Why do we fast?

Fasting is one of the pillars of our monastic life. We are taught its value by our Savior Himself who prepared for His confrontation with the Devil in the wilderness by a fast of forty days (Matt. 4:22).

St. John Climacus writes: “Fasting ends lust, roots out bad thoughts, frees one from evil dreams. Fasting makes for purity of prayer, an enlightened soul, a watchful mind, a deliverance from blindness. Fasting is the door of compunction, humble sighing, joyful contrition, an end to chatter, an occasion for silence, a custodian of obedience, a lightening of sleep, health of the body, an agent of dispassion, a remission of sins, the gate, indeed, the delight of Paradise." (Ladder of Divine Ascent, step 14.)

As in all ascetic endeavors, fasting is not an end in itself. If it is not undertaken in the spirit of humility and for the sake of the Gospel it is useless, even harmful. Again, it is our Lord Who teaches us: “When you fast put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt. 16:17-18).

Our fasting must always be joined to prayer. This is why we are careful to maintain the link between the time of our fasts and the Church’s liturgical cycles. It is also for this reason that hospitality is more important than the strict observance of outward rules of fasting, as the fathers often teach us.