The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting
Compliance with the Great Lent and the Strict Week significantly affects everyday religious practices, particularly the dietary regimen and the prayer life of the faithful. During this period, clear restrictions and a special diet aimed at abstaining from cooked food and reducing bodily pleasures are prescribed, which in turn contributes to deepening spiritual life and intensifying prayer practices.
From a dietary standpoint, the early days of the Great Lent follow a strict regime where complete abstinence from food or the consumption of only a few food items is allowed. For example, during the first week of the Great Lent, the following schedule is observed: "a complete refusal of food for the first two days and modest vegetable food for the remaining days. This also includes spiritual abstinence, which involves refraining from entertainment and social interactions, for deeper repentance and prayer" (source: link txt, page: 512). Moreover, in the subsequent days of the fast, a dry fasting regime is observed, permitting the consumption of bread, vegetables, and peas without oil and water, while special allowances—for instance, the consumption of boiled food with lean oil—are granted only on Saturdays and Sundays (source: link txt, page: 745).
Regarding prayer, the strict fast is seen as an integral component in achieving the "fruitfulness" of one’s prayer efforts. As noted by the authors of theological reflections, "prayer has two wings—almsgiving and fasting... The absence of abstinence from food and drink results in prayer becoming empty and fruitless" (source: link txt, page: 1647). Thus, adhering to these fasting prescriptions not only regulates the physical routine but also serves as an impetus for spiritual purification, enabling one to pray with greater sincerity and concentration.
In summary, the strict dietary rules established for the Great Lent and the Strict Week contribute to disciplining both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. These food restrictions promote self-restraint and the adoption of a humble lifestyle, which in turn facilitates a deeper engagement in prayer services and a state of repentance.