral part the very religious life of the people. During the first week of Lent, the bustling Russian capital seemed to fall asleep. No one appeared on the street unnecessarily. Shops were closed for the first three days. No one was selling or buying, everyone was unapologetically present at the service, and wore simple clothes. The Orthodox Russian people carried out the feat of fasting with great love. But it was much more difficult to abstain from alcoholic drinks. And in order to prevent drunkenness and revelry during Lent, the archers, by order of the tsar, sealed all drinking establishments, and they were closed until Easter Wednesday.

In addition to abstinence in food and drink, the regulations during fasting provided for intense prayer with bows. Thus, according to the Studio Charter, 240 prostrations. Large and medium bows were prescribed. According to the teachings of the holy fathers, bowing, like fasting, had the same task - “to languish your flesh, so that it does not fight against the spirit.”

Ancient preachers paid special attention to the reception of the Holy Mysteries; they exhorted believers to receive communion as often as possible, so as not to give the devil access to the soul. Historical documents testify that pious and God-fearing Christians partook of the Holy Mysteries every week of Lent.

The highest feat during Lent was considered to be showing mercy to one's neighbors. Every Christian was charged by the Church to show constant concern for his brothers who are in poverty. Alms to the poor in Rus' were considered as a necessary companion to fasting, giving it moral value.

Church Charter Ancient Rus' strictly prescribed the observance of purity of married life. Special abstinence was observed during Lent and before communion of the Holy Mysteries, according to the words of the Apostle Paul, who advised spouses to have abstinence by mutual consent during fasting and prayer.

A distinctive feature of the spiritual life of the Russian people was piety. The spiritual ideal of the people of that time was the “ascetic” monk, who completely devoted himself to serving God. Moreover, the monastic way of life was not something imposed from the outside, but, on the contrary, stemmed from the inner, heartfelt need of the deeply religious Russian people. External severity was only a manifestation of concentration on the internal “invisible” battle, the desire to cleanse oneself of all impurity for unity with God. Therefore, even within the strict way of life, Russian people felt natural, free and simple.

It is impossible to establish a single fast for monks, clergy and laity with various exceptions for the elderly, the sick, children, etc. Therefore, in the Orthodox Church, the rules of fasting indicate only the most strict standards, which all believers should, if possible, strive to observe. There is no formal division in the rules for monks, clergy and laity. But you need to approach fasting wisely. We cannot take on what we cannot do. Those inexperienced in fasting should begin it gradually and wisely. Lay people often make their fast easier (this should be done with the blessing of the priest). Sick people and children can fast lightly, for example, only in the first week of Lent and in Holy Week.

The prayers say: “Fast with a pleasant fast.” This means that you need to adhere to a fast that will be spiritually pleasant. You need to measure your strength and not fast too diligently or, on the contrary, completely laxly. In the first case, following rules that we are unable to do can cause harm to both body and soul; in the second case, we will not achieve the necessary physical and spiritual tension. Each of us should determine our bodily and spiritual capabilities and impose upon ourselves all possible bodily abstinence, paying main attention to the cleansing of our soul.

Fasting is established for everyone: both monks and laity. It is not a duty or punishment. It should be understood as a life-saving remedy, a kind of treatment and medicine for every human soul. “Fasting does not push away either women, or old people, or young men, or even small children,” says St. John Chrysostom, “but it opens the door to everyone, it accepts everyone, in order to save everyone.”

The products that are prohibited from being eaten during fasting are all products for the production of which raw materials of animal origin were used. First of all, the ban applies to meat and any meat products, as well as poultry and eggs. Milk and everything connected with it are prohibited: butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, fermented milk products and drinks, cheeses. During fasting, it is prohibited to eat pasta, white and rich bread, cakes, cookies, waffles and any pastries that contain butter, eggs and milk. Don’t forget, there is also mayonnaise, because eggs are also used to prepare it.

Some foods, such as fish and vegetable oil, can only be eaten on those days of fasting that are considered non-strict, although vegetable oil does not have animal origin. The ban also applies to chocolate and fast food, which are high in fat. During fasting, you should not drink alcoholic beverages, including beer.

Post by day of the week

On some days of the week, fasting may be more strict, and on some days, including those falling on Sunday, some relaxations may be allowed. So, Monday, Wednesday and Friday are days of strict fasting and dry eating. On these days, you can only eat foods that have not been subjected to heat treatment; adding vegetable oil is also excluded. On days of strict fasting, you can only eat black bread, vegetables and fruits, washing them down with water or unsweetened compote. If you are making salads these days, you can only use lemon juice mixed with a little honey for dressing.

You should not go hungry while fasting, especially if you have not denied yourself food before. This is fraught with problems with bile secretion and erosive processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Hot dishes can be eaten on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but on these days it is prohibited to add oil to them. But Saturday is the day of relaxation, when you can finally fry fish or vegetables in vegetable oil and add it to salads.

Proper nutrition during fasting

And during fasting, your diet can be healthy. Replace any animal protein missing in your diet with products that contain plant-based proteins. First of all, these are mushrooms and legumes: lentils, peas, chickpeas. The missing fats are found in nuts, and iron in apples, buckwheat, and bananas.

Remember that while observing religious fasts, you should not immediately fall into the sin of gluttony upon completion; this is harmful not only to the soul, but also to health.

Mayonnaise, which contains both butter and eggs, is not allowed as a sauce, so it is best to dress salads soy sauce or lemon juice.

It is prohibited to drink any alcohol, despite the fact that natural recipes it must have a vegetable character. This is due to the fact that fasting is primarily a cleansing of the soul, and not, and alcohol for a person is an excess, not a necessity.

note

The exception regarding fish concerns only Palm Sunday and the Annunciation. Fish is allowed on these days.

The diet of a nursing mother should be complete, including foods high in vitamins and microelements that are vital for a newborn baby. However there is whole line restrictions in the mother’s diet, since not all foods will benefit her and her newborn baby.

Reasons for refusal

A mother who is breastfeeding should follow a special diet recommended by pediatricians and based on many years of experience of previous generations. Otherwise it may affect the child. Excessive consumption of certain foods threatens allergic dermatitis, popularly called diathesis, infant colic and increased gas formation, as well as poor health and often the mother herself.

Most strict dietary restrictions apply to the first month of a child’s life. Over time, new products can be gradually introduced.

First of all, keep in mind that each baby has its own individual reaction to foods in the diet. What is well tolerated by one will cause problems for another.

Dairy and fermented milk products

One of the most common pieces of advice that women who have recently given birth hear is to be sure to drink cow's milk. No less often, in order to increase lactation, it is advised to drink several cups of black tea with condensed milk every day.

If you like to drink tea with herbs, you should not get carried away with sage, it reduces lactation.

Maybe these drinks really count breast milk and make it taste sweeter. The pitfall is that a fairly large percentage do not tolerate protein well in the first months after birth. cow's milk. This is biologically determined and is not a disease. If you notice your baby has rashes on the face and body, a yellow seborrheic crust on the head or other allergy symptoms, reduce the amount of milk consumed. Dairy products, cottage cheese, sour cream are considered more acceptable in the mother’s diet.

Confectionery

All sorts of sweets like cakes, sweets, pastries, etc. should also be limited, ideally completely excluded from the diet. Confectionery very often contain harmful transgenic fats, margarine and artificial additives. In general, try to reduce the amount of food with chemical colors and preservatives and eat natural products.

A pediatric nutritionist or breastfeeding specialist will help clarify the situation regarding the effect of foods on a particular child.

Products that cause allergies

The nursing diet should be hypoallergenic. Allergies are often caused by products containing cocoa beans (cocoa, chocolate, candies). Eating large amounts of eggs, nuts, honey, canned food, citrus fruits and berries can cause allergic reaction. You should also not overuse fresh vegetables and fruits, especially if you often have digestive problems.

Avoid drinking too much carbonated drinks and coffee.

Alcohol abuse during lactation

The most important rule that a nursing woman must follow unquestioningly is the absolute exclusion of alcoholic beverages! Drinking alcohol in 100% of cases affects the composition and quality of breast milk; alcohol enters the child’s body and can affect its motor development.

Medicines and breastfeeding

Majority medicines are also prohibited. Before taking any pill, read the instructions carefully. In the vast majority of cases, the lactation period is included. If you are sick, it is best not to risk it, go to see a doctor and get advice about taking certain medications in your chest.

Video on the topic

Sources:

• Products prohibited breastfeeding

* This means that olives are used instead of vegetable oil.

(Note: The Rule fully applies to the monastic practice of Palestine (see). Laymen determine their norm individually, preferably with the blessing of the priest)

Dates are indicated according to the new style

In the Russian Orthodox Church there are four multi-day fasts, fasts on Wednesday and Friday throughout the year (except for five weeks), and three one-day fasts.

The Savior himself was led by spirit into the desert, was tempted by the devil for forty days and did not eat anything during these days. The Savior began the work of our salvation by fasting. Great Lent is a fast in honor of the Savior Himself, and the last Holy Week of this 48-day fast is established in honor of the memory of the last days of earthly life, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Fasting is observed with particular strictness during the first and passionate weeks.

On the first two days of Lent, as well as on Good Friday, the Typikon instructs monks to completely abstain from food. The rest of the time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry food (water, bread, fruits, vegetables, compotes); Tuesday, Thursday - hot food without oil; Saturday, Sunday - food with vegetable oil.

Fish is allowed on Annunciation Day Holy Mother of God and on Palm Sunday. Fish caviar is allowed on Lazarus Saturday. IN Good Friday there is a tradition of not eating food until the shroud is taken out (usually this service ends at 15-16 hours).

On Monday of the Week of All Saints, the Fast of the Holy Apostles begins, established before the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. The continuation of fasting varies depending on how early or late Easter occurs.

It always starts on All Saints Monday and ends on July 12th. The longest fast of Petrov consists of six weeks, and the shortest one is a week and a day. This fast was established in honor of the Holy Apostles, who, through fasting and prayer, prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel and prepared their successors in the work of saving service.

Strict fasting (dry eating) on ​​Wednesday and Friday. On Monday you can have hot food without oil. On other days - fish, mushrooms, cereals with vegetable oil.

August 14 - August 27

A month after the Apostolic Fast, the multi-day Dormition Fast begins. It lasts two weeks - from August 14 to 27. With this post the Church calls us to imitate Mother of God, who, before her resettlement to heaven, constantly remained in fasting and prayer.

Monday Wednesday Friday - . Tuesday, Thursday - hot food without oil. On Saturday and Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.

This fast was established so that we can adequately prepare for the grace-filled union with the born Savior.

If the feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple falls on Wednesday or Friday, then fish is permitted by the charter. After the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas and before the forefeast of Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. On the eve of the holiday, the charter prohibits eating fish on all days; on Saturday and Sunday - food with oil.

On Christmas Eve, it is not customary to eat food until the first star appears, after which they eat juice - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.

Solid weeks

Week- week from Monday to Sunday. These days there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday.

There are five continuous weeks:

Publican and Pharisee- 2 weeks before Lent,

Cheese ()- week before Lent (no meat),

Easter (Light)- week after Easter,

Trinity- week after Trinity.

Wednesday and Friday

Weekly fast days are Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday, fasting was established in memory of the betrayal of Christ by Judas, on Friday - in memory of the suffering on the cross and death of the Savior. On these days of the week, the Holy Church prohibits the consumption of meat and dairy foods, and during the Week of All Saints before the Nativity of Christ one should also abstain from fish and vegetable oil. Only when the days of celebrated saints fall on Wednesday and Friday are vegetable oils allowed, and on the biggest holidays, such as Intercession, fish.

Sick and busy hard work Some relaxation is allowed so that Christians have the strength to pray and do the necessary work, but eating fish on the wrong days, and even more so full resolution post is rejected by the charter.

One-day posts

Epiphany Christmas Eve - January 18, on the eve of Epiphany. On this day, Christians prepare for cleansing and consecration with holy water on the feast of Epiphany.

- September 27. The memory of the Savior's suffering on the cross for the salvation of the human race. This day is spent in prayer, fasting, and contrition for sins.

One-day fasts are days of strict fasting (except Wednesday and Friday). Fish is prohibited, but food with vegetable oil is allowed.

About meals on holidays

By Church Charter, on the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany, which happened on Wednesday and Friday, there is no fasting. On Christmas and Epiphany Eves and on the holidays of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the Beheading of John the Baptist, food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the feasts of the Presentation, Transfiguration of the Lord, Dormition, Nativity and Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, Her Entry into the Temple, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which occurred on Wednesday and Friday, as well as in the period from Easter to Trinity on Wednesday and Friday Fish allowed.

Lent in 2019 year passes from March 11 to April 27, marking a dramatic change in the diet of all believers. Lent is one of the strictest fasts in church calendar, starting seven weeks before Easter and lasting 48 days. It consists of Pentecost, symbolizing Christ's fasting in the desert for 40 days, and Holy Week, reminiscent of the last days of Christ's life, his crucifixion and resurrection.

During Lent, it is prohibited to consume animal products, including meat, eggs and milk, as well as products made with eggs and milk. For example, cakes, pastries, cookies, pastries - all this is prohibited. The consumption of fish and vegetable oil is allowed only on certain days, while the inclusion of seafood such as squid, shrimp or mussels in the diet is not prohibited. Allowed products include vegetables, fruits, cereals, legumes, mushrooms, nuts, dried fruits, honey, sugar, halva, dark chocolate and sauces, including lean mayonnaise. You can also include egg-free pasta and bread made without milk or eggs in your diet. Don’t forget about homemade preserves, which will allow you to diversify Lenten menu V certain days, and about greens, which can enhance the flavor of Lenten dishes. If you can’t imagine your life without milk, soy or coconut milk can be a real lifesaver for you.

It is worth noting that fasting does not at all mean starving, and if you think through your diet rationally, you will definitely not remain hungry. It is also necessary to remember that the fasting table is only a part of fasting, while the primary point is concentration on prayers, visiting temple, good deeds, abandonment of bad thoughts and entertainment, forgiveness of offenses and a benevolent attitude towards others. If you follow all these rules, dietary restrictions will benefit both body and soul.

So, let’s take a closer look at daily meals during Lent in 2019. The first and last weeks of fasting are the strictest- these days especially strict restrictions are imposed on the diet. On Clean Monday - the first day of Lent- it is customary to completely abstain from eating food, while on Tuesday only bread and water are allowed. On the remaining days of the first week, you should stick to dry eating and eat foods exclusively in raw form once a day - these can be fruits, vegetables, nuts or herbs. On Saturday and Sunday first week you can eat hot food with oil, for example, porridge, lean soups, vegetable stew or fried mushrooms. On these days, two meals a day are acceptable. On Sunday you can afford not a large number of red wine - it must be natural and free of alcohol and sugar. It is advisable to dilute it hot water, or better yet, abstain from wine altogether.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday For each subsequent week of Lent, except the last, dry eating is prescribed, while eating is allowed only once a day during the daytime. Tuesday and Thursday During the same five weeks, hot food is allowed once in the evening, but it must be cooked without adding oil. For example, it could be boiled or baked vegetables. So, a nice addition Oven-cooked carrots or pumpkin, supplemented with honey, nuts and dried fruits, can be added to your diet. On weekends those fasting are again expected to relax - you can increase the number of meals to two times a day and eat hot food with the addition of vegetable oil. So, braised cabbage, potato cutlets, vegetable soup, bean lobio, vegetable stew or potatoes fried with mushrooms and onions, excellent lean main courses. Eating fish is allowed on the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which this time falls on March 25, and in Palm Sunday, which falls on 21 April. 20 April, on Lazarus Saturday, consumption of up to 100 g of fish caviar is allowed.

Holy Week - the last week of Lent- is no less strict than the first. In the first three days, only raw foods without oil are allowed once a day. On Thursday you can afford hot food after heat treatment, without adding oil. For example, it could be boiled cauliflower or baked potatoes. It is not customary to eat anything on Friday. On Saturday Holy Week many believers continue to refuse food until Easter. However, raw foods and bread are allowed in the afternoon.

For some people, these instructions may be too strict and unacceptable, for example, for health reasons or due to age - in this case, it is recommended to give up animal products and eat hot food cooked in oil throughout Lent. In any case, remember that Lent is not just about food restrictions, but about approaching spiritual purity, fighting sins and finding harmony with your soul through abstaining from food, and delicious Lenten recipes will help you with this.

The Church gives great importance post. It depends a lot on him inner life man, as evidenced by the Holy Fathers of both ancient and modern times.

In the Christian calendar, about 200 days are occupied by fasting. Orthodox Church distinguishes multi-day and one-day posts.

The basic rule: Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year, except for Christmastide and full weeks, are strictly fast days (unless there is special permission to relax fasting). Some monasteries also fast on Mondays (in honor of the Angels). Then, there are 4 major fasts a year:

1) Lent - 40 days; joins him Holy Week- last week before Light Christ's Resurrection- Easter; mobile post

2) Peter's Fast begins a week after Pentecost (Trinity Day) and ends on July 12 on Peter's Day; mobile post, of varying duration.

In addition, the following are considered strictly fast:

• Day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 27)
• day of the Beheading of St. Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John (September 11)
• Christmas Eve (January 6)
• and Epiphany Christmas Eve (Epiphany Eve) - January 18

Fasting has been around since ancient times established rules, which promote prayer and help a person’s inner growth. But there are circumstances in a person’s life that make it difficult to keep the fast (for example, being on a trip or illness). Then relaxation is allowed. Elderly sick people, children (under 14 years of age), as well as pregnant women are exempt from strict fasting. However, you should consult your spiritual father about relaxation measures.

Abba Isaac of Syria in his work “Words of the Ascetic” wrote: "Whoever does not care about fasting causes everything that is good to waver, because fasting was a commandment initially given to our nature as a warning against eating food, and the beginning of our creation fell by breaking fasting. This is where the Savior began when he appeared to the world on the Jordan. For, after baptism, the Spirit led Him into the desert and He fasted there for 40 days and 40 nights. If the Lawgiver himself fasts, how can anyone who keeps the law not fast?"

Because we did not fast, we were cast out of paradise! Therefore, let us fast in order to ascend to heaven again!

(St. Basil the Great).

Christianity is based on the fact that human nature The harmony between the spiritual and carnal principles is broken, the flesh strives to dominate the spirit. Therefore, a person needs at least the most simple methods self-restraint. Posts established Christian Church in order to support spiritual and moral aspirations in a Christian over the sensual. But let's look at the posts from a modern perspective. A strict nutrition ritual is the same psychotherapy, but supported by a rhythm and a certain set of foods.

By observing fasting, a person seems to enter into a different state of mind, cutting off from himself unfavorable sensory perceptions caused by both external and internal influences. When fasting, a person has a goal, he begins to feel a surge of strength, vigor, he develops confidence and will. Just as with autogenic training, he constantly convinces himself that with strict adherence to fasting, his strength increases, he breathes much easier, and he becomes healthier.

Fasting is useful for each of us, because our body is polluted with foreign substances inhaled with polluted air: lead, toxic gases, radioactive substances coming from food: nitrates, salts heavy metals, pesticides and others chemicals; medicines. During the period of fasting, we eat plant foods, namely plant foods, especially pectins and fiber, help bind and remove toxic substances from the body. This is facilitated by the monotonous, stable composition of products.

Keeping fasts is more physiological for the body than supposed fasting or separate meals.

An excess amount of food leads to overload, first of all, of the stomach and heart, its constituent parts enter the blood and clog all cells and tissues, a kind of “suffocation” occurs, incomplete combustion and metabolism is disrupted.

The work of the heart, liver, stomach, kidneys, and internal glands increases due to undigested food, and a kind of “rotting” and poisoning of the body occurs. Many of us notice this process when, after a heavy meal the night before, we get up tired and lethargic, despite a night's rest.

But now you decide to fast. The food you begin to eat has a mild, gentle effect on the function of the endocrine, nervous, cardiovascular and other systems. Food should be lightly salted, vegetables should be consumed raw, half-raw and boiled. During fasting, animal fats are excluded and vegetable fats are introduced.

Such a diet helps eliminate cholesterol and other substances that cause atherosclerosis. Fasting has a beneficial effect on the function of the kidneys and urinary system. A large amount of animal protein waste is released from the body: urea, uric acid.

IN last decades Among the population, including children, the number of patients with metabolic disorders has sharply increased: obesity and diabetes are becoming more common. For example, 25-50 percent are obese, and diabetes mellitus, including hidden forms, up to 10 percent of the population. During fasting, satiety occurs more quickly, hence the overall weight loss in obese people. If during fasting you limit sugar to 0.5 g per 1 kg of normal body weight, then its level in the blood decreases sharply.

Of course, many will find it difficult to fulfill the fasts. But you need to start gradually. First of all, by abstaining from animal food, without excluding it from the diet, that is, by practicing regular fasting. During this period they eat everything except meat. This type of nutrition is especially useful in the summer-autumn period, when there is a lot of fruits and vegetables. It is difficult for meat eaters to completely give up meat. First, reduce your consumption to once a day, replacing it with fish, poultry, eggs, and cottage cheese.

There are different degrees of strictness of fasting:

• very strict- dry eating, when they eat only plant foods without oil, bread;
• strict- eat boiled vegetable food with vegetable oil;
• ordinary- in addition to what they eat during strict fasting, they eat fish.
• weakened fasting - for the weak, on the move, eating in canteens: they eat everything except meat.

It is also necessary, while observing fasts, to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages; irritating and appetite-stimulating foods are completely eliminated.

What can you eat during Lent? Bread (preferably coarsely ground), except for baked goods, porridge, boiled in water without butter, vegetables, fruits, including dried ones, nuts, mushrooms.

Christmas fast (40 days).

Before Christmas - from November 28 to January 6. During this fast, you should not eat fish or vegetable oil on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. After the feast of St. Nicholas - December 19 - fish is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday. Last days Lent - from January 2 - should be observed in the same way as Lent.

A particularly strict fast is imposed on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, when once, in the evening, at the rise of the first star, heralding the hour of the Nativity of Christ, one is allowed to taste “sochiva,” that is, dry fruits soaked in water, which is why the day itself is called Christmas Eve.

The Nativity fast is also called Filippov, as it begins on the day of remembrance of the Apostle Philip.

Fast of the Holy Apostles (Peter's Fast).

It begins a week after Trinity Day and continues until Saints' Day. supreme apostles Peter and Paul July 12. The food regulations for this Lent are the same as for Christmas. If the day of the end of the fast falls on Wednesday or Friday, then the breaking of the fast, as in the Assumption Fast, is postponed to the next day, and on this day they eat only fish.

Assumption Fast.

lasts from August 14 to August 27. Erected in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Three big things are noted during this post. church holiday, popularly called Spas.

Three Spas in the Russian calendar

There are three holidays in Rus' called “Spasami”: honey, apple and nut. Each of them seems to have a double meaning and has two names: one is solemn, church, the other is folk, peasant.

The first, or honey, Savior celebrated on August 14; on this day in the Orthodox church calendar there is an official holiday: “The origin (deterioration) of honorable trees life-giving cross The Lord's."

The name of the holiday was formed at the dawn of Christianity. According to legend, on this day in 988, the Russian Prince Vladimir was baptized. Popular name“Savior” is undoubtedly associated with the name of the Savior - Christ. Why "honey"? It has been noted that by this day the honeycombs in the hives are filled to capacity, and it is time for beekeepers to start collecting honey.

However popular belief does not order you to eat the collected honey until the second Savior. However, the wait is not long at all: five days.

To the Second (Apple) Savior-August 19 - in the church calendar corresponds to the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The holiday was established in memory of the miraculous transfiguration of Jesus Christ, which is narrated in the Gospel of Luke (9:29). A celebration celebrated in Rus' since ancient times was dedicated to this day. folk holiday, dedicated to the beginning fruit collection.

Apple Spas is the most important of the three Spas.

“The Savior has come - it’s time,” they said in the old days. Before this day, one was not supposed to eat any fruits except cucumbers (berries do not count). Until now, many believers observe an old ritual: on the day Apple Spas The first collected apples, other fruits, and honey are brought to the church for consecration, after which they are considered permissible for consumption. This custom contains echoes of ancient agricultural magic: it was probably necessary to appease the corresponding spirit with certain rituals so as not to “scare off” the future harvest.