Fasting = one meal per day?

[jgress]

I heard that at Holy Transfiguration Monastery they kept the Exaltation fast for two weeks, but certainly I have never heard of this fast in any other context.

Again my own point is that, if you want to increase your fasting beyond what is the norm in your church, you should get the blessing of your spiritual father. I don't think taking a solitary path and justifying it on account of the fact that you read such and such a rule in your copy of the Rudder or Triodion is a good idea, not that you are advocating this, but that this could be what some readers will take away from talk about the "normative" rule of the Church. But as long as you are obedient to your spiritual father, then certainly I'm not arguing against increasing the strictness of your fasting over time.

[Hieromonk Enoch]

"The fast of August was earlier? I don't see how it could have been earlier given that it begins on August 1."

Yea; you're right! It would be 'later' (not 'earlier) for the Exaltation fast! I'm thinking of something else I read the Pedalion or canonical literature, and my mind confused it with this.

St. Nikephorus says in the answer to Question III (pg. 972, standard English language Pedalion). Note 2 by St. Nikodemus states concerning this:
"As to when this fast was shifted, and by what Council, Balsamon says that that matter is uncertain. This fast was discussed before Emperor Manuel Comnenus and Patriarch Lucas, and it was Conciliarly decreed that this fast should be held, both because the Synod of Patriarch Nicholas ahd declared that it was being held, and because the Tome of Union mentions it, concerning which Tome see c. III of Neocaesarea."

It is also possible, I suppose, that he means the fast began earlier. We do know that in Rome in the 9th century, the Dormition Fast was four weeks prior to Dormition, so maybe it was cut down over time to two weeks.

In Christ,

Fr. Enoch

[Hieromonk Enoch]

My point is that the Pedalion is supposed to be the normative rule and what it describes as what the Fathers envision for the practices of Christians. That many of us are not up to that standard is an indictment of ourselves and the current level of spiritual life, not the Canons.

In Christ,

Fr. Enoch

[jgress]

Fair enough. We do indeed fall short.

[Jean-Serge]

I agree with you Father Enoch. The rules per se, are not harsh because "my yoke is light", but we lack faith and spiritual efforts. Regarding talking to a priest for advice, it is the ideal thing, but not everybody can have such contact, in particular in true orthodox churches, becausethere may be no priest in the area or very far. In such circumstances, you only have the Fathers to guide you...and the prayer.

[Hieromonk Enoch]

Yes.

In Christ,

Fr. Enoch

[Jean-Serge]

I think regarding this topic that if the muslim can refrain from eating and drinking until sunset which might be really late some years (even if many of them will really overeat later, but not all), as orthodox, we should be really ashamed of not being able to fast until 3 PM! People with uncorrect beliefs take their religion more seriously than us. This is a sad truth, worth remembering in this fasting season.