Fr. Matt,
You can probably clear this up for me. As I understand it, in the OCA, as a result of the Russian traditional practice, if one intends to commune on Sunday morning, then proper preparation includes a consecutive three day fast that runs Friday, Saturday, and then Sunday morning up to the communion.
On the week of the Prodigal Son, there is a mark on the calendar saying that one does not fast this week, even on Wednesday and Friday. Does that mean that the Sunday communicant would still fast on Friday in accordance with the three day preparation for communion, or would the communicant not fast on Friday, per the mark on the calendar for that week of the Prodigal Son?
As I understand it, by comparison, in GOARCH the practice today doesn't involve a consecutive 3 day fasting preparation for communion.
Yes, and it has a reason.during the normal cycle, as far as I was taught, is you fast Wednesday, Friday, then Saturday from midnight til communion.
I would like some advice on fasting.
I’m finding it *very* difficult to fast. Especially on strict fast days that require no oil.
So, I’ve just been trying not to eat on those days.
Fr. Matt,Yes, and it has a reason.
Three days of fasting means that Saturday should be a fasting day which is against canons.
Fr. Matt,
What you and John T said about whether to do Saturday fasting for communion doesnt come together.
As I understood the most common OCA practice, which I thought was based on the Russian practice, a person communing Sunday does a three day consecutive fast, Friday, Saturday for 24 hours, and Sunday from 12:00 AM until communion eg 9 AM Sunday.
I took you as confirming this when you said Saturday from midnight until Sunday morning. I took you as referring to Saturday 24 hours from midnight on Saturday, ie 12 AM, through 1 AM, 2 AM, on Saturday etc. Up to 9 AM on Sunday.
If you didnt mean any fasting on Saturday at all, you wouldn't have said "Saturday" from midnight.
But then John T came in and said that the 3 day preparation follows the canon about no Saturday fasting.
Is this something that they have taught for along time at St Tikhon's or St Vladimir's?I meant no fasting Saturday. fast Friday for 24 Hours, then Saturday no fast, then from midnight to communion strict fast.
Is this something that they have taught for along time at St Tikhon's or St Vladimir's?
Maybe I have been mistaken for a long time about the standard OCA practice.
The commentary underneath says that Saturday is celebrated for being the 7th day of the world's creation by God, making it a day of joy. The commentator's footnote says that Tertullian in his essay “De corona militis” noted that one should not fast on Saturday. The commentor notes that we fast on Great Saturday only, and that it is because Christ spoke of fasting on that day (Mark 2:20)Canon 64 of the Holy Apostles.
Who of the clergy will be seen fasting on the Day of the Lord, or on the Sabbath, besides only on individual days (Great Sabbath): may he be deposed. If it's a layman, may he be excommunicated.
SOURCE: Правила Святых Апостолов и Вселенских соборов с толкованиями, Правило 65 Святых Апостолов - читать, скачать - священноисповедник Никодим (Милаш)
Yep - I can't find the exact quote but one of my favorite sayings from the Desert Fathers is, if I may paraphrase the great saint (whose name I also cannot recall):There are people who follow the fast to the absolute letter of the law. they feel so good about themselves that they have not fasted at all
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