OUR JOURNEY TO PASCHA GREAT LENT

The first Sunday of the great Fast is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy in our Church. It is a day when we take a long and deep look at our Christian Faith, the ancient Faith of our fathers.

As for fasting, it is important to know why we fast and how to fast. St. John Chrysostom in one of his sermons, he said this about fasting: “The value of fasting consists not in abstinence from food, but in relinquishing of sinful practices… 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 honoured, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye, the ear, the feet, and the hands… Let the hands fast by being pure from avarice. Let the feet fast by ceasing from running to forbidden spectacles. Let the eyes fast by not fixing themselves rudely on handsome countenances. Let the ear also fast. This consists in not listening to evil talk and calumnies. It has been said: Thou shalt not receive an idle report. Let the mouth also fast from words and railing. For what good is it if we abstain from meat, but bite and devour our brothers?”