How to fast without harm to health, nutritionists advise. After Maslenitsa, the Orthodox began Lent. How long does fasting last after Shrovetide? Rules for fasting after Maslenitsa

Religion gives fasting a mystical meaning. The essence of this period in the life of an Orthodox Christian is to gain greater spirituality, deliverance from all evil in a person and repentance for sins. This is also true from the point of view of physiology, since reducing the consumption of meat contributes to greater calm and peace. Here one can draw a parallel with humility, to which the clergy call. In the Orthodox tradition, there are four long fasts and several one-day fasts. Below, the main fasts in 2017 will be considered, as well as recommendations related to the consumption of food during these periods of the spiritual life of Orthodox believers.

Posts in 2017: dates

Great post. It lasts 40 days, but the period of its observance varies, based on church canons. The next section will tell you what date Lent is in 2017.
The Apostolic Fast is dedicated to the memory of two apostles: Peter and Paul. Hence another name for this period - Petrov post. Fasting period in 2017: from 06 to 11.07.
Assumption Post. Fasting period: from August 14 to August 27.
Philip's fast (also called, as it is timed to coincide with the bright holiday of Christmas). Fasting period: from November 28 to December 6.
A one-day fast on January 18, which falls on Epiphany Eve.
A one-day fast on September 11 in memory of the death of John the Baptist, who was executed on the orders of Herod.
A one-day fast on September 27, associated with the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the remembrance of the suffering of the son of God on the cross for the sins of all mankind.
Every Wednesday and every Friday. However, during the period of Christmas time and for continuous weeks, the Church Charter introduces separate rules for a meal on Wednesday and Friday.

The period of Great Orthodox Lent in 2017

Great Lent 2017 is considered the most important for a believer, as it refers to the time when Jesus did not eat anything in the wilderness for 40 days. Of course, for mere mortals, a complete refusal of food for the entire period of fasting is not provided, but it is recommended to do several unloading days. This period of spiritual growth and purification begins forty days before. Lent in 2017 will begin on February 27 and end on April 15. The beginning of the fast is preceded by five preparatory weeks, each of which has a sacred meaning:

Rules for eating during Lent

On the first day of the first week of Lent, an Orthodox Christian completely refuses to eat in favor of spiritual life. The second day allows you to break the fast with bread and water. On Wednesday and Thursday it is supposed to eat food raw and without oil, and on Friday - boiled without oil. On Saturday and Sunday, food boiled with butter may be supplemented with moderate consumption of wine.

From the second to the fourth week inclusive: on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, eat food without oil and raw; on Tuesdays and Thursdays - without oil, but boiled; and on Sunday they eat food boiled with butter and supplement the meal with wine. The fifth week is distinguished by Thursday, on which the consumption of boiled food seasoned with butter is allowed. The sixth week differs from the second in that the Ustav permits the eating of fish on Sunday.

The seventh week is called passionate and suggests the following diet:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - food without oil and raw;
Thursday - food boiled with the addition of oil, wine is allowed;
Friday - complete refusal of food;
Saturday - food raw and without oil, but wine is allowed;
Sunday is the day when meat is allowed.

The charter of nutrition during the period of Peter's fast

The consumption of dairy and meat products is prohibited. On Wednesday and Friday, this ban is supplemented by fish. And on Saturdays and Sundays, the meal is complemented by wine.

The charter of nutrition in the Assumption post

Nutrition in the Dormition Fast 2017 is completely identical to the diet from the second to the fourth week in Great Lent. The exception is the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, when Orthodox Christians can diversify their gastronomy with fish dishes, wine and oil.

Charter of nutrition in the Advent

Period from November 28 to December 19: Mon. - food cooked without adding oil; Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun. - it is allowed to eat fish dishes; cf. and Fri. - dry eating.
Period from December 20 to January 1: Mon. – hot food without oil; Tue. and Thurs. - hot food with butter; Wed and Fri. - dry eating; Sat. and Sun. - fish.
Period from 02.01 to 06.01: Mon., Wed. and Fri. - dry eating; Tue. and Thurs. - hot food without oil; Saturday and Sunday - hot food with butter.

This information will allow all Christians to approach as responsibly as possible in order to observe all fasts in 2017 in accordance with the Church Charter, and no longer waste time looking for information when there will be Orthodox fasts in 2017.

Fasting in terms of medical practice

Many nutritionists and endocrinologists also find expediency in fasting. The main advantages of fasting are the ability to rid the body of accumulated toxins in it. In particular, this applies to the days of complete refusal of food. This circumstance is extremely important, especially in the modern world, when a person is constantly faced with an unfavorable environment and food products that are not good for health. Fasting helps to normalize metabolism, remove harmful substances from the body and lose weight.

In March, fasting begins after Maslenitsa, reckless and cheerful. It will last 49 days, and during all these 7 weeks, the canons of the Church prescribe a fairly strict abstinence in food. The meaning of Fasting, however, is not to limit oneself in food: it is, first of all, the cleansing of the body, physical and spiritual, the humility of one's own passions, desires and thoughts.

Not everyone can, and indeed everyone does not need to, fast as the Church Charter commands: this is for priests and monks. Eating once a day, after sunset, is not for the laity. But even non-strict observance of Great Lent is a rather strong test for the body, especially one that is not used to denying itself something. And if a person is determined to fast, then one should concentrate not on thoughts about food, but on the fact that this is the time to improve one's own spirit.

How to eat during fasting?

In essence, the rules are simple: you can eat everything healthy and you can’t eat harmful, that is, heavy, mostly animal food. Today, the situation is facilitated by the fact that a lot of cafes and even restaurants offering meatless dishes have appeared around. The question, however, is whether they can be trusted: it’s not that they deceive, but this food may contain, due to the ignorance of those who prepared it, various additives, the so-called food “chemistry”, and it is also prohibited. It's better to rely on yourself.

So what can you eat? Many things like:

Of course, the list is not complete. This, of course, is a post, but with even a minimal imagination, the daily menu can be made interesting and varied, not to mention useful.

But even with the obvious benefits of lean foods, it is highly recommended not to fast for pregnant women and children under 14 years of age. This also includes the sick and those recovering from serious illnesses. In principle, even a healthy body is recommended to be prepared within a year so that when Maslenitsa ends, fasting does not bring harm.

Train the body

Such training is not much different from medical advice. Arrange fasting days for yourself, distributed more or less evenly throughout the year: it is advisable to become a vegetarian on these days. Cut down on alcohol in general, and with vegetarian food try not to drink even beer. Preparation is very necessary, because an instant rejection of the usual animal food can exacerbate the sores lurking inside the body and give rise to new ones.

Cut down on coffee consumption, especially instant coffee, but don't cut it out at all. If there is little fish in the daily menu, try to add it. And any, even canned. Seafood, in the form of lobsters, crayfish and all kinds of oysters, is also welcome, especially if the family budget allows them. In general, if a person is fasting for the first time, then it is better to give up only meat, leaving, for example, eggs.

Lent 2018 begins on Monday, February 19th. We will tell you what you can eat in fasting before Easter according to the monastery charter, how to properly keep it.

Lent in Orthodoxy serves as the preparation of the soul for the celebration of Easter, which falls on April 8 in 2018.

According to the church charter, during Great Lent it is forbidden to eat animal products - meat, milk, eggs, fish. But some days may be relaxed. The Great Lent Nutrition Calendar, which is published on this page, will help you keep fasting correctly. This is a period of humility of the soul and rejection of bodily joys.

In Orthodoxy, there are special dietary rules during Lent.

How to eat right in Lent - 2018

Lent is considered strict. According to the church charter, it is forbidden to eat animal products such as meat, milk, eggs and fish during Lent. Accordingly, derivatives from these products, such as sour cream, cottage cheese and others, are also prohibited.

Moreover, according to the strict monastic charter, from Monday to Friday, if there is no holiday on these days, vegetable oil is also not eaten! Refusal of oil - this is dry eating, that is, nutrition without "oil", as the clergy call oil. On Saturdays and Sundays of Lent, vegetable oil is allowed.

Fish during Lent is allowed to eat only twice: on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on Palm Sunday. On Lazarus Saturday you can eat caviar.

The strictest post falls on the first day of Great Lent - Clean Monday - and the penultimate one - Good Friday. These days are recommended to be spent without food!

How to keep Great Lent in 2018

When planning to observe Great Lent, we must remember that the goal of refusing food is not to harm the body, but only to tame desires. Therefore, fasting is softened in relation to sick, pregnant and lactating women, as well as travelers - those who during this period carry additional physical activity.

It must be remembered that the rules of Great Lent do not apply to medicines because they are not food. For example, if your doctor has prescribed a special diet for you that uses butter, milk, or eggs, then you should not refuse it during fasting. Eating all these products, a sick person does not indulge in gluttony, but is treated!

Remember that according to doctors, fasting is strictly contraindicated for people with stomach ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, kidney failure. In addition, patients with metabolic disorders, suffering from diseases such as diabetes, pancreatitis, gout, anemia, switching to plant foods can also be dangerous.

Consult with both the doctor and the priest, tell them about your spiritual and physical condition and ask for blessings for fasting in one form or another.

What you can eat in Lent in 2018 by day: food calendar

February 20 - Tuesday. Refrain from food. For those who have health problems, as well as for the elderly, bread and kvass are allowed on Tuesday after Vespers. You can eat bread with salt and drink water or kvass (optional)

February 21 - Wednesday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (one dish to choose from). Infusion of dill or decoction of berries / fruits with honey. Food is taken once a day, during the day.

February 24 - Saturday. Baked or boiled food with vegetable oil twice a day. Olives and black olives are allowed. Grape wine without alcohol and sugar, diluted in hot water, is allowed in small quantities, but abstinence from wine is recommended.

February 25 - Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

February 26 - Monday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

February 27 - Tuesday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. Oil free. Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

February 28 - Wednesday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 1 - Thursday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one bowl 200 g). Once a day, around 3:00 pm. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

March 2 - Friday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 3 - Saturday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

March 4 - Sunday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil

March 5 - Monday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 6 - Tuesday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. Oil free. Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 7 - Wednesday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 8 - Thursday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. Oil free. Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 9 - Friday. Finding the head of John the Baptist (first and second acquisition) - an Orthodox holiday in honor of the most revered part of the relics of John the Baptist - his head. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 10 - Saturday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

March 11 - Sunday. The third week of Great Lent (the third Sunday of Lent) is the Adoration of the Cross. On this day, they read legends, consecrate prosphyra, do not work, visit temples to worship the cross, reflect on the concept of “carrying their cross”, fast (with eating brew with oil and wine).

March 12 - Monday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 13 - Tuesday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. Oil free. Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 15 - Thursday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. Oil free. Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 16 - Friday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 17 - Saturday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

March 18 - Sunday. Fourth Sunday of Great Lent (Fourth Sunday of Lent). Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

March 19 - Monday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 20 - Tuesday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. Oil free. Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 21 - Wednesday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 22 - Thursday. Memorial Day of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. Standing Rev. Mary of Egypt. On Standing Rev. Mary of Egypt - hot food without oil.

March 23 - Friday Dry eating: bread, water, herbs, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 24 - Saturday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

March 25 - Sunday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

March 26 - Monday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 27 - Tuesday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. Oil free. Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 28 - Wednesday. Dry eating: bread, water, greens, raw, dried or soaked vegetables and fruits (for example: raisins, olives, nuts, figs - each time one of these). Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 29 - Thursday. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. Oil free. Once a day, around 3:00 pm.

March 31 - Saturday. Lazarus Saturday. Fish caviar is allowed up to 100 gr. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

April 1 - Sunday. Sixth Week of Lent (Sixth Sunday of Lent). Fish are allowed. Hot food that has undergone heat treatment, i.e. boiled, baked, etc. With vegetable oil and wine (one cup 200g) twice a day. Pure grape wine without alcohol and sugar, mostly diluted with hot water. At the same time, abstinence from wine is highly commendable.

During the days of Great Lent (Fourteen) every Orthodox Christian must realize where and in what he has sinned, and also be sure to repent before God. The soul of a believing person must completely get rid of negative manifestations and be filled with virtue. This is the main purpose of the pre-Easter period of 48 days. During Lent, it is necessary to adhere to certain restrictions, follow all the commandments, pray and attend services.

Attention! There is a widespread misconception that Lent should last 40 days: as long as Jesus Christ spent in the wilderness. However, it must be borne in mind that 8 days are added to this, during which the Son of God was betrayed, captured by the Jews and crucified. This is the strictest period of Holy Week. Therefore, the full preparation for Easter takes exactly 48 days.

Every year, the Orthodox celebrate the feast of the Resurrection of Christ at different times: in the middle or end of April, as well as in May. Depending on this, the dates of Great Lent also change. In 2017, it starts on February 27th. The Fortecost will end on April 15, and the next day, believers will begin to congratulate each other on the day of the Lord's Pascha.

Remember that fasting is not only abstinence from food, but also spiritual work.

A sincere desire to fast should not be contrary to common sense. It is not worth adhering to food restrictions for expectant and nursing mothers, children, the elderly, those who travel or are in prison, as well as people with various chronic diseases (for example, gastritis or cholecystitis, anemia, etc.). For these categories, a rigid diet can be dangerous. But even if a person does not belong to such a risk group, he should still undergo a medical examination on the eve of fasting and make sure that such abstinence does not harm his health.

Advice. If, due to poor health, you cannot fast, concentrate on fulfilling God's commandments and cleansing your soul with prayer.

How to Eat During Lent

All traditions for a person who has dedicated his life to serving God are described in a special church charter - a typikon. There are also detailed recommendations on nutrition in the days of Great Lent:

Advice. In order not to get confused about what and when you are allowed to eat, use the food calendar for each day of fasting.

What can be prepared from "lean" products:

various cereals;
mashed potatoes, beans and peas;
fried potatoes, including mushrooms (on days when it is allowed to cook with butter);
vegetable salads, soups and stews;
carrot or cabbage cutlets (steamed or in the oven, and on days allowed for oil - in a pan);
fruit salads, juices, etc.

It is allowed to eat various pickles - for example, cucumbers or sauerkraut, as well as honey, nuts, dark chocolate and dried fruits. Of the drinks, the taboo is not imposed on tea, coffee, jelly, compote. You can drink cocoa, but only without milk or with its coconut or soy substitute.

Great post: video

On Monday, February 27, Orthodox Christians begin Lent, which will last until April 16. On these days, believers are required to abstain from food and entertainment. If you decide to fast, it is important that you do so without compromising your health. What is needed for this, TASS was told by Ksenia Selezneva, Ph.D.

How is fasting observed today?

Fasting according to the canons of the monastery implies strict and complex rules: on some days you can only eat raw food without oil, and on some you should refuse food altogether. But few of the modern people living in the world can afford it. As a rule, clergy treat this with understanding, noting that the most important thing is spiritual abstinence. Churched people most often fast as they were blessed by a particular priest. And yet, most fasting people usually eat hot dishes with vegetable oil. Some allow themselves to fish.

How to prepare for the post?

According to Orthodox tradition, Great Lent is preceded by a preparatory period. In the last week before Lent (Maslenitsa falls on it), meat cannot be eaten at all, and on Wednesday and Friday before Shrovetide, all non-fast foods must be abandoned. As Yulia Panova explains, from the point of view of nutrition, this is an excellent preparation: the body gradually gets used to the fact that for a long time it will do without animal protein. And, of course, we must remember that overeating pancakes will not lead to anything good. But if you cook pancakes on buckwheat flour or flour with bran, they will be less harmful. “The main thing is not to start fasting at 00:00 on Monday,” says Panova. “You don’t have to eat sausage before going to bed for the last time.”

To whom is fasting contraindicated?

The Church exempts from abstinence in food pregnant and lactating women, the sick, as well as those who are engaged in hard physical labor or due to circumstances cannot provide themselves with constant food (military personnel, prisoners, travelers). Nutritionists add: you should not fast even if you are already recovering, but are weakened after illness or surgery.

What is forbidden to eat while fasting?

Meat, milk, eggs, cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, animal butter, rich bread and pastries fall under a complete ban. At the same time, the food should be simple, the use of exquisitely prepared lenten dishes is condemned.

What can you eat?

Vegetables, fruits, cereals, legumes, mushrooms, on some days - fish. It is not necessary to completely abandon flour products, but they should contain only water, flour and salt. Sweets are allowed, such as dark chocolate (no milk added), honey and sugar. Sometimes you can drink red wine.

How to avoid hunger and lack of vitamins and minerals?

“Many people remove animal products from the diet during fasting, and leave everything else as it was,” says Yulia Panova. - This approach will definitely lead to problems. If you decide to fast, you need to review the entire diet. First of all, you need to get enough plant-based protein (found in legumes), ideally in combination with complex carbohydrates. For example, rice with beans and vegetables will give you a feeling of satiety for a long time. But it is better not to satisfy hunger with fruits: too much fructose will be a strong burden on the body. Nuts and seeds will help to avoid a lack of fat. And you can always use protein mixtures, as well as foods enriched with iodine and iron.

Is fasting a good way to lose weight?

Just the opposite. From a nutritional standpoint, depriving yourself of animal protein is the worst way to lose weight. “Our muscles are protein,” explains Ksenia Selezneva. - If the diet lacks animal protein for a long time, you will really lose weight, but it is due to muscle tissue. This is unhealthy, wrong from the point of view of nutritional weight loss. For the same reason, it is dangerous to fast for a long time (and strict fasting involves fasting on separate days). The body has many compensatory capabilities, and at first it will take energy from the fat mass. But after some time it will switch to muscle tissue.

How to get out of a post?

The biggest mistake you can make is to eat boiled eggs for breakfast, steak for lunch and fishcakes for dinner on the very first day after fasting. Ksenia Selezneva warns: it will be difficult for the body to digest this, and such immoderation threatens with big problems with the stomach and intestines, to the point that hospitalization may be needed. “Colleagues with the ambulance say that on Easter they have an increased number of calls: after abstinence, people throw themselves into all serious trouble, and this ends in terrible pain,” Selezneva warns. It is necessary to return animal protein to the diet gradually, at first using it once a day. In three or four days it will be possible to afford it twice.