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markmarcosmarkmarcos
edited December 1969 in Coptic Orthodox Church
why do we have to fast ? and why is it from 12:00 at night  ??

Comments

  • mark.naguib7
    Do you mean the abstinence before communion, or the Great Lent?
  • markmarcosmarkmarcos
    abstinence before communion
  • mark.naguib7
    Communion is the greatest miracle of all. We partake the body and the blood of Jesus Christ. Since we are sinners, fasting is a method to purfiy us and help us get ready to partake of his body and blood. By no mean does it make us worthy, but it help us sturgle so we can unite with God. By the way fasting is not only about food, we also try as much as we can to fast from all sin so we can with one spirit and one body unite with our head Jesus Chirst.

    It is not neccessery from 12 O'clock, but you have to be fasting at least 9 hours. The question then would be: but why 9?
    The 9 hours symbolize the time of Jesus on the Great Friday from the third hour when he was beaten to the 12th when he was buried.
  • TimothymTimothym
    When we fast (abstain) from all food and drink (as much as possible), it allows us to understand and feel the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Imagine you are sitting and waiting for a very important guest to arrive and hes bringing with him a gourmet meal. You are not going to stuff yourself on candy and soda. Rather, you are going to wait expectantly for the guest to share the meal together. When we wait to receive Christ the first thing which we receive in the Eucharist before anything else, it also highlights that this is an important thing, not an ordinary event.

    Plus the church fathers teach us that it is difficult to pray with a full stomach since we are lazy, tired, and distracted in such a state. You wouldn't nap just before your guest arrives so neither should we nap spiritually before the greatest guest of all (our Lord) arrives at our front door (our mouths and hearts).
  • imikhailimikhail
    Abstinence is a necessity from midnight even if communion is at 6 pm meaning an abstinence of 16 hours.

    This is the general rule. Talk with your FOC for guidance.
  • qawe
    [quote author=imikhail link=topic=12980.msg153045#msg153045 date=1331720321]
    Abstinence is a necessity from midnight even if communion is at 6 pm meaning an abstinence of 16 hours.

    This is the general rule. Talk with your FOC for guidance.


    How about Christmas and Easter?
  • imikhailimikhail
    [quote author=qawe link=topic=12980.msg153049#msg153049 date=1331728257]
    [quote author=imikhail link=topic=12980.msg153045#msg153045 date=1331720321]
    Abstinence is a necessity from midnight even if communion is at 6 pm meaning an abstinence of 16 hours.

    This is the general rule. Talk with your FOC for guidance.


    How about Christmas and Easter?


    These feasts are different. Christmas has the Baramoun so abstinence starts at 3:00.

    Resurrection is similar to Christmas because there is communion on Bright Saturday.
  • mark.naguib7
    [quote author=imikhail link=topic=12980.msg153045#msg153045 date=1331720321]
    Abstinence is a necessity from midnight even if communion is at 6 pm meaning an abstinence of 16 hours.

    This is the general rule. Talk with your FOC for guidance.


    Would you please site a source? So what if it is an early liturgy that finishes at 7? Do we then fast from 10 O'clock or from mid-night?
  • imikhailimikhail
    [quote author=Copticandproud link=topic=12980.msg153060#msg153060 date=1331744882]
    [quote author=imikhail link=topic=12980.msg153045#msg153045 date=1331720321]
    Abstinence is a necessity from midnight even if communion is at 6 pm meaning an abstinence of 16 hours.

    This is the general rule. Talk with your FOC for guidance.


    Would you please site a source? So what if it is an early liturgy that finishes at 7? Do we then fast from 10 O'clock or from mid-night?


    Your answer is correct. The minimum is 9 hours. But if the liturgy is a late one like 6:00 pm, then you do not eat anything during the day of communion; meaning you observe the fasting from midnight.

  • peterfarringtonpeterfarrington
    We should fast from midnight, or when we go to bed, whichever is soonest.

    Evening liturgies....Those who can fast from midnight are blessed if they do so. Otherwise I would expect a fast from early morning. So a light breakfast and then fasting till the evening. This is a matter for the FOC. I can see no early councils considering the case of evening liturgies as they didn't have them AFAIK. A 9 hour fast in the case of an evening liturgy seems acceptable for those who cannot yet fast all day.

    The great feasts already have their own rules.

    If we can see the eucharistic fast as a blessing, and a preparation, rather than a chore, then we are half way there.
  • mabsootamabsoota
    in my church we also have a 9 hour fast for evening liturgies.
    those who are able to work all day and stay completely alert and fast from midnight do so.
    it's important to discuss it with your confession father, as some of us are not yet at the spiritual level to fast and work hard at the same time!
  • imikhailimikhail
    St Sawiros of ashmounein addressed this matter in his book aldor althameen fee edah aldeen in the 10th century.

  • joekelinyjoekeliny
    If the mass is before 12 pm, then we should fast 9 hours. Although, if the fast is after 12 pm (in the evening), then we fast from 12 midnight.
  • Unknown
    [quote author=Monasticsx link=topic=12980.msg153089#msg153089 date=1331779096]
    If the mass is before 12 pm, then we should fast 9 hours. Although, if the fast is after 12 pm (in the evening), then we fast from 12 midnight.


    Incorrect. You fast from midnight, unless the liturgy is before 9:00 AM. It is basically that you fast midnight or 9 hours, whichever one is longer.

    ReturnOrthodoxy
  • imikhailimikhail
    Post 7 & 9 should clear up the confusion
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