Orthodox Christians celebrate the Virgin Mary Fast

The Orthodox Christians enter on Sunday, August 13, the Virgin Mary Fast. Two weeks from now on, till the Feast of the Dormition, celebrated on August 28, the Christians shall abstain from immoral thoughts and deeds and from animal food as well. This is to call to mind the fasting through which the mother of Jesus prepared herself to “fall asleep”. The Virgin Mary Fast is one of the year’s four fasts. It is less rigid than the Lent, but more rigorous than the Nativity and the Saint Apostles’ fasts. Confessors urge those who are healthy to eat only dry food on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays till dusk. Boiled vegetables are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, oil-free only. Oil and wine are permitted on Saturdays a Sundays. Believers may eat fish on the Feast of Transfiguration. The Church tells that the Fast doesn’t mean abstaining from food, drinks or intimate relationship alone, this is also to pray, to penance, to forgive and give Christian love to everybody.