Traditional Byzantine Lenten Fast

[HisChild]

[quote name='brightsadness' date='08 February 2010 - 03:37 PM' timestamp='1265668621' post='2053662']
I was taught that the Fast is not of obligation to those who are not under the discipline (by virtue of being a member) of the Eastern Church but that it is good for all.

I grew up with it and it truely makes one aware of sacred time and space. One experiences the ordering and sharing of one's life to SomeOne and Something Greater than what I feel like. Vegan Burritos Rule.[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/lol_roll.gif[/img]
[/quote]


Yeah, I like how the emphasis isn't 'what are you giving up for Lent?' but this conquering of the self will to free one's self to more fully enter the Mysteries of Christ during this time of, well, Bright Sadness.

[brightsadness]

Found this old interview on Youtube. I think this is the best thread to post it on although thre are other fasting discussions happening elsewhere.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQmjvUxDSq4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQmjvUxDSq4[/url]

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Ziggamafu' date='04 February 2010 - 02:23 PM' timestamp='1265311408' post='2051231']
Wow. If you had to take on honest guess based on personal experience, what percentage of Eastern Christians do you think actually stick to the rules? Also, are the rules interpreted as "grave obligations" in some way similar to the Latin tradition?
[/quote]
I couldn't possibly speculate about Eastern Christians in general, but I had two Byzantine roommates in college (at different times) and I remember both of them fasting that way. Outside of lent there would be beer, wine, olive oil, meat, etc. in the kitchen but during lent it would be a crust of bread and some leafy greens for the most part (swiss chard, spinach, kale, parsley- things like that).

I remember asking one of these roommates about it and his response made light of it, probably out of humility. He said that he finds the fast to be cleansing and invigorating and thinks that all people could benefit from such a yearly fast.