Category Archives: Fasts and Feasts

Pentecost: The Descent of the Holy Spirit   The Feast of Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. In the Byzantine rite, it is remembered through the lens of the final revelation of the dogma of the … Continue reading →

On the Holy Pentecost Orations 41 St. Gregory Nazianzen I. Let us reason a little about the Festival, that we may keep it spiritually. For different persons have different ways of keeping Festival; but to the worshipper of the Word a discourse seems best; and of discourses, that which is … Continue reading →

What’s in a Name: Pascha or Easter? By Our Lady of Fatima Russian Catholic Church San Francisco, California   The theological name for the Feast of the Resurrection is Pascha. From its form, we can see that the Greek word … Continue reading →

Blessing Paschal Food–a Custom Worth Keeping By Fr. Theodore Wroblicky of Holy Wisdom UGCC, Sacramento   Prior to celebrating the Feast of Feasts, Pascha–the Resurrection of our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ–our domestic church is a beehive of activity! … Continue reading →

Pascha–Пасха–Easter Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life! In the Byzantine Tradition, we still use the most ancient designation to refer to the Feast of Christ’s Resurrection, Pascha. Pascha is … Continue reading →

Fr. Moses on Feasting Catherine Alexander speaks with Father Moses of Holy Resurrection Romanian Catholic Monastery, which was previously located in Newberry Springs, CA and is now in Saint Nazianz, Wisconsin.   Father Moses is a hierodeacon with a background … Continue reading →

Great and Holy Week Great and Holy Week is the week leading up to Pascha, the celebration of the Resurrection of the Messiah–Easter. This week is a time of strict fasting and increased liturgical prayers. On Great Monday and Great … Continue reading →

Children and the Great Fast By Panyi Matka Irene Galadza Feb 2004, St. Elias UGCC in Brampton, Ontario   This year, Great Lent approaches on the heels of the Nativity Season. Kolyada in church has just ended, but the soft … Continue reading →

What Can You Eat? Are you concerned about what you can eat if you’re avoiding meat, dairy, fish, alcohol, and (olive) oil? Below is a partial list of whole food ingredients which can be combined during a fast.   For … Continue reading →

Nutritional Concerns About Fasting It’s been said that a fast without prayer is just a diet. However, plenty of people wonder if the traditional fast is a healthy diet for the body, whether or not it is accompanied by prayer. … Continue reading →