Prayer and reading guides · English

Fasting Made Simple: A Gentle Start

Fasting is one of the oldest ways Christians pray with their bodies. It is not a diet, and it is not a contest. In the Church it is a way to quiet our appetites so that our hearts can listen more clearly, and to make a little room for others. Done with prayer and mercy, it becomes joyful.

What the Church fasts

Every week, the Church keeps Wednesday and Friday as days of fasting. Beyond that there are longer fasts through the year: the Fast of Nineveh, Great Lent before Pascha, the Apostles' Fast, the Fast of the Virgin St. Mary, and the Nativity Fast before Christmas. The Coptic calendar in Doxali shows which days are fasts and the general practice for each.

Fasting in the Coptic tradition usually means abstaining from animal products, and eating simply, with some periods being stricter than others.

Start small

If you are new, do not try to keep everything at once. Many people begin with Wednesdays and Fridays, or with one day a week. Talk with your father of confession about what is right for you. He knows your health, your family and your situation, and he can set a rule you can actually keep.

Tip: A small rule kept faithfully is better than a big one that falls apart in week one.

Not for everyone in the same way

Fasting is not meant to harm anyone. If you are ill, pregnant, nursing, elderly, a child, or taking medication, ask your priest and your doctor how to fast safely. The Church has always made room for this.

Fasting is more than food

The Fathers teach that fasting without prayer and mercy is empty. Give a little more time to prayer. Read a Gospel chapter. Forgive someone. Give the money you save to someone in need. These are what make the fast alive.

Try this: On a fasting day, pray one hour of the Agpeya, and read the day's passage in the fast companion when a fast is on.

When you slip

You will. Everyone does. Do not give up and do not be hard on yourself. Pick it up again at the next meal, tell your father of confession, and keep going.

Quick questions

Can I drink water?

Yes. Ask your priest for any specific guidance, especially on days when you plan to receive Communion.

Does fish count?

It depends on the fast. The calendar shows whether fish is permitted on a given day.

Is fasting required?

It is the Church's practice and a gift. Start where you can and let your father of confession guide you.