Fasting 013: Fasting during the First Week of Great Lent

From the rules of the holy apostles and the holy fathers about the holy and great forty-day [Lent], which every Christian must carefully observe.

On the first day of the first week of the holy and great forty-day [Lent], that is to say, on Monday, it is not appropriate to eat at all, and it is the same on the second day [that is to say, on Tuesday]. On Wednesday, after the completion of the Presanctified [Liturgy] - [by any estimate, around 6 pm or later], a meal is served, and we eat warm bread, and warm vegetable foodstuffs, and а honey drink [1]. Those who cannot keep the first two days, eat bread and drink kvass [2] after vespers on Tuesday. The elderly do the same. On Saturdays and Sundays we allow oil and also wine. In other weeks, we fast until evening for five days, and eat dry food [3], except Saturdays and Sundays. Fish, however, we dare not eat for all of the forty-day [Lent], except on the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and Palm Sunday. <...> If a monk spoils the holy forty-day [Lent] by his gluttony and eats fish, except on the feast of the Annunciation and Palm Sunday, let him not partake of the Holy Mysteries on Pascha, but repent for two weeks and make 300 prostrations each day and each night.

On the communion of the Mysteries of Christ

Whenever one wishes to partake of the holy Mysteries of Christ, the same should keep the whole week, from Monday, in fasting, and prayer, and complete and full sobriety, and then, with great fear and piety may he receive the most pure Mysteries.

On the cleansing of the mouths of the brethren who receive the most pure Mysteries of Christ

It is necessary to know this also about the cleansing of the brethren who communed in the temple, as it is said: It is necessary to cleanse [one’s] mouth in the service - this is what the divine Chrysostom decreed on account of spitting [4]. It is done thusly: Upon receiving the holy Mysteries, a brother takes [a piece of] antidorion, and having consumed it, receives a little of the hot water [left over from that which is poured into the divine cup] into his mouth, and he wipes it [his mouth] with a clean napkin over a vessel designated for that.

Типикон, сиесть устав. Киев, 1997, гл. 32. Trans. by Sergei Sveshnikov

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Translator's notes:

1 - "оукропъ съ медомъ" - Usually, 'оукропъ' is wine mixed with water, but in this particular phrase, rather than 'wine mixed with water and honey drink,' the phrase could potentially mean 'a mixed honey drink,' that is to say, water mixed with honey and, perhaps, berries or some other flavors.

2 - ‘kvass’ is a fermented drink made with grains and/or berries - similar to small beer.

3 - xerophagy: bread, lacto-fermented vegetables, and lacto-fermented beverages

4 - "spitting" - here, spitting likely means any mingling of that which is in the mouth with that which is outside the mouth - such as, touching one's lips to icons, cups, spoons, etc. - and is not a comment on actual spitting as a monastic habit, custom, or pastime.