FASTING
RULES AND REGULATIONS
In
order to receive HOLY COMMUNION,
a person has to fast at least three days or one week; there are
circumstances that we fast 40 days like before Easter, before Christmas
or 15 days before August 15th or before Christmas starting December
12th.
There
are also days that the Church asks from her faithful to fast one
day only to honor the feast day or the eve of a feast day.
The
fasting is not to receive anything that comes from animals that
have blood, meat, fish, dairy products, and eggs.
In
the Orthodox Church fish is not a fasting item that can be consumed
during fasting, except some feast days that fall in the fasting
period. The fasting period is split in two parts the first 3 days
oily products and the other 2 or 3 without oil and also depends
the health condition of the faithful.
Another
theory is that as long as you are spiritually clean you can fast
all the Wednesdays and Fridays of the year and the fasting seasons
of the Church and receive Holy Communion.
In
the morning that you are going to receive Communion, you should
have been to HOLY CONFESSION,
from before and the first thing that has to go to your stomach is
the Holy Communion. This means that you do not brush your teeth,
you do not take breakfast, and you do not drink milk or water. Except
if, for your health, you have to receive medicine in the morning
and that medicine requires to be taken with food in that case you
are allowed to put food into your mouth and take your medicine.
Shellfish is allowed because there is no blood in it.
DAYS
OF FASTING IN THE ORTHODOX FAITH
- Jan
5th (One Day)
- Every
Wednesday and Friday
- The
Week of Cheesefare Sunday only dairy no meat
- 4-
From Clean Monday to the Saturday of Lazarus, strict fast of the
Great Lent. March 25th Annunciation Feast Day and Palm Sunday
fish is allowed.
- Holy
Week: from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday.
Holy
Saturday is the only Saturday of the year that boiled Fasting is
allowed the rest of the year is oily products are consumed on Saturdays.
- No
fasting the whole Bright week Easter- to 1st Sunday After Easter.
- From
All Saints Sunday to June 29th. Fast of the Disciples. This period
can be 0 day to 30 days, depends when is All Saints Day which,
is always 57th days after Easter.
- August
1st to 15th. Dormition or Assumption of Virgin Mary.
- August
29th, One Day Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.
- September
14th, One Day. Elevation of the Holy Cross.
- November
15th to December 25th. Christmas Fast. Also this fast can start
from December 12th to Christmas.
- No
Fasting from Christmas to January 5th. (The 12 festal days of
Christmas).
HOW
OFTEN SHOULD WE RECEIVE COMMUNION?
First Children has to start fasting when they are 8 years old only
two or three days, not strict. They are allowed to receive Holy
Communion since their Baptism and the fasting regulations do not
apply to children up to 8 years old.
A
person in clear conscience. A person who received absolution of
his/her sins through Confession. Can fast and receive Holy Communion.
The theory of receiving 3 times a year is wrong, also to receive
it every week is not necessary. It will be nice a Christian person
to be united with the Lord once or twice a month in order to live
a good and active spiritual live. It is a grave sin not to receive
for many years Holy Communion, except if the spiritual Father
has put a restriction of a period time. This period time the maximum
according to the Canon Law is two years, in the extreme conditions.
Fasting
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