“Eat like medicine”: the priest told when it is permissible to eat fasting food

Hieromonk Macarius Markish dispelled stereotypes about Lent

The first, most strict, week of Lent, which this year lasts from March 19 to May 5, is coming to an end. For those who have recently started fasting, this is a serious test – primarily a culinary one. You begin to especially crave animal foods that are prohibited during Lent. Hieromonk and famous church publicist Makariy Markish spoke about the circumstances under which it is permissible to eat fast food even during Lent.

“Great Lent is older than monasticism as a phenomenon,” the priest reminded. – Fasting is mentioned in the most ancient documents of the Church – the apostolic statutes. But the forms of fasting are different, they change from era to era, and depending on the circumstances.

Referring to a recent statement by Patriarch Kirill at the Diocesan Assembly of Moscow, Father Macarius recalled that the requirements of the church charter – the Typikon – are not entirely applicable to modern laity: they were formulated in Mediterranean conditions more than a thousand years ago and apply to monastics.

“Since ancient times, the Russian Orthodox Church has followed much more moderate requirements for the laity,” noted MK’s interlocutor. – It’s easier with monks – the rules are the rules of life for a particular monastery, the laity don’t care about them. Moderate practice is to eat a lean diet – free from meat and dairy products, including eggs. The rest may vary.

The modern selection of vegetables and fruits in stores, including canned food, allows you to create a complete Lenten diet for every budget and taste, Father Makary Markish is sure. However, in some cases, it is still necessary to make concessions due to health conditions, he emphasized.

“For example, a young man comes to me for confession: he says, I can’t work if I don’t eat something fermented milk, like kefir, my stomach becomes bad,” says the priest. – Of course, I console him: no means no, eat dairy as medicine, if necessary.

There are, however, other examples: one of the parishioners admitted in confession that he had not eaten anything for a week and had not drunk anything for three days, recalls Father Macarius. “This is normal, thank God,” the priest answered him, “Just don’t tell this to others.”

The doctor, if there is reason, can order the patient to deviate from the Lenten diet, the priest added. And the final choice, of course, belongs to the person himself: if we are not talking about doctor’s orders, but simply about “you want sausages,” you can still try to overcome yourself, says Father Macarius.

“In general, I’ll say it again,” the priest emphasized. – Plant food itself, which is very diverse, supports a person 100%. Unless he’s unloading bags of cement.