Many people try to join the life of a true Christian, but they do not always have the knowledge of how to fast before confession and communion. But it is precisely communion that is the long-awaited grace from God himself, which enables a mere mortal to come closer to Jesus the Savior. And if you have certain knowledge and understand how the sacrament takes place, you will be able to spend time correctly during preparation. As soon as the fasting person is completely cleansed of his bad thoughts and sinful deeds, he can receive a lot from God, because His gifts are numerous and beautiful.
What is fasting?
Communion is the transition from the life of a simple person to the life of a Christian who desires to receive God's grace. Therefore, the question is so often asked in the church about what fasting is and how to fast before confession and communion. It is known that during communion, believers take a little food. Yes, beforeof all, it is the wine that symbolizes the Blood of Christ. She is, of course, Holy, therefore she perfectly cleanses the human soul, body and spirit. The person also takes a piece of prosphora.
Communion is considered a holy sacrament for the human soul. The Christian himself is responsible for how such a sacrament takes place, how he receives it. And for this you need to be alone with yourself, to reflect on your life. But if you do not take the sacrament, then there will be no blessing of God.
In order to avoid such a misfortune, so that the sacrament goes well, it is imperative not only to confess one's sins, but also to fast.
How to fast?
How to fast before confession and communion? First of all, this is the time that is given to a person to pacify his flesh, cleanse him of spiritual attachments and habits that harm him. It is fasting that allows people to spiritually become closer to the Creator. Fasting gives a person time to reflect on the sacrifice of Christ, this is the time when the believer should indulge in prayers. When a believer prepares to partake of the sacrament, they usually need to analyze their entire lives and understand what sins they need to repent of.
A person during fasting should avoid satiety and not drink alcohol. Thus, putting his diet within certain limits, a Christian, first of all, tames his body, his morals and emotions. But fasting is not only about food, but also about behavior and thoughts. So, if during fasting a person constantly talks on the phone, gossip, spend time on social networks,then it is worth remembering that God at this moment sees the soul, and fasting, first of all, concerns it.
Therefore, in order not to wonder how to fast before confession and communion, it is worth remembering that you need to behave in such a way as to draw closer to God, and not move away from Him.
A bit of history
Knowing how to fast before confession and communion, believers want to know what is the history of fasting. It is known that after Jesus ascended, the first Christians received communion every day. But then no one even thought about the need to purify spiritually and physically.
In the time of the apostles, the Eucharist of the Eucharist was usually celebrated only in the evening, but over time this procedure was moved to the morning, so that Christians could take the food of the Lord early, which would be cleansing for both the body and the spirit.
The first mention of fasting occurs in the fourth century. At the same time, some basic laws appeared on how to fast before confession and communion. At this time, the priests noticed that the laity grew cold towards the faith. They began to call on the Orthodox to refrain from sexual pleasures and other entertainment. But at this time, nothing has yet been said about the restriction in food.
Early Christians eventually began to fast three times a week. The days were set by the church. But already at the beginning of the ninth century, new rules appeared on how to fast before confession and communion. Abstinence from food began to take from three to seven days. Suchthe innovation was introduced because the spiritual life was gradually disappearing. But, according to Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, there is no single and definite requirement for a three-day fast. Each person can independently decide how many days to fast before communion and confession for him, so that his body becomes cleaner before the Lord. It is better to solve this issue with your spiritual mentor.
Preparing for Communion
Since there is no certain number of days for how long you need to fast before confession and communion, then, accordingly, you can listen to the wishes. And the church is advised to abstain for at least three days. But this wish is suitable for those believers who participate in the Eucharist several times a year, for example, two or three. There are known to be four posts and there are no further requirements.
Priests recommend everyone to take communion every Sunday. This will allow you to keep your body and soul clean and, most importantly, holy. In food, it is better to adhere to abstinence on Wednesdays and Fridays.
What is forbidden for fasting people to eat?
Don't worry about how long you need to fast before communion and confession, but it's better to know that there are foods that the church forbade Orthodox parishioners to eat during this period. So, these are eggs, meat products, some types of fish and dairy products. It is believed that during fasting one should eat food not for one's own pleasure, but in order tomaintain your he alth.
If fish is considered a staple food for someone, then it can be eaten. During the day before communion, a believer is obliged to completely refuse food and any entertainment. This day must be spent in prayer. In the evening you need to go to the service in the temple, in the morning to the liturgy. It is worth considering that the sinner was perfect, and it is necessary to tell the priest about this in order to determine whether it is possible to conduct communion.
How many days does fasting last?
It is known that each post will take a different number of days. Everything will depend on many reasons. First of all, a believer should know that there are one-day fasts, multi-day fasts, and liturgical fasts. Another reason for choosing how many days a fast will last is its choice.
How much to fast before confession and communion depends on the person himself, on his state of he alth, his age, what diseases he is sick or has already had, and also what is the state of the body at the time of fasting, for example, whether there is pregnancy.
The choice of products that he can use during this period will depend on these features. After all, even during the period of complete abstinence, vitamins must be supplied to the human body.
Post for pregnant women
Is it obligatory to fast before confession and communion for a woman who is going to become a mother? It is known that the expectant mother should eat well, so every pregnant woman herself, with the permission of the doctordecides to abstain. If she wants to fast, then the fast should not be so strict. For example, she may refuse to eat meat products. It is better for such a woman in a position to still undergo spiritual cleansing, as this will be useful for her child as well.
Fast for kids
Disputes about whether children should fast continue to this day. For example, if the child is already seven years old, then after explaining what fasting is, he himself can decide whether he will do it. But still, even with such children, preparatory work must be carried out, since they do not always immediately understand the meaning of abstinence. So, you need to explain to the child that fasting has nothing to do with diets, that it should not be shy. Do not demand more from a child than he is capable of.
Prayer for fasting
A believer should not only know how to fast before confession and communion, but also be able to pray. And for this, the following prayer is perfect: “Have mercy and forgive me. I am sinful. Our Lord, have mercy!”.
Strict fasting rules
It is believed that there should be at least three days of fasting before communion. The person who has decided to participate in the Eucharist and has decided to abstain from food must understand that this is not to be boasted of. Restriction in food is necessary in order to reconcile a person with himself, as well as with those around him. This is the time to sort out your conflicts andreconcile everyone.
On such days it is better not to watch TV, but to be alone with a book, visit a temple or chat with relatives and friends. At this time, you can not do bad deeds, get angry. Strict fasting allows you to achieve harmony between the spiritual and physical he alth of a person. As a result of such a strict fast, a person becomes more confident, vigor and strength appear in him, which were previously dormant.
Fasting menu
Any fast usually consists of easy and difficult days. The most difficult is the one when you can use only a dry diet and water. There are days when you can eat hot food either with or without butter. You should always eat fruits in fasting, but vegetables can be both fresh and baked.
Useful products for the human body during fasting will be cereals, as well as honey. You need to drink a lot of water, and when there is a desire to eat something, you need to either pray or visit the temple. It is believed that the first day of fasting is the most difficult, so it is recommended to refrain from taking any food at all. Eating nuts, jelly, legumes and even marmalade is allowed.
After fasting, nutrition should also be treated carefully, since you can’t eat a lot of meat products at once. This can lead to severe upset of the gastrointestinal system. It is better to leave the fast gradually, eating the food that will be easily absorbed by the stomach.
Special categories of believers
Communion is such a great power that grants healing and the forgiveness of sins. The person after it turns out to be joyful and feels free. All Orthodox people, regardless of age, are allowed to such a church procedure. It is good if children begin to understand such a sacrament early, and for this they should have an example from their parents. But fasting for them should be softer. For pregnant women, children and sick people, fasting should not include days of dry eating. A spiritual mentor will help this category of believers to make the right diet.
Currently, the culinary field has become so developed that even from a small amount of food you can cook he althy dishes that will not harm children, sick and pregnant women.
This special category of believers also includes those people who, due to the current situation, cannot be at home. For example, these are places of deprivation of liberty, the army and boarding schools. All of them are put on a special diet that they cannot control. The Church treats them kindly. Such people are usually advised to give up fast for a while and intensify their prayer.
If a person is seriously ill or dying, then he can be admitted to communion without any preparation. Fasting will help each person draw closer to the Savior and hope for eternal life.
