Fast Approaching …

Next week, the week following the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, there is katalysis [allowance] for all things, meaning that there is no fasting on any day of the week. During the week following the Sunday of the Prodigal Son we observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk or other dairy products, fish, wine and olive oil) on Wednesday and Friday. During the week following Judgment (or Meatfare) Sunday we abstain from meat and poultry; note however that there is katalysis for eggs, cheese, milk and other dairy products, fish, wine and oil on all days of that week. From the first day of the Great Fast, known as Pure Monday, the day following Forgiveness (or Cheesefare) Sunday, we observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk or other dairy products, fish, wine and olive oil) on weekdays through Great and Holy Friday, while on Saturdays and Sundays there is katalysis for wine and olive oil;

EXCEPTIONS: on Annunciation (March 25th) and Palm Sunday there is katalysis for fish, wine and oil; on Great and Holy Thursday there is katalysis for wine and oil; on Great and Holy Saturday, if we eat anything at all, we observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk or other dairy products, fish, and olive oil) with katalysis for wine. We break the Lenten Fast only following the Paschal Orthros and Divine Liturgy.

Taken from the daily memo from His Grace, BASIL, to the St Raphael Clergy Brotherhood, Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America.

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