Updated 3/18/04
NOTE: Several of these recipes contain oil; a few contain cooking wine. In most cases these can be omitted.
***Most of these recipes serve 2-3 adults***
REPLACEMENTS FOR ANIMAL-PRODUCTS
BREAKFAST RECIPES
Whole Grain Pancakes
Scones
Sweet Biscuits
Banana Bran Muffins
Breakfast Bananna-Berry Smoothie
MAIN COURSE RECIPES
Corn & Potato EnchiladasHave a lenten recipe you'd like to share? E-mail it to the webmaster.
THREE HIERARCHS'
FASTING GUIDE
+Always consult your spiritual father regarding any fast+
Many might imagine that fasting involves abstaining from all food and drink; however, the traditional Christian fast is one in which the believer abstains from meat and fish, dairy, wine and oil, eating a simpler diet that nourishes but does not inflame the passions. And because fasting is not simply a physical act but is rather for the strengthening of the soul, one who fasts will commonly increase acts of philanthropy and charitable giving and focus on living a more Godly life, striving to be an "icon of Christ" to one's neighbors. And it is imperative, above all else, that the fast be accompanied by prayer, for, as many church fathers preached, fasting without prayer is at best a diet and at worst demonic.
"If there is a needy or a poor among them; they fast two or three days and send him the food which they would have prepared for themselves" (Aristides writing in defense of the Christians to Emperor Adrianos, 128 A.D.).
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause any man to stumble (Romans 14:21)
Fasting then, and lying on the bare ground, and keeping virginity, and a self-denying life, these things bring their advantage to the persons themselves who do them; but those that pass from ourselves to our neighbors are almsgiving, teaching, charity. Hear then Paul in this matter also saying, Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am nothing profiled (St. John Chrysostom)
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet posessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:4 10)
"The body which is burdened with meat is afflicted with diseases. A moderate way of living makes the body healthier and stronger and cuts off the root of evil. The stream of meat meals darkens the light of the spirit. One can hardly have virtue if one enjoys meat meals and feasts." (St Basil the Great)
"The debauchery in meat meals is an infamous injustice." (St. Gregory of Nazianzen)
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:1 3)
"We do not fast because we think there is anything in itself unclean about the act of eating and drinking. Food and drink are, on the contrary, Gods gift, from which we are to partake with enjoyment and gratitude. We fast, not because we despise the divine gift, but so as to make ourselves aware that it is indeed a gift so as to purify our eating and drinking, and to make them, no longer a concession to greed, but a sacrament and means of communion with the Giver. Understood in this way, ascetic fasting is directed not against the body but against the flesh. Its aim is not destructively to weaken the body, but creatively to render the body more spiritual." (Bishop Kallistos Ware)
Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6: 16 18)
"Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye, and the ear, and let the feet, and the hands, and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice. Let t feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at what is sinful...Let the ear fast...by not listening to evil talk or gossip...Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from meat and fish, but bite and devour our brothers?" (St. John the Chrysostom)
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them, Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. (Mark 2:18 20)
The benefits of fasting or abstinence are enormous. This does not have anything to do with the reasons many today use the discipline of fasting. For in our day we see individuals fasting as a political tool or other type of protest, a way of losing extra pounds, or even as a desire to die. Christian fasting is blessed by God Himself for it is the message of the believer to God that he de-sires the eternal blessings that are to come rather than the finite blessings of this life. Its benefits include increased spiritual strength, true obedience to God and total patience with one's fellow man. It assists the believer to take control of his lower appetites that involve the physical senses. The believer becomes mentally alert and sensitive to what is happening all around him. Moreover his understanding of life is also expanded. (Bishop Isaiah of Denver)
"...The teaching of these words is this. Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies: fast for those who persecute you...Do not let your fasts be with the hypocrites. They fast on Monday and Thursday; but you will fast on Wednesday and Friday." (The Didache, C. 90 - 150 A.D.)
"On the day of the fast, eat only bread and water and, working out the cost of the food you would have consumed, give a corresponding sum to a widow, an orphan, a needy person...Observe these things with your children and all your household; thus you will be happy." (Shepherd of Hermas, C. 140 - 150 A.D.)
"Likewise, in regard to days of fast, many do not think they should be present at the sacrificial prayers, because their fast would be broken if they were to receive the Body of the Lord...Will not your fast be more solemn if, in addition, you have stood at God's altar?" (Tertullian, The Demurrer Against the Heretics, Prayer, C. 200 - 206 A.D.)
"Those who do not believe in the afterlife indulge in food and drink." (St. Ambrose of Milan, +397 A.D., Ep. 63, 17)
"If you wish to be perfect, it is better to fatten the soul than the body." (St. Jerome, +420 A.D., Ep. 54, 105)
"The abstinence of him who fasts becomes the nourishment of the poor." (St. Leo I, Sermon 13, 1, Ante 461 A.D.)
"Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." (Joel 2, 12)
"The sisters of fasting are five: 1) prayer, 2) charity, 3) humility, 4) abstinence, 5) love. Fasting without prayer is simply a medical diet, a healthy diet, a change of eating habits. Fasting without charity is selfishness and co-worker with.... greed. Fasting without humility is food for the monster of vanity. Fasting without abstinence is simply mockery. Fasting without love can become cannibalism!" (The Orthodox Messenger, Mar/April 1998, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia)
Three Hierarchs * Fr. George Pyle * 2010 Three Hierarchs Ct., Champaign, Illinois * (217) 352-3452
Recipes and more
Links to various Lenten recipe pages
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