Greetings in our Lord,
I could not help by reply to this part of the discussion. As this is a fasting period in the Orthodox Church, much has been written and said when it comes to fasting. Again and again, I've said this several times in the short period since I've logged onto this site. Do not read into the legality of the rules of fasting. Within our Church we have developed a wonderful book called the "Typikon" which outlines the regulations of the Church, Gospel readings for the year, and fasting dates and requirements.
About a week ago I got into a similar conversation from the Theological Seminary in Toronto.... With incredible simplicity they outlined fasting as such... "Fasting is not about what you put into your mouth, but what comes out"
I know this is a lil' simplistic, but I will also leave you with the following quotes concerning fasting.
St. John Chrysostomous:
It is possible for one who fasts not to be rewarded for his fasting. How? when indeed we abstain from foods, but do not abstain from iniquities - when we do not eat meat, but gnaw to pieces the homes of the poor - when we do not become drunkards with wine, but we become drunkards with evil pleasures; when we abstain all the day, but all the night we spend in unchastened shows. Then what is the benefit of abstention from foods, when on the one hand you deprive your body of aselected food, but on the other offer yourself unlawful food?
6th Ecumenical Council:
Fasting was devised in order to humble the body. If, therefore, the body is already in a state of humbleness and illness or weakness, the person ought to partake of as much as he or she may wish and be able to get along with food and drink" (Canon 8 of St. Timothy; cf. Canon 69 of the Apostles; cf. Canon 10 of St. Timothy)
St. Basil the Great:
"Let us fast an acceptable and very pleasing fast to the Lord. True fast is the estrangement from evil, temperance of tongue, abstinence from anger, separation from desires, slander, falsehood perjury. Privation of these is true fasting." A Hymn of First Monday of Lent
St. Clement of Alexandria:
Fasting is abstention from foods according to the meaning of the word, but the food does not make us either more just or more unjust. Yet, in its mystical meaning it declares that as the life of each one depends upon food, total abstention is the sign of death. Thus we ought to abstain from worldly things, for we would die as far as worldly matters are concerned, and after that, when we partake of food of divine nature, we will live in God. Above all, total abstention empties the soul of matter, and presents the soul pure and nimble to the body according to the divine words. Then, on the one hand, worldly nourishment consists of temporal life and iniquities, while divine nourishment is faith, hope, love, patience, knowledge, peace, prudence as our Lord said in Matthew: 'Blessed are theywhich do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled' (5:6), where truly He attributes this longing to the soul and not to the body
I hope this help people with understanding more about fasting. Also remember, The Paschal homily of St. John Chrysotomous, even the period who has only fasted for the 11th hour has the ability to be saved.
PS- Rules of fasting within monastaries are very exagerated, and fasting on Monday is a very common practice. Even practiced by many lay people.
In Christ,
Miltiadis
A big Russian 9 month old was quite a handful in a infant font. He was a charmer the rest of the ceremony though.
