Lent on Palm Sunday requires special attention; clergy give explanations. Fish in Lent

Many people who decide to comply Lent, I wonder if it is possible to eat fish at this time, and if so, on what days? The strictest restriction for the 49-day period between the burning of Maslenitsa and the celebration of the Holy Day of Christ day - Sunday placed on the meat and meat products. Animal products are rightly referred to as the types of food that are most saturated with energy. But these calories are “animal”, and in significant quantities they can have negative impact on the physical and spiritual health of a person. The violent death of a living creature, whose body subsequently decorates people’s tables and satiates their stomachs, also leaves a bad imprint.

One explanation for this limitation can be found in the pages of the Bible, in which we're talking about that initially, living in paradise, people ate only plant foods. In addition, animals can be possessed by evil spirits. An unclean essence, having entered the body of a living being, lives in it and defiles its flesh. Since a person cannot guess which animal has an evil spirit and which does not, it is better not to eat meat at all for a while in order to cleanse himself of all bad things.

IN Holy Scripture We are also talking about the fact that all living creatures created by the Almighty are needed by man. Our attitude towards our “lesser brothers” must be appropriate. Therefore, during the flood, all types of animals were saved.

But fish is a product that is not classified as “Meat”, since the Bible does not mention it as “Adam’s helper”. Therefore, on days of fasting that fall on weekdays, it is not allowed to be eaten, but on holidays this product is not strictly prohibited. Yes and during global flood Noah did not need to save the fish, because they were not in danger.

In addition, fish are among those creatures whose minds are most different from human ones. Therefore, it can be considered fair that when killed by humans, fish are not able to experience those negative emotions that are common to other animals.

On what days of Lent can you eat fish without fear of breaking the rules?

The Church provides two days on which the fasting person can slightly diversify his menu. The first day is the Annunciation, celebrated annually on April 7 and in most cases falling during the period of Lent. The second day when it is permissible to eat fish is Palm Sunday. Its date is different every year, since this holiday always falls on the Sunday that precedes the Bright Day of Christ. To put it simply, in the 49-day Easter fast the church allows eating fish any year on April 7 and on the Sunday preceding Holy Week.


For people suffering from diseases that do not allow them to severely limit themselves in food, church law advises replacing their usual meat meals with fish. After all, fish is more light food, and its composition is ideal for feeding people whose body urgently needs wide range macro- and microelements. This diet is also recommended for pregnant women and the younger generation.

How to cook fish during Lent?

When preparing fish, you should take into account the requirements for the rest Lenten dishes: lack of seasonings, sauces and dressings. It is also not recommended to fry this product (only salt, boil or stew). The taste of fish should be as natural as possible so as not to “irritate” taste buds, because of which the mood of abstinence is dulled. The main fish dishes during Lent are fish soup, steamed fish and vegetable cutlets, and fish stewed with vegetables. Lightly salted fish (not subjected to heat treatment) is primarily recommended for consumption by those people who include: this product on the menu in order to recruit valuable substances.

Is it possible to include seafood in the menu on fasting days that allow you to eat fish?

If we consider this issue from the point of view of the Church Charter, then we should remember that the main criterion for fasting is the use exclusively plant food. And squid, shrimp, mussels and other marine life are representatives of the animal kingdom. Fish, the consumption of which is allowed by statute only on holidays, is recognized as semi-lenten food. This includes seafood.

If a person fasting on the permissible days wants to include seafood in his diet in order to replenish the balance of nutrients, then this is allowed. We welcome the Church Charter and the initiative of those people who, due to health restrictions, are trying to replace the “meat” food (meat, eggs, cottage cheese, butter) with seafood. The fact is that seafood is rich in so necessary for the body for a person (especially a sick or growing person) essential fatty acids, iodine and other substances.

People who take the issue of observing the 49-day fast extremely seriously, but are unable to strictly follow it due to work related to difficult physical activity, eating seafood can help out. But they will need to approach the priest in advance to receive a blessing to relax the fast.

If a person simply wants to fast without depriving himself of his usual pleasures, then this can be called a regular diet. It will undoubtedly bring results. But only if the fasting person did not set for himself such a high goal as spiritual cleansing.

Conclusion.

For people who observe Lent not only in body but also in soul, consumption of fish and seafood is permissible only on holidays and if there is a good reason. And those who do not have any restrictions in terms of health, but want to eat delicacies during Lent, should remember that such “fasting” is nothing more than self-soothing and ordinary weight loss, which has nothing to do with the holiday of Easter.

Many people who decide to observe Lent are interested in whether it is possible to eat fish at this time, and if so, on what days? The strictest restriction for the 49-day period between the burning of Maslenitsa and the celebration of Christ's Bright Day - Resurrection is imposed on meat and meat products. Animal products are rightly referred to as the types of food that are most saturated with energy. But these calories are “animal”, and in significant quantities they can have a negative impact on a person’s physical and spiritual health. The violent death of a living creature, whose body subsequently decorates people’s tables and satiates their stomachs, also leaves a bad imprint.

One of the explanations for this limitation can be found on the pages of the Bible, which says that initially, living in paradise, people ate only plant foods. In addition, animals can be possessed by evil spirits. An unclean essence, having entered the body of a living being, lives in it and defiles its flesh. Since a person cannot guess which animal has an evil spirit and which does not, it is better not to eat meat at all for a while in order to cleanse himself of all bad things.

The Holy Scriptures also speak of the fact that all living creatures created by the Almighty are needed by man. Our attitude towards our “lesser brothers” must be appropriate. Therefore, during the flood, all types of animals were saved.

But fish is a product that is not classified as “Meat”, since the Bible does not mention it as “Adam’s helper”. Therefore, on days of fasting that fall on weekdays, it is not allowed to be eaten, but on holidays this product is not strictly prohibited. And during the global flood, Noah did not need to save the fish, because they were not in danger.

In addition, fish are among those creatures whose minds are most different from human ones. Therefore, it can be considered fair that when killed by humans, fish are not able to experience those negative emotions that are inherent in other animals.

On what days of Lent can you eat fish without fear of breaking the rules?

The Church provides two days on which the fasting person can slightly diversify his menu. The first day is the Annunciation, celebrated annually on April 7 and in most cases falling during the period of Lent. The second day when it is permissible to eat fish is Palm Sunday. Its date is different every year, since this holiday always falls on the Sunday that precedes the Bright Day of Christ. To put it simply, during the 49-day Easter Lent, the church allows eating fish any year on April 7 and on the Sunday preceding Holy Week.


For people suffering from diseases that do not allow them to severely limit themselves in food, church law advises replacing their usual meat meals with fish. After all, fish is a lighter food, and its composition is ideal for feeding people whose bodies urgently need a wide range of macro- and microelements. This diet is also recommended for pregnant women and the younger generation.

How to cook fish during Lent?

When preparing fish, you should take into account the requirements for other lean dishes: no seasonings, sauces or dressings. It is also not recommended to fry this product (only salt, boil or stew). The taste of the fish should be as natural as possible so as not to “irritate” the taste buds, which dulls the spirit of abstinence. The main fish dishes during Lent are fish soup, steamed fish and vegetable cutlets, and fish stewed with vegetables. Lightly salted fish (not subjected to heat treatment) is primarily recommended to be consumed by those people who include this product in the menu in order to gain valuable substances.

Is it possible to include seafood in the menu on fasting days that allow you to eat fish?

If we consider this issue from the point of view of the Church Charter, we should remember that the main criterion for fasting is the consumption of exclusively plant foods. And squid, shrimp, mussels and other marine life are representatives of the animal kingdom. Fish, the consumption of which is allowed by statute only on holidays, is recognized as semi-lenten food. This includes seafood.

If a person fasting on the permissible days wants to include seafood in his diet in order to replenish the balance of nutrients, then this is allowed. We welcome the Church Charter and the initiative of those people who, due to health restrictions, are trying to replace the “meat” food (meat, eggs, cottage cheese, butter) with seafood. The fact is that seafood is rich in essential fatty acids, iodine and other substances that are so necessary for the human body (especially a sick or growing one).

People who are extremely serious about observing the 49-day fast, but are unable to strictly follow it due to work involving heavy physical activity, can benefit from eating seafood. But they will need to approach the priest in advance to receive a blessing to relax the fast.

If a person simply wants to fast without depriving himself of his usual pleasures, then this can be called a regular diet. It will undoubtedly bring results. But only if the fasting person did not set for himself such a high goal as spiritual cleansing.

Conclusion.

For people who observe Lent not only in body but also in soul, consumption of fish and seafood is permissible only on holidays and if there is a good reason. And those who do not have any restrictions in terms of health, but want to eat delicacies during Lent, should remember that such “fasting” is nothing more than self-soothing and ordinary weight loss, which has nothing to do with the holiday of Easter.

During Great Lent, believers always fast, decide to eat only the most modest food and products, and strictly adhere to this decision.

IN Christian faith It is believed that in this way everyone who fasts gets the opportunity to cleanse their spirit and body, because this is a voluntary renunciation of pleasures, a kind of humility.

And so that your efforts really do not go in vain, it is important, before starting Lent and observing it, to have a good understanding of what food is allowed to be consumed and what is not allowed during this period.

So many people are often interested in whether it is possible to eat fish, seafood and fish caviar during Lent?

Basically, of course, it’s impossible, and yet there is certain days Post (some church holidays) when concessions are provided.

Let's try to understand the issue in more detail and thoroughly.

Is it possible to eat fish during Lent?

Despite great content Fish contains beneficial microelements, vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your body; it is prohibited to eat it during Lent.

There are only a few days when the church allows you to violate this rule. Why? Fish products must be present in the human diet, because the vitamins and minerals they contain help maintain cardiac and nervous system in order. In addition, the proteins contained in fish are absorbed by the body much more easily than those found in meat.

When can you eat fish during Lent?

Only twice, on two holidays: Palm Sunday and Annunciation.

But every year you need to carefully monitor the dates of the listed holidays, because sometimes they fall on the dates of events on which neither fish nor seafood is allowed.

Such events include. On this day, almost complete fasting is prescribed, or rather dry eating first (you do not cook, fry or brew food), and on Friday and Saturday you completely refuse any food.

During Lent, it is not allowed to eat meat and poultry, eggs, and various dairy products. On those days of Lent, when you can eat fish, a little wine is also acceptable. However, wine is also allowed on name days if they also fall during Lent. Remember that even in the case of wine, it is important to observe moderation.

Try to use Palm Sunday and the Annunciation with maximum benefit for your body. There are many simple, but tasty and healthy, at the same time lean fish dishes. Look for recipes from friends, on the Internet, and then arrange a real fish day for yourself and your loved ones.

This product contains B vitamins, which will have a positive effect on your mood, give you more energy, make your hair and nails healthy, and help restore a healthy complexion. Vitamins A and E will help slow down the aging process. As you can see, fish is a storehouse of useful vitamins.

In addition, if we compare lovers of such delicacies with those who prefer meat products, then fish lovers have better health.

What to cook from fish?

Simple and at the same time delicious dishes: steamed cutlets, fish salads and soups. You can even bake it in the oven, just without adding oil. Herring, salted fish and many other dishes are also suitable.

Who can eat fish during Lent?

During Lent, most fasting people are allowed to eat only cereals, fruits and vegetables, and only fish on certain days.

So, during Lent, women who are expecting a child and nursing mothers, young children, elderly people engaged in heavy physical or mental labor, and also those who travel or are on the road can and should eat fish products.

People with various diseases(for example, with problems gastrointestinal tract) you should also not refuse this product.

Since abstaining from protein foods can have a negative impact on the body and health, sick people simply need to consume fish products at least once every 7 days.

What fish can you eat during Lent?

Are you part of the group of people who can eat fish during Lent or do you only eat it on Palm Sunday?

  • Well, it is advisable to abandon expensive varieties in favor of white lean fish. Pollock, squid, cod, capelin are suitable. And even canned fish can be confidently called good choice in Post.

It will work out of canned food delicious soup, you can add them to a salad with vegetables. A classic dish home cooking is a salad with tomatoes and tuna, so you can safely prepare it during Lent.

  • Please note that it is not recommended to fry seafood and fish - it is better to stew it without oil or boil it.
  • Leave aside various sauces, seasonings, dressings - all of them are not appropriate during this period, because you are preparing a lean dish.

It is important to leave the selected fish product as natural in taste as possible; in addition, by adding the listed seasonings, you will only irritate your taste buds, thereby only leading yourself astray from the path of abstinence.

  • During the Assumption Fast, it is allowed to eat fish on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and if we are talking about the Nativity Fast or the Peter's Fast, then the product is eaten on weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol during Lent. The exception, as noted above, is wine, which, however, must be diluted plain water and drink only on weekends, in small quantities.

The Annunciation is a very important holiday that must be celebrated. Believers should go to church in the morning, pray, then have breakfast with blessed prosphora, drink a sip of Cahors and then sit down to festive table. Despite the fact that the Annunciation belongs to the category of holidays that have a constant date - the seventh of April, it is celebrated differently each time.

And it all depends on when Lent begins and ends. If fasting had already ended by the seventh of April and believers celebrated Easter, then the Annunciation is also celebrated on a grand scale. But if the fast still lasts, then almost all restrictions on this day remain, there are only a few exceptions.

When the holiday coincides with Lent, parishioners ask the same questions: “Is it possible to have fish on the Annunciation?”, “Do they eat fish on the Annunciation?” What is the answer to this in churches?

Eating fish on Annunciation

This year, the Annunciation coincides with Lent, so the question “Is it possible to eat fish for the Annunciation in 2018?” relevant.

In general, when believers celebrate the Annunciation on April 7, fish can be eaten. But when Easter is celebrated earlier, and coincides with the holiday Holy Week, then you need to give up fish dishes. However, this does not happen very often.

Important! In 2018, the Annunciation coincides with Holy Saturday Therefore, eating fish on this day is prohibited!

This year you can't eat fish. But when the holiday does not fall during Holy Week, you can eat any fish, but the church recommends choosing one with few bones. Each housewife can choose the method of preparing fish herself. Fish can be baked, fried or marinated. But it is worth remembering that you cannot make fish with mayonnaise, because it contains eggs. You can stew fish with onions or make fish with semolina.

Fish days in Lent 2018

There are 2 days when it is allowed to eat fish - these are the Annunciation and Palm Sunday. But, as we already wrote above, it is allowed to eat it on the Annunciation only if the holiday does not fall on Holy Week. As for Palm Sunday, there are no exceptions - you can always eat fish on this day.

In 2018, Palm Sunday is celebrated on April 1 - this day is the only one in 2018 when fishing is allowed.

There is one more day of relaxation, although it can rather be called caviar. This day is Lazarus Saturday. It falls on March 31st. Then you can only eat caviar, but the next day you can also try fish.

There are many versions of why fish is allowed, and not, for example, chicken - after all, this bird is also considered dietary. Nutrition experts note that, in general, the nutrition calendar during Lent is drawn up correctly. And fish is a product rich fatty acids, iodine and others useful substances. Fish dishes help strengthen bones, give a person strength and vigor, and also have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Therefore, it is very good that there are days when you can make such an exception from general rules post.

But the church explains the permission to eat fish on some days of fasting by the fact that these inhabitants of rivers and seas are a symbol of Christianity.

In the Roman Empire, Christianity was banned, so people who professed this religion were forced to hide their beliefs. And in order to communicate with each other, Christians came up with various symbols. In such secret writing one could often see an image of a fish.

Also, the fish symbolizes Jesus Christ himself, and such holidays as the Annunciation and Palm Sunday are directly related to God's son. The fact is that in Greek the word fish sounds the same as the name of the Savior.

Fish also appears frequently in the New Testament. Suffice it to recall the episode when Jesus Christ fed huge amount people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Representatives of the church often compare Christians themselves, that is, followers of Christ, with fish that swam after the Savior on the “water of eternal life.”