On Voluntary Fasts #
In addition to the commonly observed fasting days for all (the four long fasts, and Wednesdays and Fridays of each week), there also exist customs of private fasting. A Christian, in agreement with his spiritual father, may take on an additional day of abstinence to strengthen his repentance. An extra fasting day may also be appointed by the spiritual father as a form of epitimia (penance). There are also local customs of fasting on certain days. Let us now consider each in more detail.
Monday
Fasting on Monday is obligatory for monastics. Fasting on this day is an expression of reverence for the bodiless powers. It is on Mondays that the Holy Church offers services to the holy Archangels and Angels, whom the monks strive to emulate. The custom of fasting on Mondays is called Monday-fasting (or ponedel’nichanie). Laypeople may also keep this fast if they choose, having received a blessing from their spiritual father.
“The day of Monday must be passed by monks in fasting according to the Church Ustav. But laypeople do so at their discretion, as they wish and choose: if they fast, they are praised; if they do not fast, they are not reproached.”
— History and Customs of the Vetka Church
September 26 — Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Honorable Cross
On the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, fasting is prescribed. Some also have the custom of fasting on the eve of this feast. In the evening, according to the order of the divine service, the Holy Cross is brought out for veneration.
“Some fast, purifying themselves beforehand for the sake of kissing the Cross. And this is good and well-pleasing; however, it is left to the free will of each one, since in the sobor churches a single fast is observed.”
— History and Customs of the Vetka Church
The Week Before the Beheading of the Forerunner John
Tradition has handed down to us the knowledge that there was a custom to fast for a full week before the feast of the Beheading of the Honorable Head of Saint John the Forerunner.
“Such a beneficial decision has been set forth: it is fitting for us not to fast only on this one day, but the entire week, for the sake of such a great lamp and preacher of repentance, and so on. And from this, monastics and pious Orthodox Christians among the laity take reason, and to this day, in honor of the great lamp, Saint John the Forerunner, keep the fast.”
— Ustav of St. Hermogenes the Patriarch, for the Beheading of the Forerunner
In this week of fasting, it was prescribed to observe dry eating (i.e., eating uncooked food or food without oil) on Wednesday and Friday. On the remaining days, food with oil was permitted. The Ustav of St. Hermogenes reminds that this week’s fast is voluntary and warns against pride over ascetical feats. Those called to keep the fast during this week include those who suffer from headaches, as well as those residing in monasteries dedicated to the Forerunner:
“This week is voluntary, and those who fast during it must not exalt themselves over those who do not. […] For it is not hypocrisy, but zeal toward Saint John the Forerunner that compels one to fast. Others are urged by the illness of headache to make vows in this regard, which they must also fulfill, as it is written: Pay thy vows unto the Most High. And call upon Me in the day of thy trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
Therefore, it is in no way blameworthy to keep this week in fasting and abstinence. Rather, it is most pleasing and proper to observe it in the monasteries founded in the name of Saint John the Forerunner, and wherever the abbot and brethren so desire, in honor and glory of the great faster, the desert-dweller, the lamp of the Light, the prophet, and Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John, who is truly greater than all the saints.”
The monastic table implies complete abstinence from meat. However, some monastics undertake a stricter ascetical labor, refraining not only from meat, but also from other animal products: eggs, milk, and even fish. For such as these, the Ustav on food prescribes the eating of everything except meat during the so-called “continuous weeks” — Bright Week, Christmastide, the Continuous Week, and Cheesefare Week before Great Lent:
“There are again some among the monastics who, for the Lord’s sake, choose the ascetical life, and do not eat cheese or eggs, nor drink milk or dairy-based butter throughout the entire year. Nevertheless, even these submit to Church Tradition and permit themselves, on days allowed by the Church, to partake of all that is not forbidden to monks — that is to say:
from the day of Holy Pascha throughout Bright Week until Thomas Sunday — seven days;
in the week following the Descent of the Holy Spirit — eight days;
from the Nativity of Christ until the 7th of January — twelve days;
from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee — seven days;
and from Meatfare Sunday — eight days.Outside of these Church-sanctioned days, they again keep their customary fast. Some even refrain from fish, each according to his strength. And such as these must all the more keep humility and contrition of heart, and flee from self-exaltation and pride, which ruin all monastic labors and make them barren, for reward is given not for toil, but for humility.
And this we have said concerning voluntary fasts, which are not compulsory — for those who keep them are praised, and those who choose not to keep them are not condemned.”