The Most Severe Days Of Lent

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

The most severe days of Lent: how to overcome hunger

Lent is a major event for every Christian. But it is sometimes very difficult to withstand food restrictions. What are the hardest fast days? We will consider strict prohibitions, as well as give tips on how to overcome temptation.

The most severe days of Great Lent

Throughout Great Lent, Christians will have to limit themselves in meat, fish and seafood, butter, eggs and egg products, and alcohol. But some days are particularly strict.

First of all, this is the first day of Lent - Clean Monday. In 2019, it fell on March 11. On this day, you can not consume anything other than pure water. This day - the first after Shrovetide week - is intended to cleanse a person both spiritually and physically.

Dry eating is a very strict rule that requires the refusal to heat food. Adhere to such a "diet" should be the first and last weeks of fasting (except for the days for which fasting is prescribed), as well as every Wednesday and Friday. These days were not chosen by chance. On Wednesday, Christians remember the betrayal of Judas, and on Friday, the crucifixion of Christ. The modern church allows the following foods to be consumed on these days:

• lean bread;
• water;
• raw vegetables and fruits;
• soaked fruits and berries;
• herbal infusions;
• cold drinks;
• natural juices.

Dry eating is very similar in its principles to the raw food diet popular today.

Good Friday requires a complete rejection of food until Vespers. In 2019, it falls on April 26. On this day, Christians remember the torment of Jesus before death, after being sentenced to death. Good Friday heralds Bright Easter - Christ's Resurrection, which will come in three days. The Saturday following Good Friday has the same name. On this day, it is also customary to completely refuse food, limiting only to water.

Who is allowed concessions

The rules by which Orthodox Christians fast are set out in the Typikon. They do not indicate that some of the believers can ignore food restrictions. However, the modern church allows and even encourages some parishioners to refuse abstinence in food. They can eat normally:

• pregnant women;
• travelers;
• elderly or sick people;
• people engaged in hard physical labor;
• children under 16 years old.

These people can eat peacefully not only on the most severe days, but also throughout the fast.

If a believer does not belong to any of the listed categories, but has not endured some day of Great Lent - that's okay. The Church calls for repentance and with renewed strength to continue fasting. In the end, the main task of fasting is not to instill some specific diet, but to cleanse the body and spirit of a person before the Bright Resurrection of Christ.

If you doubt that you can fast, talk to the priest and receive a blessing

How to move fast without harm to your health

Such strict restrictions may raise a natural question - how safe is it all? There is no danger for a healthy person, but people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, ulcers) need to consult not only with the priest, but also with a gastroenterologist. Fasting does not call for sacrificing oneself, and therefore one does not need to starve to the detriment of one's own health.

Here are some tips to help you feel good throughout the fast:

• drink plenty of clean water. Dehydration is worse than hunger. We get some of the water from ordinary food, but by limiting ourselves in food, we also lose the necessary moisture. Drink at least 5-6 glasses a day;
• take walks on hungry days. Fresh air and moderate activity will help keep the body in good shape;
• give up serious physical activity. Stop going to the gym or jogging. Without meat and fish in your diet, you will still not be able to gain enough protein for muscle growth, and therefore such training will cause more harm than good;
• lean on legumes. It is they who are able to compensate for the lack of nutrients that are provided mainly by fast food.

Fasting is necessary for the benefit of the physical and spiritual condition. Remember that food is not the main element of Lent. We must not forget about spiritual cleansing - the creation of good deeds and the rejection of evil.