Other Byzantine Catholic Fasting Seasons and Days
This lesson covers the voluntary nature of seasonal fasts within the Ruthenian Metropolitan Church and highlights a focus on personal piety and the guidance of pastors. The development and purposes of fasts and vigils underscore their enduring significance in the life of the Church.
Chapter: Fasting Seasons and Days
Other fasting seasons and days
The other fasting periods are somewhat less strict, with each having its own rules:
- In the Apostles' Fast, the Typikon prescribes strict abstinence on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, with wine and oil allowed on other days.
- In the Dormition Fast, all weekdays are days of strict abstinence; wine and oil are allowed on Saturday and Sunday, and on the feast of the Transfiguration (August 6).
- In the Christmas Fast, stict abstinence is prescribed for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with lesser abstinence (wine and oil allowed) on other days. In some places, the fast is kept more strictly beginning on December 10, two weeks before Christmas.
In the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Metropolitan Church, all these may be kept voluntarily by the faithful, but are not obligatory.
Fridays throughout the year are days of simple abstinence (meat may not be eaten) or a similar penance.
Certain individual days are also days of fast and abstinence:
- September 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
- December 24, the vigil of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
- January 5, the vigil of the Theophany of the Lord
If the vigils of Christmas or Theophany fall on Saturday or Sunday, the fasting and abstinence is done on the previous Friday, since we normally do not fast on Saturday or Sunday.
There are also four "fast-free" periods, called compact weeks, during which fasting and abstinence are forbidden:
- the week leading up to the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (before the Great Fast)
- Bright Week, the week following Pascha
- the week following Pentecost
- the time from Christmas to the vigil of Theophany (December 25 to January 4)
Although the details are complicated (and subject to dispensation by pastors when necessary), these days and times of penance all serve to remind us of God's benefits, what we owe to him in return, and how to properly discipline ourselves so that we can endure adversity and appreciate abundance.
The Midnight Office
From very early times, it was customary for Christians to remain awake late into the night in prayer, or to rise in the middle of the night to pray. The nighttime was seen as a time of temptation, or of possible danger; it was also symbolic of the spiritual darkness that could prevent us from preparing to meet Christ wherever and whenever we might encounter him. The example of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) was frequently invoked, as well as our Lord's words: "Stay awake! You cannot know the day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42).
In the Byzantine tradition, an order of liturgical prayer called the Midnight Office entered monastic usage to fill this need, and was sometimes prayed by lay people as well.
Feast-day Vigils
Another kind of vigil was popular in the capital city of Constantinople, the city that gave birth to the Byzantine Rite: on the evenings before the feast days of important saints, the faithful would gather in church to chant psalms and sing hymns in honor of the saint, in preparation for the feast-day Divine Liturgy in the morning. This sort of service was called pannychis, meaning "all night", even though it generally lasted only a few hours.
In monasteries, too, it became customary to hold vigils on these days, adding the procession and prayers of the Litija to the celebration of Vespers, and singing psalms throughout the night. On feast days that were also preceded by fasting, such as Christmas, the services were sometimes arranged to adjust the amount of fasting to the nature of the feast.
Later, in the tradition of the monastery of Saint Sabbas of Jerusalem which was later adopted throughout the Byzantine Rite, an all-night vigil was sometimes appointed, consisting of Vespers (or Compline), Litija, and Matins – a service that could take four to five hours if not abbreviated.
All of these vigils, though, have the same basic purpose: they mark and symbolize the importance of a feast, prepare us to look forward to it, and allow us more time to keep and honor it. Like penitential vigils, they emphasize the virtue of watchfulness (nepsis, or spiritual alertness).
The funeral vigil
One more vigil is still in use, and common to the Christian East and West: the funeral vigil, or "wake", in which the family and friends of a deceased Christian keep watch over his or her body on the night before the funeral is celebrated. In the Byzantine Slav tradition, the Psalter and accompanying prayers are read or chanted.
Quiz
1. Please read the question carefully.
2. Think of an answer.
3. Click to check the answer.
What is the most significant fasting period in the Byzantine Church, and why is it considered so important?
The Great Fast, preceding Easter, is the most significant fasting period due to the paramount importance of Christ's death and resurrection in Christian theology. It is also typically the most restrictive fasting period observed by the Church.
Describe the general guidelines for fasting during the Apostles' Fast and the Dormition Fast.
During the Apostles' Fast, strict abstinence is prescribed (but not required) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while wine and oil are permitted on other days. In the Dormition Fast, all weekdays are optional days of strict abstinence, with wine and oil allowed only on Saturdays, Sundays, and the Feast of the Transfiguration.
Besides specific fasting seasons, what other regular day of the week is observed as a day of simple abstinence in the Byzantine tradition?
Fridays throughout the year are days of simple abstinence, meaning that meat should not be eaten. This practice serves as a regular reminder of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and is required.
Explain the historical significance and symbolism behind the practice of the Midnight Office in the Byzantine tradition.
The Midnight Office originated from the early Christian custom of remaining awake late or rising in the middle of the night for prayer. This practice symbolized watchfulness against temptation and spiritual darkness, preparing for Christ's eventual return.
What is the primary-shared purpose of both penitential and feast-day vigils in the Byzantine tradition?
The primary shared purpose of both penitential and feast-day vigils is to emphasize the virtue of watchfulness (nepsis, or spiritual alertness). Penitential vigils encourage vigilance against sin, while feast-day vigils encourage watchful anticipation and honor of the celebrated event.
How do the various fasting periods and vigil practices in the Byzantine tradition aim to benefit the faithful spiritually?
The various fasting periods and vigil practices in the Byzantine tradition aim to remind the faithful of God's blessings, their obligations to Him, and to cultivate self-discipline. This discipline helps them endure hardship and appreciate abundance, ultimately fostering spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God.
