Feasts

Seraphim . · Sunday at 4:26 PM

Today is a wondrous feast day commemorating the elevation of the cross; the finding of Christ's true cross.

My question is a peculiar one I haven't really seen addressed: how should Orthodox feast?

Is it 'mandatory' to feast, or, if you don't feel like eating much, should you not? If you don't, are you failing to get into the spirit of the day and thus displeasing God?

It's a question I don't think I've ever seen addressed, instruction from spiritual fathers greatly appreciated as are quotes & other material from the Saints, Elders & monks in general.

Another question: On feast days, did Saints mostly feast or did they keep to their own strict fast regardless?

gzt · Sunday at 4:52 PM

Generally monks don't eat meat, but otherwise celebrate. Feasting doesn't necessarily mean eating a ton or even all that richly, so if you're not feeling like stuffing yourself, that's fine. You should generally enjoy yourself and have a respite from labor (as possible). The most important part, of course, is the liturgical celebration, particularly participating in the sacrament of communion.

However, if you're talking about this specific commemoration, the Exaltation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross is a fast day because it's a commemoration of the cross, though it does collide with the Sunday.

The Liturgist · Sunday at 5:25 PM

Seraphim . said:
Is it 'mandatory' to feast, or, if you don't feel like eating much, should you not? If you don't, are you failing to get into the spirit of the day and thus displeasing God?

No, if one does not have an appetite, eating might be inadvisable. Orthodox fasts frequently are more about abstaining from certain types of food and controlling when we eat, the goal being to tame the passion of gluttony. However people with digestive health problems are, on account of illness, not supposed to fast in a manner that would worsen their condition; I myself have been enjoined from fasting by my confessor for 10 out of my 11+ years with the church when my illness began to get quite bad; I probably should have fasted more in the years prior joining the Orthodox Church since I had historically been a glutton, but now I frequently am unable to eat and have other digestive problems, so that it can be very tricky getting food that will work onboard.

I know of an Orthodox priest who has an illness, where his bishop requires him to eat a full breakfast before serving the liturgy.

But there are other things one can do if one can’t fast, such as praying more; likewise a feast is a time to celebrate even if one’s digestive system is not entirely cooperative.

Seraphim . · Monday at 7:05 AM

gzt said:
Generally monks don't eat meat, but otherwise celebrate. Feasting doesn't necessarily mean eating a ton or even all that richly, so if you're not feeling like stuffing yourself, that's fine. You should generally enjoy yourself and have a respite from labor (as possible). The most important part, of course, is the liturgical celebration, particularly participating in the sacrament of communion.

However, if you're talking about this specific commemoration, the Exaltation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross is a fast day because it's a commemoration of the cross, though it does collide with the Sunday.

But did & do they eat fish or food containing wine/oil as appropriate, in contrast to their mostly strict fasting, on these days, or did the most austere monks still do a strict fast from all of that regardless, on these feast days? And is that normal for many Elder monks who are deeply immersed in the spiritual life? Did Saints still do a strict fast on such days?

I see you are right, it was a 'wine and oil' fast day, despite being a feast, as many feast days are wine/oil or fish allowed. It says it was a day of fasting and prayer, despite being a feast.

The Liturgist · Monday at 7:30 AM

Seraphim . said:
Did Saints still do a strict fast on such days?

That depends on the saint and the reason for their sainthood. Many saints are martyrs or confessors who lived an ordinary life before being tortured or killed for their faith. Others are laity or married clergy not under a monastic obedience, for example the recently glorified St. Olga, a laic, and St. Alexis Toth, a married Orthodox priest.

gzt · Monday at 11:33 AM

Seraphim . said:
But did & do they eat fish or food containing wine/oil as appropriate, in contrast to their mostly strict fasting, on these days, or did the most austere monks still do a strict fast from all of that regardless, on these feast days? And is that normal for many Elder monks who are deeply immersed in the spiritual life? Did Saints still do a strict fast on such days?

I see you are right, it was a 'wine and oil' fast day, despite being a feast, as many feast days are wine/oil or fish allowed. It says it was a day of fasting and prayer, despite being a feast.

At this pointy you're getting into individual disciplines, but generally unless otherwise noted you should assume they eat a typical monastic diet.

The Liturgist · Monday at 11:41 AM

gzt said:
At this pointy you're getting into individual disciplines, but generally unless otherwise noted you should assume they eat a typical monastic diet.

Assuming of course the saints were monastic, which indeed a great many of them are, but not all of them. Also with monastics many of them repented from worldly life in becoming monastics and thus previously indulged in one or more of the passions, but there are others whose entire life seems to have been consecrated, and then we have our glorious lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary who did not engage in sinful behavior; that said, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware correctly points out she still required salvation from her son, which we see spectacularly granted in the Dormition, where her immaculate and perpetually virgin body was taken up into heaven bodily, like St. Elias, St. Moses the Prophet and possibly St. Enoch the Prophet.

ArmyMatt · Monday at 12:58 PM

I went to school near a monastery, and generally monastics eat fish there to feast.

RileyG · Wednesday at 6:59 PM

ArmyMatt said:
I went to school near a monastery, and generally monastics eat fish there to feast.

Father,

Other than fish, do Orthodox monks eat meat at all? or no?

(posting in fellowship)

Belated beloved feast all!

ArmyMatt · Wednesday at 7:04 PM

RileyG said:
Other than fish, do Orthodox monks eat meat at all? or no?

generally no. they are usually vegetarian/vegan.

RileyG · Wednesday at 7:05 PM

ArmyMatt said:
generally no. they are usually vegetarian/vegan.

interesting! Thanks for the info! I am actually surprised by that.

Peace

ArmyMatt · Wednesday at 7:16 PM

RileyG said:
interesting! Thanks for the info! I am actually surprised by that.

Peace

yeppers! no problem!

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Feasts

Seraphim .

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gzt

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The Liturgist

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Seraphim .

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The Liturgist

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gzt

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The Liturgist

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RileyG

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