SaintElias.com -> Recipes: for Feasting and Fasting

Famous Recipes

from the even more Famous Parishioners of the soon-to-become-famous (at least on the Internet) parish of St. Elias the Prophet Parish

Besides the regular Wednesdays and Fridays Fast, there are 4 major Fast seasons in the Church's Liturgical Year:

1. The Great Fast
The Great Fast is actually made up of 3 Fast Periods:

1.1. The Prophonisimon of the Great Fast

1.1.1. The Church brings us to the celebration the all -holy and glorious Resurrectional Passover by means of the Great Fast. The Church leads us into the Great Fast with great gentleness and care. We begin with an increasing liturgical awareness and excitement in the approaching season of preparation for Pascha. During this time, the Church permits us to strengthen and prepare our bodies for the upcoming ascesis (spiritual exercise and struggle). And then we gradually begin fasting in stages.

1.1.2. From the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee to Meatfare Sunday, already the Church calls us to prepare spiritually and psychologically to enter into preparation for the Resurrection Feast via the Great Fast.

1.1.3. The Week following the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee is a Fast Free Period, including Wednesday and Friday - load up on proteins, fats, and vitamins!

1.1.4. The Sunday of Meatfare is the last day to eat meat before Pascha.

1.1.5. The Sunday of Cheesefare is the last day to eat dairy products and fish before Palm Sunday.

1.2. The 40 Day Fast 1.2.1. The 40 days from Clean Monday [after Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday of Cheesefare (or Sunday of Forgiveness)] to Lazarus Saturday ( the Saturday before Palm Sunday).

1.2.2. On Sundays and Saturdays, the Fast is mitigated to permit: Olive Oil and Wine.

1.2.3. The Feast of the Annunciation often falls during the Great Fast. On this day, Fish is permitted.

1.3 The Holy and Great Week Fast:

1.3.1. Monday to Saturday leading up to Pascha.

1.3.2. This is the most Ancient Fast of the Lenten Period

2. St. Philip's Fast

This is the 40 days of fasting to prepare for the Nativity Feast (Christmas) and the Great Feast of Theophany

3. The Apostles' Fast

This Fast (of variable length [1 - 6 weeks], depending on when Pascha falls) beginning 8 days after Pentecost and culminating on the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul (June 28).

4. The Dormition Fast Two weeks of preparation to celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos (the Birthgiver of God) on August 15

Ukrainian version
Українська версія

Mailing address:
25 Harold Street
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 1C9
Canada
Tel. (905) 459-8888