What not to do in Lent. What is not allowed during fasting: the most important and main prohibitions

Great Lent has begun. Someone decided to fast for the first time, but for someone it is an annual ceremony. But, there are still people who ask the question: “Why is it important? Is it really necessary?”, “What can and cannot be eaten?”.

Great post what is it?

Fasting is an important part of Christians. The majesty and meaning of Great Lent lies not only in abstaining from food. Fasting teaches temperance in general. The inability to deny yourself leads to disaster. First of all, fasting is a spiritual exercise, a pursuit of God, not a diet.

The fast lasts for 40 days or seven weeks.

Let's take a look at popular misconceptions about fasting.
1. Fasting is in no way a diet, not a hunger, and clearly does not include the goal of losing weight. excess weight. Many, even completely unbelievers, refuse meat and other products, but this does not mean that they are fasting. Fasting is possible in the presence of prayer, communication with God.
2. The main thing is not to lose God during fasting, and not to strive to fulfill the external obligations of fasting. To experience pangs of conscience after biting off a piece of meat, but not to experience it when you are angry with your own children, yell at your spouse, etc. The main thing is not to eat each other, especially during fasting.
3. Avoid arrogance. During fasting, a person's gaze should be focused on himself, and not on others.
4. Fast in secret. Some Christians, having started fasting, endlessly say that they are fasting. Everyone should understand how they go every day. Their facial expressions and mannerisms emphasize the feat they are accomplishing. But you need to perceive Fasting before God, and not before people.

How to fast properly

In order to fast properly, you must know the following:
- on fasting days, a person refuses food containing animal fats.
- From the reception of hot food will have to be partially abandoned.
-much attention is also paid to dry eating (however, it should be remembered that dry eating is a very difficult type of fasting, so before starting dry eating, you should consult with your confessor).
-Despite the fact that the bread is cooked in a hot oven, you can still eat it.
- drink enough water to maintain the water-salt balance
- eat in small portions and more often, 6-7 times a day
-be sure to include protein-rich foods in the diet to make up for the forbidden meat
-Do not forget that fasting is a voluntary abstinence from food, which shows how Christians are able to refrain from unclean passions.

Lent symbolizes the wandering of Jesus Christ in the wilderness for 40 days, when he resisted the temptation of the devil and did not eat. By refusing food, Jesus began the salvation of all mankind. Lent is an important holiday for Christians. During the days of Great Lent, Christians mainly eat dry food. Lent lasts seven weeks. In the first and last week, fasting is especially strict. On Saturdays and Sundays it is allowed to use vegetable oil and grape wine. Fish is allowed only on the holidays of the Annunciation and Palm Sunday. Do not forget that despite the fact that the traditions of refusing food for many years, even the monks do not fully adhere to them. The severity of such a fast is not obligatory for the laity.

Who can't fast?

Fasting is undesirable, and in some cases even contraindicated for the following laymen
-pregnant women
-People who have recently had surgery
-children under 12 years old
- with ischemia of the heart
- with stomach ulcers and gastritis
- people suffering from hypo- and hypertension
- with diseases of the joints, osteoporosis
- with blood diseases, especially with anemia
- busy people hard work located on military service etc.

What You Can and Cannot Eat During Lent

In this section of our article, we will not only give you a list of products that are allowed and prohibited for use in fasting, but also tell you how to eat during fasting by day, what recipes you can adopt.

Lent food calendar

To begin with, we will give you a table-calendar that will help you orient yourself by day in eating food.

What can you eat during Lent?

Vegetables (cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, Bell pepper, greens)
Cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, corn, wheat, barley)
Legumes (beans, beans, peas, lentils)
Fruit
Mushrooms
Fish (only twice in the entire post)
Sweets (e.g. halvah, dried fruits, nuts, dark chocolate, honey, sugar, lollipops, sugar-coated cranberries)
Drinks (juice, tea, coffee, uzvara, fruit drink, jelly. Grape wine on weekends)

What can not be eaten in Lent?

Meat and semi-finished products from it
-dairy
- bread and pastries, if they are made with the addition of eggs, butter, milk
-eggs
- sweets containing milk
-alcohol

Recipes for Lenten Meals During Lent

Bean soup without vegetable oil

To get started you will need good beans, onion heads, a few tomatoes, kitchen salt, herbs and a couple of fresh celery leaves. Before you start all this cooking, you need to prepare workplace. After that, you should cut the onion into small pieces and pour 4 tbsp. spoons of cold water and then boil over medium heat. At night, you should soak the beans, after the onion is cooked, add the beans, 1 tbsp. a spoon is enough, but if you want to make the soup more saturated, you can add 2 tbsp. Spoons. Do not forget about the tomatoes, they should be chopped and also thrown into boiling water. We wait about 20 minutes, add salt, mix, and you can remove the soup from the heat, before serving the soup on the table, you should add parsley and a couple of celery leaves, they will add flavor and taste to our soup. It should be noted that this soup is suitable for people who are overweight, not only during fasting, but also on any other day.

Quite a popular dish during fasting is herring under a fur coat.
What you need to know when preparing this dish. First of all, you need to buy a herring, 2 should be enough, however, if the table suggests large quantity more people can be. In addition to fish, boiled potatoes, carrots and onions are also needed. All this must be crushed, for this we need a grater. To give the dish beautiful view you need a flat saucer, on which we will place layers with potatoes, fish and onions. After all this is cooked, the layers are laid out, you should spread the dishes with mayonnaise. When you have finished cooking, let the dish brew, then its taste will be richer and more pleasant.

In order to cook this caviar, you will need dried mushrooms, these mushrooms can also be salted or a mixture of them can be used. It is better to collect mushrooms for this in the forest or buy them in the market. Before you cook them, you need to wash them thoroughly, then cook them until cooked, and after that cool and chop them into small pieces. If you are making caviar from salted mushrooms, they should also be washed in cold water. Cut onion into small rings and fry in oil with mushrooms, then simmer them for about 15 minutes. A few minutes before stewing, add some spices and crushed garlic, pepper to add spice, salt to taste and pour over with vinegar. The caviar is ready, now it is better to leave the caviar to stand for 20-30 minutes so that it brews and absorbs all the components. Enjoy your meal!

Oat pancakes

To prepare such a lenten breakfast, you will need oatmeal, water, yeast, flour, salt and, of course, vegetable oil. Pour oatmeal into an iron bowl, mix, pour 2 cups into it warm water(not boiling water), pour sugar, salt and a bag of yeast there, mix it all thoroughly and add flour. Somewhere in half an hour, mix again and you can proceed to the pancakes. To do this, heat the pan and pour vegetable oil into it. It remains now only to fry the pancakes. Fritters are useful with honey and jam, so they are best served together. This breakfast is not only lean, but quite healthy.

Before cooking, put the water to boil, but you yourself should cut the potatoes into quarters, pour the canned red beans into the pan, mix, you should also cut the carrots onion, and a little green to give pleasant aroma soup. Boil all these ingredients in a pot covered with a lid for 20 minutes. Salt to taste, throw crushed garlic, red pepper, tomato juice and tomato paste. Boil for about 10 minutes and throw some greens there.

To prepare this dish, it is necessary to boil finely chopped carrots and beets in salted boiled water. In another saucepan, it is advisable to boil finely chopped potatoes (in cubes) separately. These decoctions should be combined and preserved. These vegetables should be thrown into a colander and mixed with chopped cucumbers. Get a jar with canned peas and pour the contents into a bowl. In another bowl, pour 1 glass of vegetable oil and a glass of red wine, squeezed lemon juice and salt. Bring this marinade to a boil. Salad should be poured with marinade and mixed. Leave the salad for 30 minutes to infuse. This vinaigrette is quite high-calorie and healthy, it should be consumed not only during fasting.

In our next upcoming article, we will tell you how to correctly compose Lenten menu, which dishes are better to include and which are not, we will give sample menu for a week. Follow our releases, subscribe to updates.

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Each post represents a special time when you should not compromise with your weaknesses and vices. Every person has secret sinful desires, but not the one who is deprived of this is righteous, but the one who knows how to live with it.

great post It's not just 40 days without meat and milk. This is a real gift to us from the Lord God, because these days we are getting closer to Christ and the understanding of what he had to go through to purify our souls. It's not just 40 days of abstinence - it's the time it takes to get better.

Meaning of Lent

As mentioned above, fasting should not be taken as something material. Abstinence from food is just a tradition. Yes, it is important, but it is not decisive. Many people limit themselves to abstinence in food, not understanding secret meaning post. Its essence is purely spiritual. We do not eat meat just because Jesus did not do this for 40 days in the wilderness either. It is much more important to give up something else. For example, from what makes you worse. This is the time to forgive ourselves and to correct our spiritual problems on our own. For example, someone wants to quit smoking or drinking alcohol. Great post in this case will be very helpful. The most common mistake is resuming bad habits after Easter. It doesn't make you stronger. An example is the monks who give up everything in the world, and then return to worldly life again. As the clergy say, this is the worst thing that can happen for a person's spiritual development, because the devil tempts such people twice as hard.

Let go of anything that brings you negativity. Perhaps this is communication with some person. For some, this is a bad habit, for someone - a job or an unsuccessful friendship. You may need to do something good to make amends for past mistakes. There are incredibly many development options - you just need to listen to your heart.

The meaning of fasting is in the formation of a person as a spiritual person. Is not bad time Because Jesus Christ has already experienced it all. This is a time for learning, for testing yourself for strength.

Do's and Don'ts

Of course, there are some prohibitions on the time of fasting, which cannot be avoided, which cannot be chosen. During the period of abstinence it is forbidden:

• watch entertainment programs on television, funny films;
• eat animal food;
• do bad deeds, sin. Of course, there is no escape from sin, but you cannot do what you can foresee and control in yourself;
• get married. Wedding forbidden to fast according to the rules of the church;
• get angry. negative emotions it is better to transform into something else: sports, work;
• give in to despair. This is a terrible sin, one of the deadly sins, which many people do not attach importance to.

What can and should be done in the post:

• visit the temple;
• pray;
• receive the sacrament of communion at least once;
• help relatives in everything.

This is the time of family unity. During such periods, it is easy to join forces to become stronger together. Help each other solve emotional and spiritual problems to become stronger as a family. If other people ask you for help, then you should not refuse them if there is time to help.

Go to church, read prayers at home. If you are sick or you are not allowed to abstain from animal food, then do everything to feel good. Nobody should be blamed for this. It's your choice to follow the rules or break them. Lent, like any other, is just an excuse to get better, but you can do all this at any other time.

On Monday, June 4, 2018, one of the most long posts of the year - Petrov post. It is long, because it is multi-day, this fast lasts until the day of Peter and Paul, which falls on July 12.

The main task of the fast is to prepare a Christian morally and physically for the holiday dedicated to the actual founders christian church. Therefore, its significance is only a little less than that of Great Lent.

Peter's Lent, which is also called apostolic, has its own characteristics, its own traditions, and, given the beginning of summer, its own dishes.

Petrov post is considered first summer post. He prepares all Orthodox for an important holiday. The fast was established in honor of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and was named Petropavlovsk, but due to inconvenient pronunciation, it was simplified to "Petrov fast", since the name of Peter appears first in the name of the holiday.

Petrov fast is considered non-strict. Believers during this period refuse to take dairy and meat food, however, unlike Lent, you can eat fish.

In addition, many see some symbolism in this, because the apostles themselves, with whom the establishment of fasting is associated, were fishermen, and Peter is also their patron.

During fasting, you can and even need to pray a lot. The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul fervently prayed from day to day, and in order to become like them, honoring their memory, the Church encourages believers to also read prayers intensely. Also should read Holy Bible, which helps to strengthen faith and find answers to important questions in life.

Helping others is of no small importance. Of course, this is not necessary, but in order to protect yourself and your soul from torment, it is better to be kinder to people. During Peter's Lent it is important to keep your soul in a state of meekness and humility.

However, it is very important to know not only what can and should be done on Petrov Lent, but also to understand what absolutely should not be done.

Editorial "So simple!" invites you to know what is strictly prohibited during this summer post.

What not to do while fasting

It is worth mentioning also signs and folk beliefs . One of the most common signs associated with Peter's Lent says that marriages entered into at this time are fragile. This, of course, is complete nonsense!

Another thing is that if you are a believer, you simply will not celebrate such an event at this time. After all, Peter's fast implies restrictions both in terms of entertainment and in the sense of the table. So it’s much easier to move a joyful event to some time after Lent.

In addition, according to folk customs, undesirable: to do needlework, lend money, get a haircut (hair will be sparse), as well as perform rituals, read conspiracies, tell fortunes and guess (although the latter is already forbidden to be done by a believing Orthodox person).

Not only deeply religious, but also worldly people often ask themselves the question: is it possible to do cleaning on Sunday? After all, often during the week, many housewives fail to maintain perfect cleanliness, so part of the hassle - washing, cleaning and ironing - is postponed for the weekend.

Lent refers to the main posts of Christianity. It is intended to prepare believers for the great feast of Easter. During this period, people indulge in physical and spiritual asceticism. AT modern world many people fast only formally, excluding livestock products from their diet. A full-fledged post implies restrictions not only in food, but also in habits, in lifestyle. What can and cannot be done in Lent?

What can not be done in Lent?

Lent is the longest and belongs to the strict fasts. During this period, prohibitions apply to all spheres of human life. Pregnant women, the sick, children under the age of 7, elderly people are not required to adhere to these restrictions through the blessing of the priest.

An ascetic way of life while observing fasting is the most acceptable model of behavior for believers. During this period, it is supplemented by repentance and strict observance of the commandments.

During the 40 days of Lent, it is strictly forbidden:

• Live in idleness;

• Attend recreational activities;

• Eat meat, dairy products and eggs;

• Gluttony and overeating;

• Use alcohol, drugs, tobacco;

• Commit acts of adultery on the side;

• Indulge in laziness;

• Show feelings of aggression, anger and make;

• Swearing and gossip.

During the period of Great Lent, the needs of the human flesh are limited in order to better reveal it. spiritual world. During this period, the human soul is cleansed and renewed, the emotional state is balanced and the person acquires harmony with the world.

What can you do in Lent?

Spiritually illiterate people often think that Great Lent implies many prohibitions and restrictions, including many church sacraments. But this is not entirely true: during this period, long services are held in the church, and therefore many priests simply cannot physically perform certain church rites.

Is it possible to baptize a child in Lent?

Baptism of children is one of the great seven church sacraments Christians, which has no prohibitions during the period of fasting before Easter. According to church rules, the Sacrament of Baptism is performed all year round. At this time, priests recommend choosing the most suitable day with the minimum amount parishioners. This will allow you to perform a full-fledged church ceremony in a relaxed atmosphere.

Wedding in Lent

Creation new family always blessed by God, but on the condition that the birth of a family occurs in compliance with all God's rules. Therefore, the church allows the wedding ceremony to be held in given period.

However, in the modern world, marriage is always accompanied by great fun with a festive program, gourmet dishes from forbidden foods and drinking alcohol. Therefore, the priests do not recommend to perform the ceremony of marriage during the period of Lent. An exception is marriage, which is celebrated in a modest family circle at a fasting table without amusement. You can also just sign during Lent without noisy festivities.

Is it possible to get married in Lent?

The church wedding ceremony is one of the most important events in the life of every Christian. The Sacrament of Marriage involves receiving God's blessing for a happy and strong family life.

This ceremony is a special important Christian celebration. Therefore, the church forbids getting married during the period of all fasts. Great Lent is no exception. But sometimes, under certain circumstances, priests perform this ceremony. To do this, the newlyweds should contact the ruling bishop and obtain his permission.

sex life

Only unmarried people are forbidden to have sex during Lent, as this is regarded as adultery. On the sex life couples categorical prohibition does not apply. By church rules during this period, a slight abstinence is recommended. Even according to church writings, spouses should not deviate from each other and determine the period of abstinence by mutual agreement.

But even for couples in Lent, sex is prohibited on Good Friday and Passion Week. The church also forbids intimate life in preparation for the sacrament of Holy Communion.

What to do during the fast before Easter

Despite the fact that there are strict prohibitions and exceptions to them, during the period of Great Lent, the following rules must be observed:

• Pray at least twice a day, morning and evening;

• Read religious literature;

• Attend church regularly

• confess and take communion;

• Give alms to the poor;

• Make donations;

• Do good deeds.

In a word, it is not worth thinking that Great Lent is a long and monotonous process. At this time, you can not only diversify your table with new Lenten dishes, but also bring joy to everyday life with prayers and spiritual healing.

Common Myths About Lent Bans

In the modern world, there are many misconceptions about the basic principles and rules of Lent. Unfortunately, many people do not dare to adhere to it, because they do not have full information and do not want to risk their health.

Believers are well aware of the benefits of this rite and therefore they call for fasting not only for everyone around them, but also for their loved ones and children.

The most common myths about the bans on Lent are:

Myth 1. Diet changes lead to starvation.

Fasting implies a ban only on eggs, meat and dairy products. There is an erroneous opinion that it is impossible to compensate for a sufficient amount of protein in the body with such nutrition. But it's not. A wide variety of plant products saturates the body not only with proteins, but also with other useful substances.

A lean diet contains foods enriched with fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, macro- and microelements. There is no feeling of hunger with this diet.

Myth 2. Sick people should not fast during Lent.

This is an erroneous opinion. In the presence of any pathologies, it is recommended to consult a doctor first and adhere to certain dietary tables.

Animal products are easily replaced by cereals and vegetables similar in nutritional value. The main thing is to correctly study the composition of plant products and choose required quantity plant foods to replace prohibited foods.

Changes in food and spiritual behavior contribute to unloading the body. It stimulates the work of all body systems and restores psycho-emotional state person.

Myth 3. Prohibitions only in nutrition

Lent restricts not only the diet of Christians, but also their everyday life. Apart from strict food bans, they are not allowed to whole line ordinary affairs are limited to entertainment, celebration and behavior. It is recommended to behave quietly and complaisantly, restraining irritation, anger and the manifestation of any negative emotions. Speech should be carefully monitored, avoiding foul language and lies.

During this period, even home and church prayers. Singing in the temple is replaced by long reading, services are held in dark vestments in twilight.

Myth 4. Children should not fast

According to church rules, children under the age of 14 are allowed not to observe Great Lent and this is not considered a sin. But if parents raise their child in Christian traditions and instill in him love for God, then in such cases a softened version of fasting is allowed.

It lies in the fact that prohibited foods are not excluded from the child's diet, since they are necessary for the full development of a growing organism. But you can put restrictions on the use of fast food, confectionery and sugary carbonated drinks.

As for reading prayers, the child should not be forced to do it systematically. He may attend a church service or take part in short prayers at home.

Myth 5. The ban on drinking alcohol

If you cannot imagine 40 days of Great Lent without alcohol, or if your loved ones are planning a modest family holiday during this period, then you can replace the forbidden spirits with dry red grape wine. It is the only permitted alcoholic drink. It is consumed diluted with water, in an amount of not more than 1 glass.

Lent is a period of purification and renewal of the body and soul. He is able to improve the personality of a person, help his spiritual development and strengthen faith in God. This is the true meaning of the post. A simple change in diet without developing the spiritual side of one's life is considered a normal diet and has nothing to do with fasting.

Any fast, if kept correctly, only benefits the body.

However, many still perceive fasting as a kind of punishment, which is fundamentally wrong.

If you know how to eat right in fasting, then this period will fly by for you unnoticed.

In addition, you will be surprised how many interesting and varied dishes you can cook in fasting.

Fasting for the Orthodox - what is it?

Fasting is a temporary, voluntary restriction or complete rejection of fast food, as well as a struggle with one's passions. At this time, you need to refrain not only from quick food, but also from visiting entertainment events and establishments of this kind. This is our gratitude to God for his great Sacrifice. Fasting is a kind of treatment that is designed to pacify and lighten the body, as well as disarm passions and curb desires. Everything today more people they try to keep fasting, but, unfortunately, many perceive it as a diet, which is fundamentally wrong. Fasting is much more than just not eating. As John of Damascus wrote: “If fasting was all about food, then cows would be holy.”

In fasting, as in everything else, you need to know when to stop. There is no need to go from one extreme to another. Before you start fasting, consult with your confessor or priest. And of course, the post should not become shortcut get to the hospital.

In Orthodoxy, there are four multi-day fasts:

Veliky, Petrov, Assumption and Nativity fast.

Wednesday and Friday.

One day posts:

Fasts are appointed on the eve of any holiday or in honor of it.

great post gives every Orthodox person the opportunity to prepare for the Easter holiday. Christ prayed in the wilderness for forty days, after which he was betrayed and martyred on the cross, thereby delivering the entire human race from sin. Orthodox, observing this fast, as it were, go all this way together with Christ. This is one of the most strict posts.

When the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, they dispersed to preach the gospel all over the world, constantly being in labor, prayer and fasting. In honor of this event, and was appointed Petrov post. After all, every Orthodox person must preach with his life Orthodox faith.

Assumption post dedicated to the Mother of God. It allows all Orthodox to prepare for the great feast of the Dormition Holy Mother of God who, preparing to meet her Son, prayed and fasted a lot. This post is equal in severity to the Great.

Christmas post- the last of the year. It was established so that every Orthodox purifies his soul by fasting, repentance and prayer. We must meet the Savior who came into the world with a pure soul and heart in order to show our desire to follow the teachings of Christ.

How to fast: rules, behavior, church attendance

There are a few basic rules to follow in order to understand how to fast properly.

1. Before you start fasting, you need to understand that abstinence from food is a tool with which a person fights his sins. It is necessary to abstain from food, and not to exhaust yourself and your body. You must soberly assess your strength, depending on your preparation for fasting and your state of health.

2. Fasting requires gradual entry and preparation. Start preparing for it by abstaining from fast food on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year.

3. For those who wish to fast for the first time, it is recommended that you first talk with the priest, tell him about your physical and mental state and ask for a blessing to keep the fast.

4. It is desirable to attend all church services that take place during fasting. However modern man it is quite difficult to follow this rule, especially for those who work constantly. But still, try to attend the evening service on Saturday and, of course, Sunday services.

5. During the Great, and now also other fasts, the sacrament of the Unction is performed in the churches, which should not be missed by any Orthodox person who decides to keep the fast. The time of this sacrament must first be known, since in different temples it is held in different time. After the rite of Unction, at the first opportunity it is necessary to take communion.

6. Merely abstaining from food without prayer will not benefit the soul. Moreover, it can be harmful if a person, abstaining from fast food, begins to rise above others. An Orthodox person during fasting should devote himself to prayer, refraining from passions and vices, repentance, doing good deeds, forgiveness of offenses, watching TV less and attending entertainment events.

7. Recently, such a statement has been heard more and more often that supposedly it is not necessary to abstain from fast food, the main thing is to do good deeds and not offend anyone. It may be true, but it is impossible to humble your spirit without measuring your body. As mentioned above, do not go from one extreme to another. Temperance and good deeds during fasting should be inseparable.

8. Fasting is a time of reconciliation. Try to build relationships with your friends and loved ones if you were in conflict before.

9. In addition to abstinence in food, every Christian should concentrate his strength on good deeds. To the best of our ability to help those in need. It can be not only a material sacrifice, but also your work and care for those who need it.

10. Every person knows about his weaknesses. Fasting is just the time when you can start fighting them. For example, try to overcome bad habits. Of course, this cannot be done without prayer. Devote every free minute to prayer and reading the Gospel.

How to eat right in fasting: when and what can you eat?

There are several types of posts:

— strict post - Refusal of any food and drink, except simple drinking water;

— xerophagy- the use of plant foods in their natural form, without subjecting it to cooking;

— eating boiled food- it is allowed to eat plant foods, having previously prepared it, but without filling it with oil;

— eating boiled food with oil- it is allowed to cook vegetable food with the addition of vegetable oil;

— eating fish- not only cooked plant foods are allowed, but also fish and seafood.

The church clearly defines what dietary rules should be followed on certain days. Consider them in detail for each multi-day post:

1. Lent.

First and Holy Week fasting - the most stringent fasting, only raw food without oil or a complete refusal to eat is allowed.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday - raw vegetables.

Tuesday and Thursday - meals without oil. Boiled dishes from vegetables, legumes, mushrooms and cereals.

Saturday and Sunday - the addition of oil is allowed. Cooked or steamed food.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - fish dishes are allowed.

Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday- fish caviar and boiled dishes with butter are allowed.

Good Friday- a complete refusal to eat until the removal of the shroud.

2. Petrov post.

Throughout the fast, with the exception of Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you can eat fish dishes.

Monday - cooking without oil. Hot dishes.

Wednesday and Friday - raw food diet.

On other days, you can cook dishes with the addition of oil. Mushroom, vegetable, fish dishes and cereals.

Nativity of John the Baptist - fish dishes are allowed.

3. Assumption post. The duration of the fast is only two weeks, but it is equal in severity to the Great.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday - raw food diet.

Tuesday and Thursday - cooking without oil. Boiled dishes from cereals, legumes and mushrooms.

Saturday and Sunday - cooking boiled dishes with butter.

Transfiguration of the Lord - fish dishes are allowed.

4. Christmas Post. Until December 19, the rules for eating are the same as the rules for Petrov Fast.

On the days of the feasts of St. Nicholas and the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, fish dishes are allowed.

Fishing is prohibited during the last week of the fast.

On Wednesday and Friday, the Orthodox fast, remembering the betrayal of Judas and the martyrdom of Christ.

Of course, it is very difficult to follow all these rules, especially for those who have decided to fast for the first time. Therefore, before each fast, it is necessary to communicate with the priest and take his blessing.

Foods that should not be consumed on any fast days:

- any meat and offal;

- animal fat, margarine and butter;

- sour-milk and dairy products;

- mayonnaise;

- fish and seafood (except certain days when allowed).

Products that are allowed to be consumed in fasting:

- fruits and vegetables;

- greens;

- vegetable oil;

- cereals and flakes from cereals;

- spices and spices;

- legumes;

- Soy meat.

As you can see, during fasting it is enough big choice products from which you can cook many delicious and healthy lenten dishes.

How to fast in Great Lent: who can be allowed relief

There are certain categories of people who are allowed some indulgences in fasting, or who are not recommended to fast at all. These categories include:

1. Children under 7 summer age. At this age, the body is actively formed, so do not exclude fish and meat from the child's diet. You can replace some of these products with vegetable proteins: buckwheat, legumes, nuts and mushrooms.

2. Pregnant and lactating. Women during pregnancy and breastfeeding are allowed to eat eggs, dairy products and fish.

3. People who have had serious illnesses. To restore strength, such people need amino acids and fats.

4. People suffering from chronic diseases.

5. Travelers and people who work hard physically.

If you are fasting for the first time, you can give yourself a little indulgence by consulting with the priest before doing so.

If he did not keep his fast: what punishment should he assign to himself?

This question torments those who tried to keep the post, but at some point broke down. In fact, only your priest can punish you for this. He can assign you a reading Penitential Canon for several days or certain work, for example, caring for the elderly or sick people. That is, some of their good deeds atone for this sin.

In fact, fasting is very individual. Even if you refuse, for example, only meat, this is already good. After all, one person has enough willpower to immediately keep a strict fast, while another will not be able to do it, and he will begin to grumble. Today you give up meat, and on next post You already give up milk. If it makes you feel better, you can gradually give up fast food.

Post Calendar for 2016

Every Wednesday and Friday except Solid Weeks.

Now you know how to fast properly. Start your feat by fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays. Today on the Internet you can find a lot of interesting recipes for fast days. And remember that simply abstaining from food, without restricting yourself in anything else, is not fasting, but a diet! Happy posting!