During this series of “Fasting to save my life” we have seen how
fasting is very relevant for all Christians to observe, we saw how Christ
Himself fasted, and how we have been taught by our Church forefathers to
emulate Christ’s example of fasting to overcome temptation and strengthen our
faith. Today we look to our Church forefathers examples and teachings of
fasting; the different types of fasts they observed and the fasts that our Holy
Church teaches us to observe today.
To learn more
about people who faithfully fasted, let us turn to history and witness some of
the various examples of people who fasted for varied reasons:
1. Fasting in the
presence of God:
When
Moses was in the presence of God on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights, he
didn’t have the need to eat as being in the presence of the Lord sustained him.
(Exodus 24:18)
2. Fasting before
taking on an important ministry:
After
Jesus’ baptism, He was lead into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights
and fasted all the while, despite the many temptations that satan placed in His
way. This was an important time for Jesus to spend in total worship and
reliance on God. After He completed His fast in solitude, Jesus officially
began His ministry. (Matthew 4:1-11)
3. Fasting before an
important decision is made to align with God’s will: The leaders of the church in Antioch
prayed and fasted before being led by the Holy Spirit to lay their hands
(Syameedah) on Barnabas and Saul (Paul) Acts 13:1-3.
4. Fasting and
Prayer to strengthen faith
The Disciples were instructed by Jesus to fast and pray in order to exorcise a
deaf/mute demon (Mark 9:29). Our Holy Saints also fasted in various ways (see the types of
fasts mentioned below) in order to uphold their ascetic life.
5. Fasting and Repentance: Prayer and fasting in Jesus’ name is
required for beseeching the Lord for forgiveness leading to repentance. (See
previous blog on the Rogation of the Ninevites).
‘Fasting is not only
abstaining from food and drink but also any kind of sacrifice is a fast; if
anybody observes a fast from evil things, it is better and excellent than the
fasting from bread and water.’ (Aphrahat)
As mentioned
previously, eating has become a major focus of our life today, and dare I say,
our stomachs may even be taking priority over God. Just as Essau sold his
God-given birth right to his brother Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup, demonstrating
that he lived in the moment, (described as a fornicator) to please his bodily
hunger over what was given to him as a blessing from God (Genesis 25:30-33;
Hebrews 12:14-17).
Today, some of
us may see the relevance of fasting, but like Essau may think it is too hard,
or “we will die if we don’t eat this and that”. But when we know that abstaining
from foods and sinful practises are pleasing to God we should try our best to withhold
ourselves from satisfying our bodily cravings reminding ourselves that this sacrificial
action will be edifying our soul. Fasting
does not only limit us to withholding from eating certain foods alone, but also
makes us conscious of sinful, unrighteous deeds and thoughts, which therefore
helps us to try abstain from these and focus on our spiritual life.
Aphrahat
mentions the various types of fasts that took place among our faithful Saints
and forefathers and can be observed by faithful today:
Pure fast is
excellent before God and is guarded as a treasure in heaven. And it is a weapon against the evil one
and a shield intercepting the arrows of the enemy (Eph. 6:16). And I have not
said this according to my way of thinking, but according to the Holy Books
which have shown us beforehand that the fasting was a helper in all times for
those who have fasted truly. For fast, my beloved, was not only this (abstaining)
from bread and water, but many are the observances of fasting.
1. For there is
he who fasts from bread and water until he will hunger and thirst.
2. And there is
he who fasts to remain in virginity, who hungers but does not eat; who thirsts
but does not drink; and this fast is more excellent.
3. And he who
fasts in holiness (sexual abstinence) and it is (also) fasting. (Such as our Bishops, Metropolitans and
Patriarchs who are in constant fasting in addition to fasting from meat, pork
and chicken).
4. And there is
he who fasts from flesh, wine and various foods. (This is the fast that we partake in today. We abstain from flesh or meats, including all animal products and alcohol)
5. And there is
he who fasts to put up a barrier to his mouth so that he will not speak hateful
words.
[Indeed, if a man fast from bread and
water, he should not mix with his fast abuses and curses. For, there is only
one door for your house, which is the temple of God. 0 man, it is not fitting
for you that the door through which the king comes in it [the mouth], that goes
Out from it excrement and filth. For, if a person abstains from all these
hateful things and receives the body and blood of Christ, he should take care
of his mouth through which the Son of the King comes in. You have no authority,
o man, to bring forth foul language from your mouth. Hear the things that our
Life-giver said, “It is not the things which come into a man that defile him,
but is the things which go out from his mouth, these defile him” (Mt. 15:11)]. (Aphrahat, Demonstration III on Fasting)
6. And there is
he who fasts from anger and controls his inclination so that he is not
vanquished (by anger).
7. And there is
he who fasts from possessions so that he may empty himself for his work.
8. And there is
he who fasts from various kinds of mattresses so that he will be vigilant in
prayer.
Rabban
Hormizd is a great example of holding this type of vigilant prayer and fast;
He fasted for ten days at a time and
enjoyed no regular sleep at nights, and such short intervals of oblivion as
exhausted nature made him fall into he obtained by leaning against the stone
walls of his cell; he passed most of each day and of each night in vigil, and
in prayer, which was accompanied by tears. This manner of life is declared to
have conduced greatly to the refinement of his spiritual nature, and to have
enabled him to understand “things near and afar off”, and to have enabled him
to drive away the Devil and his hosts who tormented him frequently, and came to
him in forms of various kinds.1
9. And there is
he who, in affliction, fasts from the things of this world so that he will not
be injured by the enemy.
10. And there is he who fasts that he may mourn, so
that he may be pleasing in the affliction, to his Lord. (We mournfully fast on Wednesday for remembering the
betrayal of Christ, and on Friday to remember his suffering on the Cross
for our sake).
Today, in our
church, apart from the set Church Calendar fasts which we are called to observe
for our mutual edification, our Prelates and Clergy are required to fast from
food and water before taking on their sacramental ministries, such as
performing Baptism. Adult baptisants are also required to fast
before they are baptised (before the presence of the Lord dwells within them
through the Holy Spirit).
Prelates and
Clergy are required to fast from bread and water before ministering the Holy
Mysteries and Eucharist on Sundays, and lay people are also required observe
the same fast before partaking in the Holy Eucharistic Service; before
receiving the Lord’s body and blood and thus allowing Him to dwell in us and us
in Him (John 6:56).
Of course the
sole importance of fasting is not about focusing on what foods you can or
cannot eat. It has a much deeper and significant relevance for the Christian.
When we fast, we are consciously abstaining from the joys of the flesh, and
bringing our bodies into a humble state of submission to the Holy Spirit who
abides in us, helping us to live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-24), and fulfil
God’s will in our lives.
This Week’s Song: Ho D’ Nooraneh Hymn - HB Mar Meelis Zaia Metropolitan
1.
The Histories of Rabban
Hormizd the Persian and Rabban Bar-Idta, Volume II Part I, E.A. Translated by Wallis
Budge, Luzac and Co 1902. P.p. 20
Great post Deena! I loved the bit on various types of fasts, that is really enlightening. I'll be sure to pass this on to as many people as I can, it's really worth the read. Take care.
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