Monday, June 4, 2007
First Fast
So today begins the Apostles Fast with a strict fast...no meat, dairy, oil, fish or wine. I mostly did okay and then I remembered that I had butter on my waffles this morning. Does that count? And does the oil mean things cooked in oil? What about salad dressings? Are foods that have eggs as an ingredient (like pancakes) to be avoided? I still haven't been able to get with my priest for some direction. Hopefully that will happen sometime this week.
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8 comments:
The only instruction my priest ever gave me was "Don't be legalistic" and I am still struggling with that!
Your best bet is to not worry at all. Do what you think is right and ask your priest these questions when you have a chance. Individuals will give you all different interpretations of the fasting rules from lenient to legalistic. Your priest will guide you appropriately.
Oh...and I thought fish and oil were permitted for the Apostles' Fast...at least that is the case in the Greek Orthodox Jurisdiction.
What Dixie said. You'll go crazy trying to "follow the rules" if you fret too much about it. That is not the purpose of the fast. Also, don't be too hard on yourself. Most fast I feel like I'm barely treading water.
Yes, I thought that fish and oil were permitted more often during this fast.
You should have a calendar that shows you which days are fish days, which wine and oil days, and which are "strict fast" days. And most important, if this is your first time fasting, DO NOT DO EVERYTHING. You will make yourself sick. Skip the meat, keep the dairy, until you can get with your priest for closer direction. I'm serious about this -- BTDT.
It's my first fast too and I haven't got around to seeing my priest either. Tell the truth, I didn't even know about the Fast until Sunday!
Here's the OCA calendar ...
http://www.oca.org/CALindex.asp?SID=22
No wine or oil Monday, Wednesday, Friday (i.e. strict fast). Fish allowed on Saturday and Sunday. I'll try and keep it as well as I can and see how it goes. No milk in my coffee is proving a bit tough but with a certain amount of care, I don't see why it should be particularly unhealthy.
Thanks everyone for the wise words! I feel better. I do have a calendar that shows which days are what, thank goodness. But I'm such an over-achiever I always want to get it "right". I'll try to relax about it. See, this is what I love about Orthodoxy....do what you can with humility and don't worry about the letter of the law.
Your best is all that is expected. You do what you can since this is your first and this way of eating is new to you. Better to take it into stride than over-exhaust yourself first time out. You could also pick, say, wed and fri to be the days you try to be strict and see how it goes. Just a thought. May your fast be fruitful and joyous.
Butter counts... it's obviously what it is but don't depress yourself minutely reading labels and wondering about ingredients. It easily becomes an end in itself and then you miss the end fasting is really towards.
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