What can laymen eat on days of the week on the Dormition Fast in 2022

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The Dormition Fast 2022 is significant for many believers, because it is dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. Fasting is many days, strict, so every Orthodox Christian should know when fasting begins and what can be eaten on days of the week for the laity.

History and traditions

The Dormition Fast takes place before the celebration of the great church holiday - the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Immaculate and holy, before her death she spent her days in fasting and prayer.

According to legend, the Mother of God did not die, but fell asleep, therefore the feast is called the Assumption, that is, a dream. Without knowing death, she was taken to heaven in a body to her son Jesus Christ.

The Dormition Fast has come to us since ancient times. Initially, August consisted of two posts - Preobrazhensky and Uspensky. After the Emperor Leo VI the Wise united them into one Dormition post, but in the XII century it was not yet clearly regulated. In 1166, at a meeting of Constantinople, under the representation of Patriarch Luke, the duration of the fast was discussed. Since the days were not marked in writing, the patriarch established fasting from 1 to 14 August.

During her earthly wanderings, the Mother of God always ate modestly, and for 3 days before assuming she only drank water. Therefore, in Orthodoxy it is established that in the last 3 days of fasting, one must completely abstain from food. But this rule applies only to monks and clergy, and not to lay people.

The Assumption Fast always begins on August 14th. On this day, the Orthodox honor the memory of the Origin of the Honorable Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. Also, the holiday is called the Savior of Honey, on this day honey of the new harvest is consecrated.

In terms of severity, the Assumption Fast is equated to the Great, but at the same time it is the shortest and most enjoyable, since vegetables and fruits ripen by this time.

The people call the Assumption Fast Spassovsky, because the Honey Savior is celebrated on August 14, and Yablochny on August 19.

Dormition fasting - rules

During this period, you will have to give up some food products: meat, dairy products, eggs and fish are banned. Therefore, every Orthodox Christian should know what laymen can eat on days of the week on the Dormition Fast in 2022.

On some days, you cannot eat hot food that is cooked in vegetable oil. These are dry eating days, when only raw food that has not been cooked is allowed.

Some Orthodox Christians believe that during fasting it is enough to only limit oneself in food, but without repentance and prayer, all this will be just a diet. Bodily abstinence without spiritual will do little to the soul. True fasting is associated not only with refusing food, but also with abstaining from passions and vices, with repentance and prayer, with the forgiveness of offenses and the eradication of evil.

During fasting, it is important to visit the temple, spend more time with your family, take care of the sick and the elderly, do good deeds, and avoid the bustle of the world.

How to prepare for fasting

Every Orthodox Christian should not only know what the laity can eat on the Dormition Fasting 2022 by days of the week, but also measure the rules against their own strengths.

Fasting is abstinence, not exhaustion of your body, so it is worth preparing for it. For example, you might start by eating more modest meals on Wednesdays and Fridays.

You should not take this period as a feat: if you start fasting strictly, your health may deteriorate, a constant feeling of hunger will cause irritation and anger, which is unacceptable for the Orthodox. It is important to remember that at these moments you cannot overeat, get drunk, as they say, it is better to eat meat than your neighbor.

Those who decide to fast for the first time can seek advice from a priest by telling him about their physical and spiritual condition.

The measure of fasting depends not only on the spiritual state, but also on the physical, as well as on the living conditions. So, in the presence of chronic diseases that require adherence to a special diet, fasting can be canceled or facilitated.

Also, indulgences are permissible for those who have just embarked on the path of knowing God, for travelers and pregnant women. They can refuse one type of food, for example, meat or fish. The main thing is not to overeat, not to eat for the sake of pleasure, but also not to reduce the diet to the point of complete exhaustion.

Prohibited and allowed foods in fasting

All animal products are banned from fasting. These are all types of meat, any sausage products, offal and semi-finished products, dairy and fermented milk products, eggs.

Despite the prohibition of products that are most often used in cooking, you can eat:

• all types of cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, etc.);
• legumes - peas, chickpeas, beans, lentils;
• vegetables - fresh, pickled;
• fresh and dried fruits;
• nuts, honey;
• lean bread;
• herbs, spices;
• mushrooms - fresh, dried, canned;
• tea, compotes, fruit drink.

During fasting, food can be stewed, fried, baked, boiled, only on Tuesday and Thursday without adding vegetable oil. In August, the harvest begins, so the basis of food on the days of fasting is vegetables and fruits. That is why the Dormition Fast is not so hard to bear, even though it is strict.

During fasting, you can cook various cereals that not only satisfy hunger well, but also saturate the body with nutrients. You can cook lean stews, cook dishes with the addition of mushrooms. As a dessert, you can eat fruits, honey and nuts, cook baked goods, but only lean ones, without dairy products and eggs in the dough.

Dormition fasting is strict, so fish is allowed only on August 19, on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. It is advisable to use low-fat types of fish for cooking: pollock, crucian carp, pike perch or hake.

Meals by day

Dormition fasting 2022 begins on August 14th. Honey Savior is celebrated on this day, so you can cook hot food with the addition of vegetable oil, lean pastries with honey and poppy seeds. Recommendations for the rest of the days:

• August 15 and 17 are dry food days, hot food is prohibited, like vegetable oil. You can cook vegetable salads, eat fruits and nuts.
• August 16 and 18 - you can cook hot food, but only without oil, for example, porridge or steamed vegetables.
• August 19 is the day of dry eating, but the Transfiguration of the Lord falls on it, so food can be stewed, fried and boiled. On the table can be present fish dishes, you can drink wine.
• August 20 and 21 are days off, you can cook hot food with butter, you are even allowed to drink a little red wine.
• August 22, 24 and 26 - days when you can eat only raw food, fruits, vegetables, nuts - these are dry eating days.
• August 23 and 25 - hot food is allowed, but no vegetable oil.
• August 27 is a day off and the last day of fasting, you can cook hot food with butter, drink wine.

Laymen can refuse days of dry eating, but simply cook simple lean food.

Dormition fasting is the purification of the physical body and soul. Do not think that strict abstinence due to malnutrition and lack of nutrients can harm the body. The abundance of fruits and vegetables in August will not only leave no one hungry, but also help cleanse the body.

The people believe that the Mother of God always protects those who fast, therefore the Orthodox are happy to observe the days of abstinence in order to earn her mercy and favor.

Outcomes

1. The Dormition Fast is dedicated to the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is celebrated on 28 August.
2. Fasting for many days, strict, lasts from 14 to 27 August.
3. During fasting, you cannot eat meat, dairy products and eggs, fish is allowed only on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
4. Laymen can refuse days of dry food, eat simple lean food.