Fasting is considered a special period during which believers around the world abstain from food, pray repentantly, and seek to change their lives in such a way as to become closer to God. This year, on March 7, the central and strictest of all Orthodox fasts begins – Great Lent. In order to enter correctly into the fasting period, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the main traditions of Orthodoxy in this matter and draw up a food calendar by day.
Like many centuries ago, the essence of Great Lent is to prepare for the great holiday – Easter, by cleansing the soul and body through repentance, fervent prayer, mental fasting and food, but not only in simple restriction of habitual nutrition.
Thus, before the last day of Bright Week – Easter of Christ, Orthodox Christians strive to go the path of purification of both soul and body, therefore they willingly observe restrictions in entertainment pastime and food, as one of the sources of “inciting passions.” Great Lent lasts only 40 days, as a reminder that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself fasted in the desert for people for 40 days. In 2022, starting on March 7, fasting will end on April 24.
Believers who, for health reasons, cannot keep all restrictions and exclude certain types of products, usually ask a blessing (permission) from their spiritual father or parish priest to relax their fast. Depending on the state of health, physical capabilities and other circumstances, fasting may not be strict for pregnant and lactating women, military personnel, students, working people with high physical and mental stress.
Food calendar for the days of Great Lent 2022
Although eating during this period involves the use of plant products, the diet can be quite varied. The list of allowed foods allows you to prepare delicious and satisfying meals that will provide the body with the necessary amount of nutrients, vitamins, micro-, macroelements.
The Typikon, a church book that establishes the order of worship, including the rules of fasting, for deeply religious and strictly fasting people on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, “dry food” is defined, that is, the use of fresh food that has not been thermally affected, without adding dressings as vegetable oils .
Hot dishes, thermally processed, are eaten on Tuesday and Thursday, while they are not seasoned with vegetable oil. For the convenience of believers today, Orthodox calendars in paper or electronic format indicate the days of each week when the use of oil is allowed or prohibited.
On Saturday and Sunday, the menu expands significantly, it can be called less strict, because it is allowed to cook hot, cold dishes and fill them with oil. Also allowed is red wine diluted with warm or cool water.
In order to fast with a pleasant fast, not to succumb to possible despondency, you should think over the main menu in advance and look for new recipes for dishes from your favorite products, then your table will be as varied as possible throughout Great Lent. As an example, consider the following daily food calendar:
On Monday of the first week of Lent, believing Orthodox Christians who have decided to observe a strict fast according to the charter of the Typicon are required to completely abstain from food, other Christians consume food and drink, depending on the state of health and the blessing of the priest.
All other Mondays of Lent can be eaten raw. Such days are called days of dry eating. Salads from raw vegetables, fruits, without dressing with oil, pickled dishes, pickles, jams are put on the table. Legumes, dried fruits, candied fruits, nuts, crackers, dryers and other lean types of products also diversify the table.
Tuesday in the first week of fasting according to the Typicon, bread, water, and kvass are allowed. On Tuesdays of all subsequent weeks, hot food is allowed: lean soups, cereals, baked, boiled, stewed vegetables, fruits.
On all Wednesdays of Great Lent, according to the rules of a strict charter, dry eating is prescribed. The diet consists of fruits, vegetables, greens, beans, nuts. Nuts rich in vegetable protein, olives containing the required amount of vegetable fats, raisins and dried apricots, which include potassium, canned fruits will help to give special expressiveness to cereals. Wednesday of the fourth week is considered a strict fast day, when only bread and water are allowed.
On Friday, they switch to raw vegetables, fruits, dishes from them, as well as from fresh herbs. For example, you can cook cold soups, cereals. Friday of the fifth week is considered a strict fast day, when only bread and water are allowed. And on Friday of Bright Week (seventh week), the clergy and monastics, as well as some Orthodox laity, completely refuse to eat.
On Saturdays, there is a noticeable relaxation in restrictions, hot dishes are allowed, as well as grape juice and wine diluted with water. Dishes are served with vegetable oil.
On Sundays, hot dishes are also prepared, seasoned with vegetable oil, a small amount of diluted wine is allowed. On the days of relaxation, the main rule is moderation. The last Sunday of Great Lent falls on the bright feast of Easter, when it is allowed to consume all previously prohibited foods and dishes from them.
The lenten menu does have many restrictions, but at present, with the blessing of the priest, some indulgences may enter into it, for example:
eating fish or seafood on certain days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday);
refusal of food on the indicated days (Clean Monday, Good Friday) can be replaced by dry eating or reduced portions of food;
on Great Saturday, boiled dishes are allowed, and not just dry eating.
Red fish slices
Also, relief can be in the number of meals. So, for example, monastics, depending on the charter of the monastery and the clergy, are more often allowed 1 or 2 meals a day, and the laity can eat, as usual, 3-4 times a day. The main thing during this period is not to overeat and not worry if, due to circumstances, you had to break the fast, because “keeping a diet” is not the purpose of fasting.
