By Maria A. Pardalis

EN:MAP: Father Jim, as the Director of Stewardship, Outreach & Evangelism for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are you often approached with questions on fasting and Orthodox traditions?

FJK: It happens more at the parish level and is very common each year at the start of Great Lent.

MAP: What are you most often asked?

FJK: Most people just ask how to fast. They have received conflicting information from family, friends and others and want to know what it is that the Church teaches regarding fasting, especially the fast for Great Lent.

MAP: But why do Orthodox Christians fast, what is the purpose?

FJK: The fast of Great Lent is a time for self-examination and self-denial – a time for taking control of our lives and our bodies. The purpose of the fast is to give us a greater awareness of our dependence on God. It is a time to improve ourselves and our relationship with God. Lent is a time for greater works of mercy and charity for those less fortunate than us. It is a time for visitation of the sick and assistance to the poor, and generally a more joyful relationship with those who are close to us – our family and friends. Most of all, Lent is a time of joy and a new beginning. We cleanse ourselves –mind, body and soul– through the physical and spiritual fast, keeping a Christian attitude in all that we do. All this is done to prepare us for the Great Feast of Pascha – the Resurrection of Christ.

MAP: Jesus has said, “The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these are the things that make a person ritually unclean" (Mt. 15:18).” So why is it important that we abstain from certain foods and not simply focus on becoming a better person? What does food have to do with cleansing our souls?

FJK: As we said before, a main purpose of the fast is to make us aware of our dependence on God. Food is one part of fast and as it is the one most easily quantified, it is also the one most often discussed. Our food intake is also directly related to our state of mind – overeating makes us lethargic, while a light diet tends to keep us alert. Fasting is most often discussed in conjunction with almsgiving or works of charity – the money that would have gone to food is redirected to charitable works. It all ties together, helping us to focus us on a more Christ-like existence.

MAP: In addition to omitting dairy, meat and other animal products from our diets during a fasting period, why is it that olive oil is not permitted? Are vegetable and nut oils permitted?

FJK: The initial restriction on olive oil (and wine) is because they were stored in pouches made of animal skins. In addition, oil is high in fat, and thus can satiate or fill your belly, leading to sluggishness and satisfaction. Vegetable and nut oils are permitted.

MAP: Does substituting foods during lent, such as soy milk for cow’s milk and vegetable burgers in place of regular hamburgers, defeat the purpose of fasting?

FJK: It can happen that in our preoccupation with preparing food that is appropriate for the fast that we actually eat just as much or more, leading to the same feeling of lethargy. Lenten recipes can be helpful to keep us within the fast, but care must be taken not to lose sight of the purpose of the fast. We should not eat until satiated, but according to the Fathers of the Church, we should rise from the table still a bit hungry and ready for prayer.

MAP: Who created the Orthodox fasting guidelines?

FJK: These guidelines come out of the Holy Tradition of the Church. This should not be confused with local, village, ethnic or family traditions with a small “T.” Holy Tradition in the Church goes hand in hand with Holy Scripture in guiding our lives. The instructions for fasting may be found in the liturgical books of the Church – the Typicon, as well as the Minaion and Triodion.

MAP: What about fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays? Is this something that we should be following?

FJK: We fast on Wednesdays because that was the day that Christ was betrayed and on Friday because that was the day He died on the Cross. The fast on these days could follow the same rule as the fast during Great Lent.

MAP: Should fasting always take place before receiving Holy Communion and is it always paired with confession?

FJK: The fast before Holy Communion is from the night before - some say evening and some say midnight. It is my understanding is that for those who receive infrequently (2 or 3 times per year), more preparation is needed and should be combined with confession. For those who receive frequently, and this is encouraged, confession twice per year and as needed by the individual is sufficient.

MAP: Can you tell us what is the correct way to fast? What should we abstain from during the period of Great Lent?

FJK: The fast for the forty days of Lent is indicated below, though many are not able to hold to the strict fast. The following guidelines are to be considered prayerfully with the guidance of a spiritual father and in consideration of any medical condition or dietary requirements: