How to fast before taking communion. What can you eat during strict fasting and before communion. What can you eat

It was established by the Lord Himself and has been performed in the Church continuously for two millennia. All this time, Christians of different times and peoples, as it were, participate in that Last Supper, when Christ divided the bread and wine among His disciples and declared this food to be the Divine Body and Blood.

Of course, not every wine or bread is sacred, but only those over which special, liturgical prayers are said. The Particles eaten at the Liturgy give the believers Divine grace, spiritual strength, cleanse from the consequences of sin. There are frequent cases of recovery from diseases and other miracles that occur at the will of God.

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The main shrine of the Church should be approached after appropriate preparation. An important step in this preparation is fasting. Fearing to break church rules, inexperienced parishioners often ask priests how to fast before Communion? Is fasting obligatory for everyone? In what cases can it be weakened or canceled? A brief excursion into the history of the ancient Church will help to understand this.

How did the tradition of fasting before Communion begin?

In the first centuries of the existence of the Christian Church, Communion was obligatory for any Christian present. Every Sunday, and sometimes more often, people gathered in the house of one of the Christians and had a meal with prayers and the sharing of bread. At that time, there was no special fasting before this action, because the Eucharist was held in the evening and all the participants in the action had already had lunch and even supper.

It often happened that the dinners of wealthy Christians were too luxurious and combined with music and dancing, as was customary in the east. The Apostle Paul, himself often celebrating the Eucharist, considered it inadmissible that such Christians come to Communion after feasts and amusements, when their thoughts cannot concentrate on prayer. Over time, they began to celebrate the Liturgy in the morning, and the custom arose to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ on an empty stomach, "before any meal." However, even then they still did not fast for several days, as is customary in the modern Church.

When the persecution of Christians ceased in 4 AD, many began to be baptized. Once small, tight-knit communities that met secretly in homes, they turned into large gatherings of worshipers in spacious temples. Due to human weaknesses, the moral level of believers has declined. The Holy Fathers of the Church, seeing this, urged every Christian to carefully examine his conscience when approaching Communion.

It was not allowed to approach the Sacrament if a person ate food on the night before the Liturgy, had sexual contacts or "impure visions" (dreams). Christians who revealed these involuntary sins at confession were temporarily suspended from Communion and fulfilled a special prayer rule. There were no restrictions on food on other days, since the believers strictly observed Wednesday, Friday and four fasts a year.

The tradition of fasting before Communion for three or seven days was established during the synodal period (XVIII-XIX centuries). This was due to a general decline in spirituality and religiosity. Many began to go to church “out of habit,” and received communion only because this was taken into account in church documents. If there was no record in the church book that the parishioner confessed and took communion, troubles in the civil service could follow.

At this time, the tradition of "fasting" was introduced - preparation for Communion for several days, in order to distract a lazy person from the hustle and bustle of life and help tune in to prayer. This custom is preserved in the Russian Orthodox Church to this day. Fasting consists of restriction in food and confession on the eve of Communion. How many days to fast - the confessor decides. You can also read about this in the Rules, a stand with which is usually located in a prominent place in the temple.

Fasting Rules Before Communion

So, there is no general church rule of obligatory fasting and confession before communion. But many priests strongly recommend to their parishioners fast for three days before entering the Sacrament. Is it worth it to reject a good tradition for the sake of the letter of the law? It is impossible to argue with the priest or deliberately refuse fasting, since condemnation and insults only add sin to the already existing ones. It is better to fulfill the prescribed rule based on your physical strength.

Orthodox prescribes the rejection of the following products:

• the meat of any animal or bird, even lean;
• milk (kefir, cottage cheese, whey, etc.);
• eggs of any bird;
• fish (not always).

In fact, at the disposal of the fasting Christian are fruits, vegetables, cereals, pasta and bread. Don’t be tempted to cook gourmet “lenten dishes”: food should not become a source of pleasure, but only support strength.

Is it permissible to eat fish before Communion? In most cases, a healthy person should refuse it. The exception is living in the Far North or ships, where fish is the main source of food. Seafood is considered more "lean" than fish and is allowed in moderation. A short fast before Communion is also associated with other restrictions, refusing the following:

• sweets;
• sexual contacts;
• alcoholic beverages;
• smoking;
• participation in various entertainments (weddings, parties, concerts).

6 hours before the start of the Liturgy, food and drink should be completely excluded.. This six-hour fast is called "Eucharistic". If the Eucharistic fast is broken, the priest may not admit to the Sacrament.

Many believers strive to receive communion on the days of general church fasts. This makes it possible to calmly prepare, especially if loved ones also fast and do not offer unnecessary temptations.

Is it permissible to take communion if you smoked or unwittingly broke the fast? About all the excesses made during fasting should be tell the priest in confession. Through confession, admission to the Sacrament is made, and the concealment of even a small offense is considered a great sin before God.

How to fast children

The Russian Orthodox Church has a tradition compulsory confession for children from the age of seven. At the same age, they should be accustomed to fasting. But children take communion from the very moment, i.e. from infancy.

Fasting before communion is not obligatory for a child if he or she is under three years of age.

From three to seven years of age, restrictions are introduced gradually, the child must not only be deprived of delicious food, but be aware of the need and purpose of fasting. You can support your child by your own example by removing fast foods from the family menu. Parents themselves should begin confession and Communion together with the child.

The decision on whether it is possible to lighten the fast should be made by the parents after a conversation with the priest, based on the state of health of the child. Children who grow up in unbelieving families and do not have proper spiritual development should not be forced to fast.

Fasting for pregnant women

Pregnant women and the sick, who wish to take communion, but are on a strict diet, fasting can be weakened or canceled. This is done only with the blessing of the priest. Before you go for such permission, you should test yourself, will a short-term fast really be an unbearable burden, or because of laziness you don’t want to break the usual course of life?

If it is impossible for a pregnant woman to give up dairy products, you can replace this by giving up sweets or other things to which she feels affection. Such abstinence will be accepted by the Lord as a significant achievement.

Post in a hostel

It is allowed to ease or cancel the fast for Christians who are in military service, study, hospital, boarding school or places of deprivation of liberty, where food is provided in common canteens and there is no opportunity to choose fast food. In this case, one should adhere to the blessing of the confessor visiting a military unit or boarding school. Refusal of fast food can be replaced by other restrictions or prayer. For those wishing to receive communion, it is better to resolve this issue with the priest a week before the Sacrament or (if not possible) before confession.

When can I take communion without fasting

During Christmas time - from the Nativity of Christ to Epiphany - and on Bright Week - seven days after Easter - a five-day fast for communicants is not required, only a six-hour Eucharistic one is preserved. But this permission can be allowed only to those who fully observed the previous, Christmas and Great Lent.

Lenten preparation is canceled for the seriously ill and dying.

Orthodox fasting is those days when people are cleansed by the spirit. But at the same time, the body is also cleansed, because everything in each person must be pure - both the soul, and the body, and thoughts. On the days of fasting, you need to be attentive to your psychophysical state. A person who has decided that he is ready to limit his diet, in principle, knows which foods are allowed to be consumed in a given period, and which are not.

The main canons of nutrition in fasting

It is necessary to figure out what you can still eat on fasting days, and what foods should be excluded from the diet. So, the mandatory exceptions are:

1. Meat products;
2. Milk, as well as butter, cottage cheese and cheeses;
3. Eggs and mayonnaise;
4. Fatty sweets and pastries;
5. Fish and vegetable oil (on strict days of fasting);
6. Alcohol and tobacco.

These foods should not be eaten during fasting. There is an opinion that if a person does not eat meat, eggs, does not drink milk, then he loses protein, which is so necessary for the body. But with the right approach to a lean diet, this is completely not the case.

There are many foods that are rich in protein. If you diversify the lean diet with mushrooms, eggplant, legumes and soy, you can get the required amount of protein. Indeed, even nutritionists have proven that soy may well replace fish and meat.

And yet, before fasting, you should find out if it will become dangerous for the body, because not everyone can benefit from abstaining from certain products.

What is allowed to eat in a strict fast

In Christianity, the days of fasting vary in severity. On one day, one thing may be allowed, on the second, another. And there are days when you can't eat at all. The strictest fast among Christians is Great.

It lasts 40 days, during which any recreational activities are prohibited. In addition, there are some canons that must be followed:

1. It is forbidden to take any food on Fridays, as well as on the day the Great Lent begins;
2. The first and last weeks are marked by the permission to eat vegetables, fruits and bread. Water is allowed as a drink.
3. On other days, honey, nuts and any plant foods are allowed.

What can you eat during fasting on non-strict days:

1. Eggplant;
2. Zucchini;
3. fish;
4. lentils;
5. oatmeal;
6. Any fruit salads, of course, without dressing them with sour cream.

The main food in fasting are plant foods. These are mainly cereals (of course, buckwheat, wheat, barley and oatmeal are the best, as these are primordially Russian types of cereals, besides they are rich in fiber and minerals).

Of course, do not forget about the vitamins contained in vegetables and fruits. The main thing is that fasting does not cause a violation of the diet. You should not skip breakfast, and you also need to remember that it is advisable to snack more often during fasting.

Due to the fact that there is no animal protein in the lean diet, which gives the feeling that a person is full for a long time, you want to eat something substantial, especially in the early days. But in this case, you can forget about purification.

The best option here is regular meals, as well as the inclusion of whole grains in the diet, and of course beans.

It is important to remember that for any restriction in food, you need to prepare your body. For him, the option will be the most severe stress, in which a person overeating every day, suddenly suddenly stops eating. There will be no benefit from such an attempt at purification.

Features of nutrition after fasting

Some people think that if the post is over, then you need to win back for all the days and eat everything at once, and even more.

At the same time, without thinking at all that in this case, not only will there be no benefit from abstinence, but on the contrary, there will be only harm. How to eat after the end of the post?

The first days should be like a gradual "fading" of fasting. It is not recommended to eat these days:

1. Meat (with the possible exception of chicken, turkey or fish);
2. Mushrooms, especially pickled;
3. You should not get involved in baking;
4. High-calorie sweets, such as cake, buttercream or buttercream cake;
5. Sausages and smoked meats.

Since the body, during the time the fast lasted, weaned from animal food, you need to start eating it little by little, as if re-accustoming yourself. Do not eat fried meat or fish. It is desirable that the food be boiled and eat it in small portions, little by little.

Salt in the first days after fasting is better to limit. Do not get carried away with flour products in butter and eggs. Much more useful will be dishes from cereals (rice, buckwheat, millet or oatmeal - it does not matter much) with fruits, in which it is desirable to add more greens. After all, the body needs vitamins during this period.

The Sacrament of Communion - how to prepare for it, what can you eat?

The shortest duration of fasting before Communion is three days. It happens that a person cannot withstand these restrictions due to illness or even hard, exhausting work, while the body requires a lot of calories.

In this case, at confession, which necessarily takes place before communion, you need to repent to the priest of this sin as well. What you can’t do is tell the priest that you fasted if the fast is not kept.

So what can you eat in this post? Almost the same is allowed as on the days of other fasts:

1. You can eat vegetables and fruits;
2. Cereals from cereals;
3. Boiled or baked fish;
4. Bread;
5. Nuts.

You can also eat sweets, such as dark chocolate, gozinaki, but it is better to limit the consumption of these products. The main thing is to remember that in the use of even those products that are allowed, you need to know when to stop, do not overeat.

The benefits of fasting for a person or “why to fast”

Eating in fasting according to all the rules is very beneficial for human health. Allowed food will give the body the necessary substances, and the absence of prohibited foods will not allow the body to spend energy on fighting toxins, etc.

Lenten nutrition inherently normalizes the work of the whole organism, but its main benefit is as follows:

1. Improved digestion;
2. Getting rid of dysbacteriosis;
3. Liver cleansing and normalization of its work;
4. Complete cleansing of the body. Slags and toxins are removed completely;
5. Eating daily will prevent weight gain.

Some people, fearing excess weight, do not touch, for example, pies with potatoes fried in oil, albeit vegetable. If you pay attention to fasting days, then on weekends this food is completely permissible and is not at all harmful to health.

Why is this happening? Everything is simple. Even if you allow yourself to enjoy your favorite pies on a day off, all the substances that the body does not need will be removed from the body over the next five weekdays.

Little joys after fasting

Only those people who really held Great Lent, after its end, can fully experience the pleasure of everyday food. In the first days, after forty days of abstinence, ordinary food tastes unusually "sweet".

Those foods that seemed ordinary before Lent seem to be the most delicate nectar. Not everyone can experience such feelings. Only those few who have truly abstained from forbidden food are capable of such a thing.

After all, you no longer need to ask yourself the question, is it possible for me today, now. After all, no matter how hard a person tries, there is not always enough time for cooking, and on fast days tomorrow it will not be possible to eat what they ate today.

Therefore, it turns out that all food often consists of water, nuts and dried fruits.

Fast or not?

In any case, regardless of whether a person fasts or not, you need to know the measure in everything. After all, if you exhaust yourself with constant hunger, the body will not receive the substances it needs, it will use internal resources that are not endless.

And in the end, it just “gets tired” of working and stops. Is there any benefit to such fasting? The answer is obvious - no. The same can be said about overeating. Excess will be deposited in the body, and as a result - obesity, heart disease and other internal organs.

So whether to fast or not is up to everyone. The main thing is not to go to extremes.

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Often you can come across a question of the following nature: “How many days to fast?” And, as a rule, it is asked by people who do not understand the full meaning of this event and its role in the life of a true Christian.

• fasting;
• attending evening worship on the eve of the ceremony;
• reading the prayer rule, the necessary Communion;
• strict abstinence on the day of Communion itself;
• confession to the priest and his admission to the sacrament;
• presence at the Divine Liturgy from beginning to end.

How long to fast before Communion

Preparation for Communion (rest) lasts, as a rule, 3 days and concerns both the physical and spiritual aspects of a person’s life:

• physical (bodily) cleanliness is abstinence from marital relations and restriction in food. These days, animal food and fish should be completely excluded, and dry food should be consumed in a fairly moderate amount;
• spiritual cleansing consists in attending a divine service in a church, reading certain prayers and canons.

It is necessary to refuse food (fasting) after midnight, since it is customary to start the sacrament on an empty stomach. Also, a person who is preparing for the ceremony must expel all negative thoughts and extinguish anger. It is better to spend time in solitude and reading the Word of God.

Confession takes place immediately before Communion (in the evening or in the morning). Without it, no one can be admitted to Communion, except for children under 7 years old and cases bordering on mortal danger.

How to Fast Before Confession

Before confession, it is also advisable to fast for three days, physical and spiritual. It must be remembered that Communion depends on this rite, and hence the further purification of a person.

Very often, its passage turns out to be a very difficult and overwhelming task. And if a Christian has already embarked on this path, it means that he is full of strength and will for the further path. In addition to bodily fasting, one must not forget about the purity of thoughts: not to be subjected to abuse, idle thoughts and entertainment, to do good deeds.

Fasting before confession, what you can eat

For complete spiritual cleansing on the eve of confession, you should eat in this way:

• eat cereals, vegetables and fruits;
• eat fish;
• exclude food of animal origin;
• Alcohol and tobacco are strictly prohibited.

Do pregnant women fast?

But if a woman in such a position wants to fast, she can do it not to the fullest extent, but be sure to try not to eat meat products and undergo spiritual purification, since the health and life of her child depends on this.

Are the children fasting?

There are also many controversies on this issue. Therefore, initially, a child who is already at a conscious age (starting from the age of seven) needs to correctly and intelligibly explain the meaning and meaning of fasting. After all, children do not fully understand what it means to limit oneself and why to do it. Here it would be appropriate to carry out work on preparing for the post on the following points:

• fasting is not a diet;
• visibility of fasting time (calendar);
• among other children (do not advertise, but do not be shy);
• post - need or whim;
• Sunday joys and the feast of expectation;
• from each according to his measure.

If all these points have been studied, and the child is ready to try his hand, you just need to help him in word and deed. And remember that the main thing is your own example.

Fasting is a truly great sacrament that a person goes through on his own, and the result depends only on him, and it always requires strength and faith. To fast means to become one step closer to the Lord, gradually gaining his spiritual blessing and righteous grace.

Fasting Prayer (Jesus Prayer, Sinner's Prayer)

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner";

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me";

"Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me";

"Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me";

"Lord have mercy".

The Lord is always with you!

Watch a video about fasting before communion:

Confession and communion for many people is a way to restore spiritual balance, cleanse themselves, and become closer to God.

There is no exact rule that determines the need for communion or confession, so true believers try to take communion every Sunday.

In this regard, the question arises: what actions should a person take on the eve of this event.

Is it necessary to fast before confession and communion?

There are no exact instructions for preparing for communion or confession. There are certain customs that people follow before church activities.

The customs originated during the Eucharistic period and are considered relevant to the modern church.

In this regard, the following canons arose:

1. Confession is required before communion.
2. Communion is performed on an empty stomach, it is impossible to eat from midnight.
3. Observe marital abstinence during the day.

How to fast before confession and communion?

Fasting before communion causes a lot of controversy among believers. Before communion, you can not only eat a certain time, but also smoke, drink, slander, argue, use the Internet, watch TV and read the press.

On the eve of confession and communion, prayers must be read.

And eat certain foods, as well as in moderation - no frills:

1. Eat five times a day and keep the water balance.
2. Eat boiled, raw vegetables with minimal salt added.
3. The best side dishes are porridges without oil.
4. Fruits and fruit decoctions should be the main dessert.

It is necessary to improve spiritually and emotionally during fasting days. While eating, enrich yourself with positive emotions and thoughts.

How many days should you fast?

In addition to the fact that not everything can be eaten on the eve of confession and communion, such retention must continue for a certain time.

Each canon defines a different period of time, so it is better to consult a spiritual mentor who will carry out the procedure.

Possible time frames:

1. Strict unconditional fasting is observed during the day before confession and communion.
2. Ideally it is worth observing a three-day fast before church procedures of this direction.
3. the best an option would be to perform generally accepted fasts, which are indicated in the canons of the Orthodox Church.

Note! In the process of fasting, one should not resort to extremes - an exhausted body and mind are not welcome.

People who rarely take communion must observe a mandatory weekly fast with the accompanying reading of the main prayers. In addition, it is worth adhering to fasting in terms of entertainment, thoughts and statements.

What can not be eaten in fasting before communion?

It is worth keeping the post wisely. It is worth taking into account the generally accepted fast, which believers must adhere to.

Attention! Fish should not be eaten only on those days of abstinence for food, when they coincide with the main Orthodox fast - in the rest of the period, this product can be eaten.

Moderation should be observed not only in limiting products, but also in portions. You need to eat as much as you need to meet the needs of the body - it is absolutely impossible to overeat.

What can you eat:

Fasting for pregnant women and children

Fasting before confession and communion is not possible for everyone and not in all situations.

• For pregnant women observance of restrictions in food is completely excluded by the church.

  It is better for expectant mothers to think about spiritual and emotional enrichment, which should be continued throughout pregnancy.

• children up to five years, it is also better not to resort to food restrictions. It is worth having conversations with the baby, telling about the sacrament of confession and communion, familiarizing with the traditions and rules of the ceremony.
• people who adhere to therapeutic diets or suffer from certain diseases, adherence to food restrictions is not necessary, and sometimes completely categorical.

If during the process of "starvation" there are signs of malaise or feeling unwell, then it is worth returning to the usual diet and taking communion on an empty stomach.

Useful video

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In the church calendar, posts are prescribed before certain holidays. But confession and communion are individual sacraments. No one indicates the day when one should cleanse one's soul from sins, nor does it prescribe with what frequency one should confess. One person confides his sins to the confessor every week, the other before major church holidays. Sometimes the period before communion falls on a common Orthodox fast. How to be then?

Some people generally come to communion without fasting and confession. But the Holy Gifts are the greatest sacrament. They, according to the Church, should not be eaten by people mired in sins. And in order to prepare oneself for confession and communion, a person should fast. But if there is still some clarity with meat and animal products, then the question of whether it is possible to eat fish before communion remains open. A document of the commission of the Inter-Council Presence concerning this problem has recently been published. It is called "Preparing for Holy Communion". Let's see what this document says about fasting.

The Importance of Fasting Before Communion

How to prepare the soul for the reception of the Holy Gifts was discussed even in the early Church, and not only at the commission of the Inter-Council Presence on the problems of parish practice. In the First Epistle to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes that people who eat the Lord's bread and drink His cup unworthily will be guilty of sins against the Body and Blood of Christ. Therefore, you need to test yourself in order not to be condemned.

This indicates that a person must cleanse the body and soul before taking communion. And even the priest who celebrates the liturgy pronounces the following wording: "Let it not be a condemnation for me to partake of Your Holy Mysteries." One thing is clear: before using the Gifts of the Lord, one should confess and fast. And if we prepare our soul with prayers and repentance, then the body - with abstinence in food. But is it possible to eat fish before confession and communion? Is this product classified as prohibited during this period?

The meaning of fasting

Before accepting God into yourself, partaking of His Body and Blood, you need to prepare yourself for this event. After all, even before secular holidays, we clean our house, decorate the room in which we will receive guests. How should one prepare to partake of the Holy Gifts? All priests assert that the matter should not be limited to one fast. If you limit yourself in food, but at the same time be arrogant, do not admit your sins, harbor hostility towards your neighbor and violate the commandments of Christ, then such abstinence will not give anything.

Confession before communion is required. After all, then the believer comes to the realization of his sins and repentance. And besides the question of whether it is possible to eat fish and fish soup before communion, a person should be more concerned about his own state of mind. After all, the period before the acceptance of the Holy Gifts is not in vain called fasting, and not just fasting. Those preparing for this event must read three canons (repentant to Christ, prayer to the Mother of God and to the guardian angel). And also he must attend the evening service in the church on Saturday. And of course, worldly entertainment should be avoided during this period.

Number of days of fasting

The Church has no consensus on how many days a believer should refrain from drinking before accepting the Holy Gifts. In this matter, everything is very individual. Fasting, or rather its duration, is appointed by the confessor. Usually it's three days. But if a person has diseases (especially of the gastrointestinal tract), general weakness of the body, pregnancy or lactation, then the duration of fasting is reduced.

The group of “beneficiaries” also includes the military, who cannot choose dishes and products at their discretion, but are forced to eat what they give. The confessor also looks at other circumstances. First of all, it is the frequency of communion. If someone resorts to eating the Holy Gifts for the first time, then such a person is assigned a weekly fast. And whoever takes communion every Sunday, then it is enough for such a believer to refrain from fast food only on Wednesday and Friday. For this category of people, the question arises: is it possible to eat fish before communion?

What are the posts

For a worldly person, bodily abstinence seems to be one thing. If fasting, then you can not eat meat and animal products (milk and eggs). And you can eat fish, vegetable fats, drinks, including alcohol, vegetables and fruits. But the Church divides fasts into ordinary and strict. There are days when you can not eat not only meat, but also fish. Some fasts also forbid vegetable oil (the so-called oil).

There are dry days. During them, you can not take any food until sunset, and in the evening you are allowed to eat only. Now let's look at fasting before accepting the Holy Gifts: is it possible to eat fish before communion?

What fast should be observed before confession

Purification of the soul from sins does not require any preparation. Previously, good believers went to the spiritual father and confessed when they felt the need for it. And it is not at all necessary to receive the Eucharist immediately after the remission of sins. But if you are going to do this, then fasting is necessary, that is, the preparation of the soul and body for the acceptance of the holy sacrament of the Church. And here it would be appropriate to ask the question: is it possible to eat fish before communion? With regard to this product, one can definitely give a negative answer only for Saturday evening. Everything else depends on the frequency of your communion, on your health and life circumstances. It also matters whether the Orthodox Church observes universal fasting these days. In this case, the requirements for food for fasting change.

On the eve of participation in the holy liturgy, when you are going to start accepting the Holy Gifts, you need to observe a strict fast. And this means that fish and various dishes from it cannot be eaten. Monks are prescribed on Saturday evening to consume only unoiled juicy (that is, vegetables not flavored with any fat).

The church day begins at midnight. And therefore, all Sunday before the acceptance of the sacrament, you can neither eat nor drink. It is also desirable to attend the Saturday evening service. Can I eat fish before communion on other days? If, for example, your spiritual father has appointed a week of abstinence for you, then you should avoid meat, dairy products and eggs for all seven days. But besides this, on Wednesday and Friday you need to adhere to that is, exclude fish, fish soup and seafood from your diet these days. The Church has a special relationship with food on Saturday (if it is not Passionate). Many priests believe that fasting is not allowed on the sixth day of the week. But this does not apply to those who fast, that is, those who prepare themselves to receive the Gifts of the Lord.

We have already mentioned above that the degree of severity of abstinence depends on church days. If all Orthodox keep a fast (before Easter or Christmas), then fasting people should avoid forbidden foods even more so. Moreover, their abstinence should differ from others by greater severity.

If, for example, on certain days, believers are forbidden to eat meat, then fasting people should also refuse fish. On some days, such as Wednesday and Friday, it is better for them not to add sugar to their drinks, but to replace it with honey. Vegetable oil, sauces and seasonings are also undesirable when fasting. You should also not overeat and permitted foods. After all, moderation in food is an integral part of the preparation for the acceptance of the Holy Gifts.

Instead of a conclusion

Perhaps some will consider that this article has not answered the question of whether it is possible to eat fish before communion. A categorical no can only be said regarding the day on which the sacrament will take place (from midnight you can’t eat or drink anything).

It is also considered soul-saving to abstain from food all day on the Sabbath, and in the evening, on the eve of communion, one should dine with foods that are allowed during strict fasting (that is, without fish). But this requirement can be relaxed for sick, pregnant and lactating women. The strictness and duration of fasting before communion is established by the confessor.