Why do we fast? The simple answer to this question is because Jesus fasted. When Jesus was on earth He did many things that He did not need to do for Himself such as fasting, praying, doing charity, etc these thing Jesus did in order to pave a way for us to salvation. This path …
Let us struggle, my beloved, during these six days of the Passover, for they are given to us each year for the redemption of our souls, that we may spend them in the works of God. For it was during six days, from the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth, that God worked …
Abba Theonas visited us in our cell, and when evening prayers were over and we had been sitting for a short while on the ground we began to question him in considerable detail as to why they were so careful that no one ever kneel in prayer during all of Pentecost or presume to fast …
In the name of the living, holy God, Creator of the bodies and the souls, who made thanksgiving due upon us forever. And made us praise and glorify Him for his great mercy and favor for us. For as we fell down, He raises us up, and as we sinned and repented, He forgave us. …
The brethren said, “Is it possible for a man to fast and not to be redeemed?” The old man said, “There is a fasting which is a matter of habit, another which is of desire, another which is of constraint, another which is of the sight, another which is of vainglory, another of tribulation, another …
A certain brother came to Abba Arsenius, and said to him, “My thoughts trouble me, and say, you can't fast and you are not able to labor, therefore visit the sick, which is a great commandment.” Then Abba Arsenius, after the manner of one who was well acquainted with the war of devils, said to …
"The true fast is that in which sins, anger, tongue, and instincts are under control" - St Basil the Great During these most holy days of Lent, one of the most common questions asked when deciding what to purchase from the supermarket is: "Is it syami (is it fasting)"? You quickly turn the item around …
In His forty days experience of absolute fasting, Christ laid down for us the basis of our dealings with our enemy—along with all his allurements and vain illusions. ''This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting'' (Mk. 9:29). For when a person enters into prayerful fasting, Satan departs from the flesh. As …
We consider fasting a period of love. It is a period to test our love for God, and the love of God for us. We fast plenty in our church. Our church is an ascetic church and that’s how we have come to know Christianity. Fasting in actual fact is a very old commandment. When …
As has been said fasting is the beginning of the spiritual life, thus it is considered the pavement on which virtues are obtained; it opens the door for virtue and it ornaments the soul. St Filoxinus says: “The more ascetic the body is, the stronger the Spirit. Little food makes the body light and subdues …
