Everyone knows that a believer must fast, however, not everyone knows the true meaning of the post, its main goal and mechanism.
People, weakly believers and injecting the fundamental Orthodox Church, but at the same time sincerely seeking to know them and live according to the law of God, it is paramount to understand the purpose of the post, to accept and understand its components, and only then start fasting. For, the post will not be useful, adhering to whom the believer does not realize the whole genuine need.
What is the post?
The post is a religious tradition of temporary complete or partial abandonment of food and drink, associated with a number of other diverse spiritual and ascetic practices. At the same time, the post should be a voluntary act committed into the glory of the Lord God.
The post implies:
- abstinence from tasty and satisfying food, and all sorts of fun;
- thorough and deep testing of the soul and purification of its sinfulness;
- Sincere motivating himself to accomplish good deeds, to communicate with God through prayer and thinking about his spiritual destination.
The result of the post is a spiritual growth, its benefit is to stay in deep concentration and sober, in a hearty and unshakable appeal to God that he was present in the life of the believer, forgive him and directed the righteous path.
The essence of the post.
The person is designed so that his flesh is continuous and powerfully putting pressure on his soul. Each of us constantly opposes such carnation pressure. For the bodily side of a person is eager for the opposite spiritual side, and the Spirit, respectively, wishes the opposite flesh. It is the Orthodox post that helps the believer to tamper his flesh and cope with her sinful desires.
A Christian, temporarily refusing to what he is used to and without which he does not represent his own life, brings up his soul, tends to resist his carnal requirements. The post for a believer is, first of all, the "educator" of the soul. That is why fasting must be consciously, with the goal of spiritual development, and not for the sake of barraffsis and approval of others.
To understand the post's mechanism, it is necessary to define that the post should not be regarded from the point of view of the category of change of the genus food consumed, it is important to perceive the post as time of strict abstinence, intentional restriction of itself and the possibility of developing the resistance of the Spirit.
Considering the mechanism of the post, it is necessary to take into account the natural needs of a person who determine its comprehensive growth and development. However, it is important to understand that it is not necessary for their satisfaction. All excess is the carnal desires who enslaved the soul of the sinner. Each of us should strive to get rid of this slavery and make the flesh of their weaker and weak with the help of compliance with the post.
Of course, the post does not give full liberation from bodily passions, but it helps to suppress their strength and power. The post does not eradicate sinful passions, he relaxes the flesh and its influence on the soul.
For each believer, the post should not be an end in itself, but by an auxiliary agent that allows you to tighten the flesh and sublime the Spirit.
By accepting the decision to fast, it is important to measure the degree of post with the physical state of health, in which the believer remains, i.e. The degree of post should be determined by the degree of human health. Allocate five main degrees of post:
- The first degree allows the use of fish and any vegetable products (both in cheese and prepared);
- The second degree permits vegetables and boiled fruits, arched by vegetable oil;
- the third extent allows you to eat only boiled food without adding vegetable oil;
- the fourth degree is characterized by drying (intimidated vegetable food without oil);
- The fifth time prescribes a complete rejection of food, in which only the water intake is allowed.
In the old days, a person was distinguished by a stronger health than now. Main arch church rules It was written in view of the fact that most people with a post sought its main goal - to make flesh weaker and weaker for the benefit of spiritual growth.
But, the current generation If there are numerous serious and chronic diseases, it is not always able to get true benefit from the post. In this connection, for some people it is necessary to define a relaxation in the post. Children, pregnant women, people who suffer from a serious disease or engaged in severe physical labor, to instruct the priest, can receive an individual degree of severity of the post, corresponding to their health status and the features of the organism they possess.
Accompany the post of a volatile prayer, sincere faith and unlimited love, and then, he will have real value, the correct meaning and true meaning!
Archimandrite Nikifor (Horing) - the abbot of the yoss monastery in the name of the three saint and administrative exams of the monasteries of the Yaskaya Archbishopia (Romanian Orthodox Church).
- Father Archimandrite, why do you need to fast? What benefits bring us these works?
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luka said, passing the words of the Savior: "Look for your own, that your hearts are not aggravated by the upcoming and drunkenness and concerns of everyday" (Luke 21: 34). Thus, the admission to fast comes from the Savior himself, and the Savior's word for us, Christians, is the highest landmark. We, the eagerness of the eternal and truth in the world, should make the word of the Lord of their life.
On the one hand, the post for us is a ascetic feat committed in order to flesh did not rule over the soul, the insightfulness of the mind, spiritual attention, and on the other hand, the post is the natural state of a person when he sympathizes the suffering of another or grieve . When the students of the Lord of our Jesus Christ of the Pharisees stored for not fed, they heard this word from the Savior: "Can the sons of the name of the marriage, when with them the groom? Doccies with them the bridegroom, can not fast, but the days will come, when they are taken away from their bridegroom, and then will be fast in those days "(MK. 2: 19-20). King David himself, when his child fell ill, he fastened himself for a long time, wishing these deprivations to express his repentance before God.
Orthodox post It can be called the most stringent in the whole Christian world. How to explain the fact that in Orthodoxy, in contrast to other religions, did not have adapts to the spirit of the time, a noticeable weakening of those features required from believers?
Not only as for the post, but in the entire liturgical cycle, the Orthodox Church did not conduct an alert; She did not adapt to the changes that happened to the man did not follow the time fashion - but retained the true reference points as a treasure. On such a question, Father Galewi answered that wheat, this main food product, is already so old, but, nevertheless, never depreciate, for it will always be bread pressing for a person. All the legacy, adopted by us from the Holy Fathers, our tradition is a treasure, and we, hopefully, do not lose it.
Human impact may cause individual election in the post under certain conditions - for example, in the case of illness, pregnancy, but it cannot be energized in any case, because a person who will live in any time, needs to be strictly executed all These features about which the church teaches that they are the lifetime, the complete meaning is subject to us. And the church did not make sending in the post because it was not necessary. If, for example, in some edges or under certain life conditions, there was no other meal, except for eggs and cheeses, the church would certainly allow them to use them in the post.
The post, which is observed in our church, does not harm, but, on the contrary, it revives the soul and adds health to the body.
With one feature more and more often come across last yearsAnd you, your presence, already probably asked about it: Does not lose your true meaning if we use special so-called "post-free products" sold in stores? For example, lean pate, lean sausage ...
Today we have a lot of all sorts of "assistants", but at the same time we have all new and new problems, and we turn out to be more busy than people who have passed down. A rustic hostess, who often had seven-eight children, still managed to prepare everything necessary for the post. It was part of her home duties, and so she expressed her love and to the family, and to Christian teachings. Today, especially in the cities, very often a husband, and the wife is busy over all measures and completely exhausted this daily buddies.
Returning to the given question: if we, for example, eat soy pales, prepared without any artificial additives and spices, or soybean milk to fill the number of proteins during the post period, then this does not mean that we do not read and do not appreciate the post. After all, it is possible to combat the potatoes or cabbage and eat them with so greed that there will be nothing in common with the idea of \u200b\u200bfasting, but you can eat a little soy patenta for breakfast, and this is a healthier alternative to a piece of bread with Margarine, for example .
Some say: "I am not singing, because I am afraid to get sick of this" - or: "I can't work all day if I become fast."
There is one place in "Dobryolovoy" - by Avva John Karpafski, - where the following says: "I heard some of the brothers constantly sick and not able to fast to me with the question: how can we get rid of the devil and passion without mating? Such is need to answer, which is not one abstaining from writing, but also a hearty crushing can beat and expel evil thoughts and enemies inspiring them. "
The attitude to the post depends on the spiritual state and the faith of each. As a person deepens the prayer and faith in God, he gets strength, an unknown earlier, he acquires consolation and daring to God. The Savior said that "A man will live with bread, but every word coming from the mouth of God" (MF. 4: 4).
If I am singing, but not immersed in the Word of God, if I pray a little, then, of course, I will weaken, because I will not have enough faith, and at some point I feel helpless and scare. Today, many of us, filled with immesceptible and pity for themselves, would be ready to retreat from the post, if it were possible. I once again had a case when the expensive people, having come to confession, asked: "Patty, blessing to fast only on the first and last week, we fasted all my life." I replied to them: "Very good, but if you fed up all my life, then you do not know if you can withstand the whole post. So try to withstand it, let's see if you do or not. Why execute the commandment about post half? "
Between the case explained to them, which means the post, why we will watch and what are the fruits of our fiction. Having worried everything well, these people became convinced by the postmen and then admitted to me that not only withstood the entire post, but even tried, if possible, add a rigor. So only understood the meaning of the efforts that we are called to attach the sake of themselves, and not for someone else, we will find the power to resist the temptations to break the post.
I know people who have very hard physical work, and they live in extreme need, but posts keep strictly like monks. This is an example of God that God seeks strength is much greater than we can imagine. People who pray, are confessing, are involved, gain fortress in the body and blood of the Lord - these true food and true drink.
If the members of one family post perceive in different ways, especially when one of the spouses fasten, and the other is not, how to make it not affect the relationship between spouses, for example?
Husband, wife and in general, in general, first of all, should be made in meekness, in spiritual beauty, without having lost the habit of another and without limiting it. Sooner or later he will see the feat of the fasting, and maybe this moment will come when he wants to fast. And the first will pray for him, and so turns the word that said by the Holy Apostle Paul, that "a unbelieving husband is consecrated by his wife, and the wife is unbelievable by his husband believers" (1 Cor. 7: 14). The same applies to any other family member.<…>
Some ask: how to make ridicule and contempt of colleagues in situations where some events are arranged at the workplace?
Such a person should be understood that in such situations the advantage on his side. People are accustomed to "solidarized" when it comes to jokes, irony and everything that is capable of hurting the soul. But our hardness in which we will stand adamantly, will show others that we are people who believe in what we are doing and making what we believe. And if you have a little rustle those who laugh at you, you will see that they also have some faith, only they do not follow her. So who is more worthy of irony and pity? Belinking to the end or believing only when the thunder is getting?
It is very important to confess your faith firmly, because our post is not just our private thing: in the post I associated with all the Chads of the Church, which will be satisfied. I am in obedience to the Church, in the confession of my faith, and to move away from my faith, which would seem to be a small act - this is already renunciation.
Even if I go somewhere, to colleagues for work or friends, for example, and there they will look at me like an eccentric, because I will like, after all, this moment will surely come when, hitting some crisis situation, the same colleagues or friends will say about me: "Here he is a person really believes, he is consistent in his faith to the end. With him, we must consult, we must ask for his help. "
After all, people cannot stand on lies indefinitely. On the one hand, they may reject what possesses restrictions before them, but on the other, they appreciate firm behind their faith in God, with all the consequences arising from here. So we can't be heat strength . Situations when they look at us with a mockery and contempt, is to check whether we are capable of confessing our faith.
The man was created by God as a harmonious creature. In the first people, our ancestors of Adam and Eve, first who lived in paradise, all the components of their nature - spirit, soul and body were in strict coented. This condition can be asked to be properly supplied by the pyramid: the vertex is a spirit, directed to God, the middle part is the soul, which is subordinate to the Spirit, and the foundation is the body that served the obedient tool of the soul. At the same time, the whole material world was obeyed to his Lord, the crown of creation - a man. But Adam and Eve sinned their disobedience to the Creator, tasted the fruit from the prohibited tree. As a result of this sin, the initial hierarchy of the human essence was radically violated. Since then, the nature of a person looks like a pyramid, tipped down the top down: Spirit, breaking his connection with God, fell dependent on the soul; The soul conquered the body, which, in turn, turned out to be dependent on the outside world and enslaved the material principle. Now there is a disorder between the components of human nature: "For the flesh wishes the opposite spirit, and the spirit - no other flesh, they oppose each other."(Gal. 5:17). The post is ascetic to help restore the initial hierarchy of the psychophysical organization of a person - to conquer the body of the soul, and the soul subjugate the spirit.
With antiquity, it is known that every type of drink and food has its own impact on the body. Food is capable of not only to support our activity, but also to prevent her. You ourselves call dishes that are delighted and rapped, relax and take the body. The food is capable of increasing attention to himself, to enslave the stomach, and therefore, to decline the soul to earthly and tween. When the stomach is fastened, the mind becomes lazy, and the heart is griste, is it capable of a person in such a state pure and sincerely pray to God?
The path of spiritual life implies a victory over their passions through overcoming our sensual dependence. Here the church offers a long time-tested means.
"When the king is going to take the enemy city, - said Rev. John Kolov, - it is primarily supplied by edible supplies into it. Then citizens, being embarrassed by hunger, conjugate the king. The same happens with carnal lusts: if a person has a life in post and hunger, then the disorderly desires will be exhausted ".
Recall the opposite example of the Cossacks from the Taras Bulba Gogol. Schish, although he prayed to the church and was ready to defend it to the last drop of blood, but did not want to hear about post and abstinence. Isn't it weakened by their inner spirit, which was expressed in the example of betrayal and in the ultimate defeat of the Cossacks?
Imagine that on the one hand, a violin musician plays from you, and on the other, a worker with a jackhammer works. Will you displace the melody of violin? Or will you see the movement of the bow on the strings? So in the life of a person: all external impressions, earthly pleasures do not give to hear the voice of the Heavenly Father. Who will be able to stop the jackhammer passion, he hears the Word of God, will come into communication with him. The post is sent to it. He replicates attachment to sensual pleasures so that the person enjoy the spiritual truths.
The post is a reason for food. It is based on a centuries-old knowledge of its action on our nature. So, the food of animal origin has the property to build the flesh and awakened passion (especially meat). Therefore, during the post, a Christian limits himself animal FoodAnd also keeps the measure in the very number of food. The gifts of the vegetable world, taken by the body, have a lighter effect and do not provoke the movement of low, coarse passions in the nature.
Thus, the post is repulsed to the attachment to the scratched enjoyment, helps to conquer the spirit of the flesh. Without a post, it is impossible to restore that paradise harmony in our nature, in which all the feelings and desires of the body were in complete obedience to the soul.
The post has for a person and pedagogical (educational) value. If we do not learn to limit ourselves in the needs of the stomach, how will our will be able to defeat stronger passions?
It must be remembered that the post consists not only in bodily abstinence. "The benefit of the post does not limit one abstinence in food, because the true post is the elimination of evil deeds", "Said Saint Vasily Great. The post is a restriction of yourself in everything that lands spiritual and moral aspirations of a person. The post is to refrain from married relations, frivolous entertainment and stale, unnecessary worries. It is at this time that one should abandon such harmful habitsLike smoking, foul language and alcohol abuse.
The post is the abstinence of external and inner feelings from unauthorized impressions. "Let not be alone, but also eyesight and rumor, and legs, and hands, and all members of our body, - writes saint John Zlatoust. - Let his hands be satisfied with the embezzlement and love. Let the legs fast, having ceased to go to illegal affairs. Let her eyes fast - the vision is food. In total, it would be absurd to refrain from food, and with my eyes to devour what is forbidden. Don't you eat meat? Do not deviate with their eyes with their sweet ashors. Let it be fastened; And the post of hearing is not to hire a slander and slander. Let the tongue fasten against foul language and cursing, because it is possible if we refrain from birds and fish, and our brothers are thorough and eat and eat. Glossing devouring the body of a brother, cares for the flesh of the near ".
However, many may have a question: unless to figure out in sins, fight passions, to do good deeds, to live peacefully with the neighbors, to build a language, etc. should we only in the days of the post? Is it all the ever-wing case of a Christian?
Yes, to live a pious, to do on the commandments of God, to fight the uncleanness within themselves is necessary on all days. But most of us it turns out bad. And in the days of the post, we all offer another opportunity learn restrain the language, put anger, eliminate from the fuss and gossip, create alms, etc. Thus, we are given the opportunity to get used to the virtue and turn it into skill. The skill is needed to all so that later, at the end of the post, you have to already be familiar to a pious life. Replica in the post from smoking - and after Easter proligated abstinence. Threw firmware - do not start again. What has become a habit is done without difficulty. So, our exercises, our spiritual and body work - not only for post time. They serve to acquire skills, and the skill itself must go for life.
The post is an analogue of a long journey for the acquisition of a skill of refusal of sins and passions and compassion (acquisition, cultivation in the shower) of virtues.
The post is a school of repentance, in which a person must begin to jellish his verta, to move its life and, as far as possible, change it for the better.
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Literature:
- Dukhanin V. Familiarity with Orthodoxy, or the beginning of the knowledge of the spiritual world. - M., 2011.
- Archpriest Andrei Tkachev. Always or only in the post? http://www.pravoslavie.ru/77530.html.
Who came to the church in a conscious age, remembers how he gladed at first, as it was easy to observe him. But often over the years, joy passes, cooling comes, and the approach of the post scares. Before the greatest post of Archpriest Alexy, the flow in an interview with Prophera answered, in which the reasons for this cooling and why even with such a relation to the post is better not to violate it.
Why not please the post?
Alexy's father, many admit that over the years the post ceases to be joy, perceived almost as a meantime. Why is this happening?
The fact is that our attitude towards God mirror reflects the attitude towards people. The Lord commanded us to love God with all my heart and the neighbor as yourself - these are the first commandments, and we fulfill them, as, however, and the rest of eight, bad.
I will start with the relationship towards the neighbor. When we fall in love or want to make friends with someone, remember this person day and night, ready, as it seems to us, the mountains will be collapsed for him, and in this period of food, just what distracts from deep communication, we pay a minimum of time and attention. But when another person enters our lives like a wife or friend, after some time not just get used to him, but he annudits or even begins to annoy, it seems to us that the relationship has been exhausted, and it was originally a mistake, we must look for new friends and a new spouse.
And yesterday's friends, at best, simply cease to communicate, and sometimes become enemies, decay marriages, children grow without fathers. This picture is familiar to everyone. I think that such feelings more often or less experienced. Forgetfulness, impermanence - the main thing that distinguishes man from God. In relations with him, we are also inconsistently, and it began with Adam. He sinned because he wanted to have something without his father, personal, individual, only him belonging to him. And the reciprocity between the man and God, without which there is no genuine relationship, was broken.
All the Old Testament testifies that people remembered the lost reciprocity, but rarely who managed to restore it. There were outbreaks of faith, but they both broke out, and faded. We often see in the Old Testament the abyss between people and God, between the brother and brother, the Father and the Son.
About which Christ himself says: "From the born wives did not rest in greater John the Baptist" (Matt., 11, 11), which is rightfully considered by the attorney of the monks, spent the whole life in post and prayer. Why? He waited for a meeting with God, and his post was just recognized that reciprocity is lost. Fasting, he reminded us that food and beings can delight, but this is not what makes a man happy. They satisfy the body appetite, but not the soul. And the more the soul is eager to communicate with God, the less food requires the body.
At the heart of any post - the recognition by man that he lost God, lost his neighbor, and he lost himself, because a person recognizes himself only in communication. The post for a Christian is the path to the meeting with the mild God. But that the meeting takes place, a dialogue with him is necessary, so the post is inseparable from prayer. Prayer is not an automatic subtraction of rules, and appeal to God from the depths of the heart of the crushed and humble.
If I just refrain from rapid food and read the prayer rule, but I think about the earth, I continue to indulge in passions, this is not a post. But the neophytes of the Lord makes it possible to feel the joy of abstinence, know yourself. In whatever age, a person has come to church, at first he is a child for God, a baby - in a spiritual sense. For children, at first everyone makes parents, but gradually teach them to independence. Not to all children like it - we are much more pleasant when we are nursing with us, and we are not responsible for anything.
So in a relationship with God. Not for our works, but in the great love of your God gives the newcomer grace so that they understand the meaning of spiritual life, but then offers to work hard. Ask any person that is better: ride a wheelchair or walk on your feet? The answer is obvious. But when it comes to not about physical possibilities, but about spiritual life, we do not want to walk, prefer God to wear us on your shoulders. We want to take, and not to give. With this attitude, the post can not be joy.
Failure to send - a choice in favor of passions
And is it necessary in this case to force yourself to the post or honest will not be observed that not in joy? Maybe it was then, without observing the post, a person will feel the devastation first, and then the need for post?
As you understand, it is impossible to force anyone - this is a free choice of each. We can only try to understand what is useful for the soul. Again, I will conduct an analogy with relationships between people. Even in a relationship with the most close moments of irritation, dislikes up to hostility - such is fallen human nature. But in these minutes it can be done decently, to show a good attitude towards the neighbor - to keep your negative emotions, do not raise your hand on a person, not to hurt him with a word.
One devotee said: "Sin wins man easily, but it is worth resisting." Evil is stronger than us, but even in a small resistance he has evidence of faith. "The sin pretties I will be due (that is, always)", - These are words from 50 psalm, which is in the morning rule. Who reads the rule is not automatically, but by thinking into the words of prayers, understands its egoism, Srebrolubiye, whispered - its weakness - and once he understands, is already becoming different. He gradually, imperceptibly for others and for himself, is changing because it fights with his passions. Changes, despite the fact that there is always a defeat in this struggle.
It is terrible for me to think that I would do if without struggle picked up with my passions. They would crush everything and everyone around, and in the end I myself. This is also a way that helps make sure of your disrepair, but still it is better to learn the truth about yourself, not reaching such extremes.
"I believe, Lord, and confessing, Yako, you are truly Christ, the son of God Zhivago, who came to the world of sinful to save, from nichrid the first EMM AZ,"- We read by preparing for the communion, and the priest, leaving the altar with the bowl, repeats these words. Initially, we understand them as a hyperbola, but those who are in the church are not one year are convinced that this is the deepest truth, the truth that does not kill, does not lead to despair, but gives extraordinary joy - I forgave so much! Forgive me because I wanted it, I asked the mercy, although it was cracked, but worked. God does not impose himself to anyone, but always meets the reciprocity of even a timid attempt to restore relations.
Imagine that I just got acquainted with you and at first I am glad every meeting, every of your arrival. And then it starts to tire me: come - you distract me from the TV, computer, other toys. You will immediately feel the change of relationships and after two or three such meetings will stop coming. It will pass a little time, and I will feel like alone, I will understand what treasure was trained on trivia: friendship, reciprocity - to toys. And no one to be offended - he made his choice.
Refusal of the post is also a choice in favor of passions. Therefore, it is better not to be seduced, but to resist. No in the heart of prayer and repentance - I still read the prayer rule. I do not want to fast - I trust the centuries-old experience of the church, the saints and I will not eat the rapid. It is better than such a stupid Pharisee labor than non-resistance to passions. This work may not immediately, but will bring fruit, and the prayer will again become a deep inner need.
The post is the return to life is not lonely, not myself, but in reciprocity with the other. Refusal of rapid food and optional entertainment - only funds, and the purpose of the post is restored reciprocity.
Do not deprive yourself of easter joy
It helps to understand the cycle of a great worship service. But a number of the most important services of the Great Post takes place on weekdays, and many parishioners fail to enter into any reading, nor for the 12 Gospels, nor on the removal of the shroud, nor for the burial of Christ.
Nothing wrong. Work is obedience, and obedience to the above post and prayer. It is important how a person belongs to the fact that due to work can not get on the evening ace service. If he is experiencing that today is not in the church, the Lord will reward him. Because it is not in the temple by circumstances independent of him, but he soul with the church, participates in her life.
But when he rejoices that for a good reason, he does not have to stand for three hours on 12 gospels, it, as you understand, a completely different heartfelt. But with such a setting, it is possible to restore reciprocity, if sincerely regret its unlikely and ask the Lord to strengthened in faith.
Remember the "Word Out of Easter" of St. John Zlatoust: "Hanging and forth, unlimited." Lord accepts everyone: and those who worked a lot and those who are few. Takes if a person wants a meeting with the Lord to take place. But if he decides not to fast, because the post has become him in a burden, it is likely that he will not want to meet with the Lord and does not even come to the Easter night in the temple. Choice for man. Temptation in spiritual life is inevitable, but let everyone think, whether he wants to deprive himself easter joy.
Leonid Vinogradov talked
Christian life is unthinkable without a feat. That is, without the effort that is taking faithful, leading and strengthened by the Holy Spirit to get rid of the yoke of sin and domination of passions, and to selflessly follow the will of the Lord. To live in Christ and be a living member of his body, which is a church.
In this ultimate effort, the post is particularly significant. It is one of the most efficient tools in our spiritual struggle. This is evidenced by the Word of God. It opens from the life of saints. So believes and teaches our church, which perceives the post as one of its oldest and sacred establishments.
However, the post, like other church establishments, especially these days, is in danger of losing its meaning or become useless! And, unfortunately, it happens among many of those Christians who are jealously stored and accurately fulfill the establishment of the church.
So, some Christians - or by ignorance, or in negligence - underestimate the value of the post and do not observe it. Others still keep it, but do it formally. They do not have the necessary concept of his deep meaning, there is no knowledge about what the post applies and what you need to know the conscious believer. Thus, the observance of the post turns into a formal action that does not have the deep meaning that is invested in the faith and experience of the Church.
Archimandrite Simeon Kutsas.
Blessed Augustine says: "If you are asked: why do you stop and suffer yourself? Answer: a mad horse, which can not be tamed with a musty, it is necessary to pacify hunger and thirst. "
The post as a medicine for curbing the evil, proud and proud "me", which is used inside us requires the appropriate dosage. The most ideal one dosage, which is established by the liturgical charter of the Church. It is given in the Orthodox Church Calendar.
The individual dosage of the post depends on the measure of our love to other people. The more in our heart of pride passions, malice, envy, fornication in relation to other people, the more food is required to restore the energy spent to meet these passions. The cleaner our heart, the more peace and love in it, the less our body needs bodily food. That is why the great saints, living in the desert, cleaning their soul from passions, could carry out no food for many days. They fed themselves very poorly. In their diet was dry bread, water, plant roots, a bit of vegetables. Rev. Anthony Great even shy to take food at others. Who had to be in the monasteries, he could not pay attention to the fact that with the meager diet of monastic food she is unusually tasty. It is much better than sophisticated restaurant dishes, because it is preparing with love.
And what about those who are just beginning to comprehend the essence of the spiritual life in the church, who have not yet seen deep ulcers of sin, and also those who have a weak physical health?
So people need to start a post with a small one. At the beginning it is necessary to fast (do not eat meat, milk) at least on Friday. Then add another day - Wednesday. During the Great Post, there is even more aggravated post - to post the first and last week before Easter. Thus, the post will gradually turn into the skill. And the soul itself, for the sake of the compassion of peace, love, mercy, will crave fasting.
In addition to abstinence from rapid food, it is necessary to dramatically restrict watching entertainment television shows, listening to modern music. The Source and Prayer - these are two wings and cannot be divided into them, for you will not fly away with one wing. Who will fasten without prayer, without reconciliation with their neighbors, he can greatly harm her health. Every Sunday, you need to visit the Temple of God and at least once a month confess their sins and communion of St. Christ secrets. In the temple, every time a meeting of the General Staff meeting on the rescue of the soul, at which the attentive people are given important instructions and fertile forces to implement these guidelines.