Is fasting possible during pregnancy? The opinion of a doctor and a priest

Orthodox advice for pregnant women regarding fasting

At the end of our material, we will give some advice from a clergyman regarding fasting and its observance by the expectant mother:

• Fasting should not in any way harm the health of the expectant mother and her baby. The purpose of fasting is purification, and if this rule is violated and a woman’s health suffers, then this violates the very tenets of Christianity.
• Relaxations for pregnant women concern only food necessary for the development and growth of the child. This does not mean that during Lent you can behave dissolutely and consume food immoderately.
• Fasting is, first of all, a time of self-control, constant prayer and sobering up from the surrounding turmoil.
• During fasting, the consumption of foods that are harmful to the health of the unborn child and mother is strictly prohibited.

Now, knowing how to fast during pregnancy, you will be able to survive this period without any internal conflicts. As you can see, Christianity is quite loyal to breaking the “food” fast, and therefore you should not have any serious difficulties with this.

Quarrels are prohibited

However, let’s not forget that Orthodox fasting has two components – spiritual and physical. They are inextricably linked. And if bodily abstinence may be weakened for a pregnant woman, then expectant mothers are advised to pay more attention to spiritual fasting. In relation to secular entertainment, the fast may not be softened, but even become stricter.

Go to church more often, devote more time to prayer. The main prayers of the expectant mother should be addressed to the Mother of God, but they can also be different. You can consult a priest, an experienced Christian woman, or choose them from the Prayer Book.

Be kind and merciful to your loved ones, try not to judge anyone, not to quarrel with anyone, and not to get irritated. Compassionately and joyfully await the birth of your child. And remember that fasting is not a dietary restriction; its inner meaning is much deeper.

Fasting for pregnant women

For pregnant women and sick people who want to receive communion but are on a strict diet, the fast can be weakened or canceled. This is done only with the blessing of the priest

. Before you go for such permission, you should test yourself: will a short-term fast really turn out to be an unbearable burden, or because of laziness you don’t want to disrupt the usual course of life?

If it is impossible for a pregnant woman to give up dairy products, this can be replaced by giving up sweets or other things to which she feels affection. Such abstinence will be accepted by the Lord as a significant feat.

Is it possible to fast during pregnancy?

Fortunately, religious leaders fully support the position outlined above. Indeed, for pregnant and breastfeeding women, there are a number of serious concessions regarding fasting.

So, giving up food of animal origin is not mandatory. During pregnancy, meat, dairy products, eggs and other foods are not food, but rather medicine. That is, the mother takes these products not for pleasure and to satisfy any of her base needs, but simply to provide the child with the necessary substances.

Of course, this also leaves its mark on the way meat dishes are prepared for true-believing expectant mothers. Any gourmet dishes are unacceptable here, only boiled or baked meat, which is used purely to obtain the necessary animal protein and other compounds, without the focus on enjoying the taste and aroma of the product.

At the same time, maximum attention is paid to the religious component. If a pregnant woman cannot spend too long a time in the temple due to physical fatigue, then she needs to make up for this deficiency at home - by reading prayers

During fasting, it is necessary to give up all kinds of entertainment - watching TV, any entertainment festivities and other activities that negatively affect the spirit. That is, in general terms, for pregnant women, fasting is not so much a refusal of any food, because they and their child need it on a physiological level, but rather a refusal of activities that negatively affect spirituality and its purity.

How to fast for children

The Russian Orthodox Church has developed a tradition of compulsory confession for children from the age of seven

.
At the same age they should be accustomed to fasting. But children receive communion from the very moment
, that is, from infancy.

Fasting before communion is not mandatory for a child if he is under three years old.

From three to seven years of age, restrictions are introduced gradually; the child must not only be deprived of tasty food, but be aware of the need and purpose of fasting. You can support your child by your own example by removing savory foods from the family menu. Parents themselves should begin confession and Communion together with their child.

The decision about whether fasting can be made easier should be made by parents after a conversation with the priest, based on the child’s health condition. Children who grow up in non-believing families and do not have proper spiritual development cannot be forced to fast.

Calculate your strength

Archpriest Andrey Yurevich:

In matters of fasting, you need to focus on the well-being of any person, and not just a nursing woman. Because there are circumstances, such as illness, for example, that are included in fasting. After all, what is fasting? This is a kind of limitation of oneself, but not from the outside.

If a person perceives a limitation as a limitation from the outside, as some kind of external framework, there is no point in it. Because the meaning of fasting is for a person to work on himself. And the external framework is like a prison. Our prison was only called a correctional institution, but it did not correct anyone. She made the situation worse by releasing already hardened criminals.

And if a person perceives the Church as a prison, then it will only get worse for him, he will turn into the most stubborn Pharisee, such a legislator, and that’s all.

Otherwise, sometimes a neophyte comes to Church and is immediately told: “Fast, pray and listen to radio Radonezh” - and nothing more. He understands that he is being given strict limits, but no one explains why.

The restrictions and discipline of fasting must come from within. A person needs to understand fasting, live it, and understand the meaning.

By fasting and restraining ourselves, we exercise internally, and any exercise must be approached wisely. If a person, while doing physical education, begins to exercise beyond measure, he will overload himself, and he will either have torn joints, or broken limbs, or depression, whatever.

It’s the same here - a person didn’t calculate his strength, lost his temper, then became depressed, and he either gave up fasting or abandoned church life altogether.

Therefore, everything should be reasonable. If a person has any moments other than fasting in food in which he exercises, then he must be careful with food. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are special conditions that place enormous stress on a woman’s body, almost stressful, although natural and therefore joyfully perceived.

Fasting in food must be approached very carefully here. A child growing in the womb needs, so to speak, “building materials”

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And how can normal milk production occur in a mother if the mother does not drink cow's milk or eat dairy products, for example?

Ramadan: Action Plan for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers

“I have chosen you for myself” (Quran, 20:41)

The long-awaited Ramadan is a blessed month for Muslims all over the world: old and young, men and women.
We are all waiting for the reward for him and are trying our best to make it as big as possible. But every year is different: someone has to take exams during this Ramadan, someone is sick or goes on a trip, for women during Ramadan there may be a period of pregnancy and breastfeeding - all these additional circumstances create certain difficulties for the fasting person.

It is important to remember that every situation is from Allah - a test for us, through which we should go through in the most dignified and productive way. So to speak, make the most of a difficult situation.

Those who are sick or have recently had surgery, pregnant women should not worry. They also have something to do during Ramadan. There is a certain logic in preventing pregnant or sick people from fasting. Allah has made fasting an obligation only for those who are able to bear it, and has exempted from it those who cannot fast for a valid reason recognized by Sharia. Thus, sick people, travelers, women during menstruation, pregnancy and breastfeeding are exempt from fasting.

Muslim scholars are unanimous in their opinion that pregnant and breastfeeding women may stop fasting during Ramadan if they believe that continuing to fast would endanger their life and health, as well as the life and health of the child. The basis for this collective decision is the verse:

“And if anyone is sick or on a journey, then let him fast the same number of days in another month” (Quran, 2:185).

This does not apply to all patients, because abstinence from food is not harmful to every patient. Those whose condition does not worsen from fasting are not allowed to interrupt it. In this verse, illness refers to any situation where fasting can harm health, such as during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Therefore, both of these cases are considered conditions for breaking the fast.

Confirmation that a pregnant or lactating woman need not fast is found in the hadith from Anas ibn Malik al-Kabi (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allah freed the traveler from half of the prayer and fasting, and (exempted) the pregnant woman and the nursing woman from fasting.”

However, pregnant and breastfeeding women can still partake in the blessings of Ramadan and fully enjoy its benefits by following these guidelines.

Tarawih

Ramadan is the only month of the year when we are given the opportunity to perform this special prayer, so do not miss the opportunity to strengthen your bond with your loved ones by visiting the mosque with them for Taraweeh, or simply pray at home at the crib of a sleeping child.

Reading, studying and listening to the Qur'an

It is extremely beneficial for a woman who carries a child under her heart to listen, read and study the Quran, especially during Ramadan, when she can receive an even greater reward for this.

Reading tasbih and dua

These include Istighfar prayers, Durood Ibrahimi, Asma ul-Husna and other dhikrs that can be found in many hadiths. For duas, you can turn to the “Muslim Fortress” or make your own duas.

Deepening spiritual and religious knowledge

It’s good if you study materials in this area on your own. However, there are many unreliable sources on this matter on the Internet, so you should not rely on dubious sites; it is better to turn to collections of hadiths, “Tafhim al-Quran”, “Qasas ul-Anbiya”. This is a great time to seek knowledge, study examples from hadith or stories from the lives of the wives of the Prophet.

Viewing programs on religious topics

You can spend time watching Islamic videos on YouTube, TV programs about the lives and deeds of the prophets, etc.

Organization and attendance of iftars

If you have the means, organizing iftars for fasting people is encouraged. It is also useful to attend family iftars, where ties with relatives are strengthened. It's even better if you send iftar to your local mosque and to the needy and needy.

Taking care of the family

Taking care of the family is considered the work of a mother and, praise be to Allah, a very useful and creative task. The family needs your care. Your husband, children, older generation - they all deserve your love, attention, understanding and time. Follow the example of Aisha and Fatima (may Allah be pleased with them or both). Their lives should be a model for all women who have the duty of wives and mothers.

Call to Islam

Sincere da'wah is a wonderful activity for two reasons: not only is there a reward for it, but by enlightening others, you expand your own knowledge of the religion.

Charity

This does not necessarily mean spending long hours on some charity projects. A lot can be done from home, for example, announcing a fundraiser for a charity, answering a call to provide financial assistance to those in need - both can be done through social networks. You can collect things at home that you don’t use and take them to a charity store or give them to a familiar large family.

Literacy training

Just find a potential student and instill in him a desire to learn. It could be a child or an adult - education knows no age boundaries. And when you find it, be a calm and patient teacher, spare no time and effort.

Perform Qada prayer

We all know that in Ramadan all rewards increase, so this is the best time to make up for missed prayers (qada), as well as to recite the prayer of the spirit.

When you start something meaningful and useful, be persistent and don’t stop even after Ramadan ends. There should always be a place for good deeds and actions, and not just in Ramadan. They should be done all year round.

In conclusion, we would like to remind you that a mother can breastfeed her child for two years to complete the period of breastfeeding (Quran, 2:233).

It has been proven that breast milk has no analogues or substitutes; it is a child’s natural food and is completely safe for him. Breastfeeding prevents allergic diseases and dermatological problems in a child, it promotes brain development and has many other advantages compared to artificial feeding. Plus, breastfeeding costs virtually no money!

Pregnancy is a blessing from Allah, followed by the miracle of birth. Pregnancy, the process of a woman becoming a mother, changes her life for the better. Pregnancy and breastfeeding should not be perceived as a burden. This is one of Allah's greatest gifts to a woman. Be grateful for it!

The holy month of Ramadan occurs only once a year, so let it bring you maximum benefits, despite all individual restrictions.

Source: The Ideal Muslimah

Ideally, you need special rooms

Archpriest Andrey Yurevich:

Archpriest Andrey Yurevich

In a situation where an infant wants to eat during the service, it is better not to try to unnoticedly put him to the breast, especially since this is very inconvenient for both the child and the mother. And there’s no point - there’s no time for prayer anyway. It’s better to move away, for example, sit on a bench near the wall. This will be more convenient for both the mother and the child - the mother will concentrate on him. And for everyone around, because those around you will also be distracted from the service by a smacking baby.

The worst case scenario is when people say: “You’re disturbing me, get out of here.” The best option is, on the contrary, those around you will worry about the woman and will start fussing: “Sit down, here, here.” Both are bad - there is commotion in the church, there is no prayer. So I repeat, it is better to retreat to a bench if there are no other options.

It would be good if the rector of the temple thought through this problem and, if possible, allocated some kind of children’s room. In Lesosibirsk we had a whole system of children's rooms. There was a room for babies, where mothers could safely breastfeed, and there were changing tables. There was a room for rompers, with a carpet on the floor and a sofa for mothers and nannies. There was a room where older children could sit at the table, draw, color, or leaf through a book. There were pots, toys, pencils, albums, children's books, and coloring books.

If we want children to stay in the temple, we must create conditions for them. And babies are unpredictable people. They can't do all their sanitation things in advance. And ideally, the church should have all the conditions so that children feel good, and mothers too.

Rules for fasting before Communion

So, there is no church-wide rule of obligatory fasting and confession before communion. But many priests strongly recommend that their parishioners fast for three days before entering the Sacrament.

. Is it worth rejecting a good tradition for the sake of the letter of the law? It is impossible to argue with the priest or consciously refuse to fast, since condemnation and insults only add sin to existing ones. It is better to fulfill the prescribed rule based on your physical strength.

The Orthodox Church prescribes avoidance of the following foods:

• meat of any animal or bird, even lean;
• milk (kefir, cottage cheese, whey, etc.);
• eggs of any bird;
• fish (not always).

In fact, a fasting Christian still has fruits, vegetables, cereals, pasta and bread

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You should not give in to the temptation to prepare delicious “lenten dishes”: food should not become a source of pleasure, but only maintain strength
.

Is it permissible to eat fish before Communion? In most cases, a healthy person should refuse it. The exception is living in the Far North or on ships, where fish is the main source of food. Seafood is considered a leaner food than fish and is allowed in moderation. Short fasting before Communion is also associated with other restrictions, refusing the following:

• sweets;
• sexual contacts;
• alcoholic drinks;
• smoking;
• participation in various entertainments (weddings, parties, concerts).

6 hours before the start of the Liturgy, food and drink should be completely avoided.

. This six-hour fast is called "Eucharistic". If the Eucharistic fast is broken, the priest may not allow you to participate in the Sacrament.

Many believers strive to receive communion during church-wide fasts. This makes it possible to calmly prepare, especially if loved ones are also fasting and do not offer unnecessary temptations.

Is it permissible to take communion if you have smoked or unwittingly broken your fast? All excesses committed during the fast should be told to the priest in confession

. Through confession, admission to the Sacrament is made and concealment of even a small offense is considered a great sin before God.

Mom needs to take everything into account

Archpriest Alexander Ilyashenko, rector of the Church of the All-Merciful Savior in the former Sorrow Monastery:

The sooner you start giving your baby communion on an empty stomach, the easier it will be to do this when he gets older. But for this, the mother needs to carefully think through the daily routine when the baby is taken to the temple. Maybe you should get up early and feed the baby before heading to the temple. And depending on the circumstances - the child can withstand it - well, if he can’t stand it - that means feeding it.

But, of course, we are not talking about a baby who was born a month ago. It’s too early to talk about any attempts to teach people.

In fact, you should not feed a baby before Communion, because, for example, he may burp. Therefore, we must try to move the feeding time away from Communion, so that it falls between feedings.

It is clear that this does not always work out, and sometimes you will have to feed it. You need to look at the situation.

After all, you cannot establish a single strict regime for all days here. A healthy child is one thing. Not feeling very well - that's another thing. Changes in weather, lack of sleep—whatever doesn’t affect the baby’s well-being. Mommy should remember and take this into account when trying to bring her child to Communion in order to avoid unwanted excesses.

Before Baptism, one must also try to separate feeding from the Sacrament. So that during the Sacrament no undesirable natural incidents for the child occur.

But the time of Baptism does not depend on the mother, the priest may be delayed, the child may start crying. Then, of course, you can feed him.

What is fasting

So, first, let’s figure out what fasting is and what role it plays for Christians.

The concept of fasting itself is interpreted very simply - this is the time when a person tries to cleanse his physical and spiritual body as much as possible, thereby preparing himself to listen to instructions from God.

This cleansing occurs through prayers and constant appeals to the Lord. From the physical side, this process is facilitated by the refusal of animal food, or complete fasting. The spiritual component of fasting is the renunciation of entertainment, “bodily lusts,” various celebrations and other acts that are believed to corrupt the spirit.

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The post of clergy and laity is somewhat different. If in the first case this is a complete refusal of almost everything, in some cases even from drinking, then for the laity there are concessions. For example, most often fasting believers consume water and plant products, while refusing any food related to animals.

In recent years, the very concept of fasting has lost its original meaning. In modern times, fasting is perceived by most people as nothing more than a diet, albeit a fairly strict one, but still a diet. At the same time, the very concept of this tradition is violated, and quite seriously.

The fact is that refusing animal food under the guise of fasting, without giving up acts that “corrupt the spirit,” is sinful. Thus, a person not only fails to establish a connection with God, but also commits actions of a sinful nature, having a negative impact on his spiritual component.

That is why modern clergy recommend first studying the theoretical component of this issue, and only then taking up fasting. Especially when it comes to the expectant mother, who positions herself as a true believer and righteously observing the laws of God.

Why keep Uraza during the month of Ramadan?

The holy month of Ramadan (the ninth of the year according to the Islamic calendar) has special significance. It was during this period, on the Night of Predestination, that the Koran, the holy scripture, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Refusal to eat and drink (Uraza) during this month, as well as from intimacy, is one of the foundations of the Muslim faith.

There are several reasons why devout Muslims practice abstinence:

• strengthening the power of faith by taming carnal desires, despite hunger and thirst in the hot season;
• psychological education, rejection of selfish principles;
• spiritual purification and development of obedience before Allah Almighty;
• gradual liberation of the individual from the dominance of physical and animal needs, which will help in the further observance of a righteous life throughout the year.

Simply refusing to eat and drink is not the only thing that should cleanse the soul of a believer. Thus, Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali assigned this type of fasting the lowest importance inherent in the average person.

A spiritually elevated person must not only observe discipline, but also not commit ungodly acts, either in words or in deeds. And those who have achieved the highest moral development (auliyya) devote this month to thinking about Allah Almighty and his infinite essence, rejecting worldly affairs.

To fast during pregnancy or not: the scientific side of the issue

So, we have dealt with the religious component of this issue, but what about the situation from the point of view of science? Is it rational, when carrying a child, to refuse, if not all, but at least some of the products, for the sake of a good – “higher” goal?

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, a pregnant woman's diet should be varied and balanced. It must contain products from the main groups, such as: meat, dairy products, cereals, vegetables, fruits, nuts and fish.

They all play their own separate role in the formation and development of the fetus in the womb. The fact is that a woman’s body, during pregnancy, uses its own reserves to provide the child with all the necessary nutrients.

For example, during pregnancy, many women face the problem of anemia or anemia. There is simply not enough iron in their body to provide them with two bodies at once, even if one of them is quite small. That is why following all your gastronomic desires during the period of bearing a baby is a priority.

The human body itself knows what it needs and in what quantity. When it feels that it is lacking a particular element or vitamin, it sends a corresponding signal to our brain, as a result of which we feel the desire to eat some product.

Deliberately avoiding food that may be vital to a woman's or child's body can have disastrous health consequences. Therefore, any religious restrictions during pregnancy are simply unacceptable. Naturally, there are a number of foods that should be avoided in any case, for example, a large number of sweets and baked goods, fast food, alcoholic drinks and soda

However, the medical system tirelessly talks about their harm to the expectant mother, the child and the person in general, and therefore refusing such products is more of an investment in one’s health than some kind of religious sacrifice

Naturally, there are a number of foods that should be avoided in any case, for example, a large amount of sweets and baked goods, fast food, alcoholic drinks and soda. However, the medical system tirelessly talks about their harm to the expectant mother, the child and the person in general, and therefore giving up such products is more of an investment in one’s health than some kind of religious sacrifice.

The same products as meat, milk and eggs are considered mandatory for expectant mothers.

There will always be a lot of “women in the past” who denied themselves everything and at the same time acquired completely healthy offspring. However, it should be remembered that each case is individual and you should not take other people’s examples for granted.

The primary task of a pregnant woman, as a mother, is to provide her child with all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals that will be used for growth and development.

You may come across the opinion that any meat can be replaced with legumes - they contain no less vegetable protein than beef or chicken breast. But at the same time, one should also remember that excessive consumption of such products often leads to negative consequences, and therefore it is necessary to take it for granted that the harmonious development of a child is impossible without a balance in nutrition.

You cannot deny yourself meat, animal products and other truly necessary food just because of faith. Religion only affects you and has no effect on your child. Therefore, for a while you should forget about your religion and direct all your efforts to providing the future baby with everything necessary, at the moment - this is food and nutrients from it.

Useful unloading

Due to excess weight gain, doctors often suggest that pregnant women spend fruit and vegetable fasting days. This is useful, especially when excess weight gain is associated with excessive eating “for two.” During the period of Great Lent, rest for the body in the form of fasting days is recommended to be arranged on Wednesday and Friday, that is, on traditionally fast days.

It has been observed that excessive weight gain during pregnancy and after childbirth is often associated with excess consumption of fats and carbohydrates. In this sense, it will even be useful for a pregnant woman to fast: baked goods, chocolate, cakes - these delicacies are prohibited for fasting people. It is better to get extra calories from vegetables, fruits, fish and other seafood.

A pregnant woman should be especially careful during breaking her fast and the Passover meal. You can eat everything, but the portions should be small. Overeating on Easter can also harm your baby.

Fasting during pregnancy: pros and cons

Restrictions on food during fasting when bearing a child or breastfeeding are completely excluded. Milk and dairy products, eggs and meat should be present in the diet in the quantities indicated by the doctor. In this case, meat is perceived not as food, but as a medicine against complications, which is quite acceptable during fasting.

It is believed that the replacement for food restrictions for pregnant women is the difficulties, illnesses and inconveniences associated with bearing a child, and many of them arise over 9 months

It is also worth taking into account that the health of most modern women cannot be considered excellent, and restrictions can undermine it even more

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A woman can limit herself to watching TV, start reading more Orthodox literature and praying. All these activities are quite capable of replacing the exclusion of important foods from the diet.

Food restrictions as part of fasting

So, gynecologists always recommend that women consume dairy and calcium-containing products in sufficient quantities so that the physical development of the baby in the womb is healthy. But what about during strict fasts, when the consumption of dairy and meat foods is prohibited?

Let us remember that rich sources of protein are peas, soybeans, beans, that is, legumes. Low hemoglobin, a known problem in pregnant women, can be solved by regularly consuming buckwheat and millet. Porridges made from them in vegetable oil are no less tasty than meat. They give satiety, energy, and improve the functioning of the digestive system. It’s no secret that when carrying a child, women often suffer from constipation. Drinking beetroot and carrot juice daily will help eliminate iron deficiency in the body. As for pomegranates, exotic fruits can cause allergic reactions. Therefore, expectant mothers need to be careful with them. Folic acid helps the body in the formation of hemoglobin and the prevention of fetal malformations. It is prescribed to pregnant women in tablets.

If a woman is worried about her baby and often feels dizzy, then she can relax her fast—pregnant women are allowed to do this. You can eat fish, boiled and baked meat, cottage cheese. But culinary excesses - preparing gourmet dishes from the above products - are not needed. Food should be simple, not multi-ingredient. Let food for a pregnant woman be medicine, not pleasure. After all, the latter is nothing more than gluttony. And this is another significant point in the nutrition of the expectant mother. Many people tell her to eat for two. But why do this if in the early stages, for example, the child weighs several hundred grams. Why should a baby eat as much as an adult woman? Increased feeding should be avoided. After all, this is also gluttony. A child developing in the womb accumulates excess nutrients with catastrophic speed. There he already gets used to excessive food consumption, which for his mother results in edema, excess weight, and digestive problems. But this could have been avoided by simply observing fasting.

How did the tradition of fasting before Communion come about?

In the first centuries of the existence of the Christian Church, Communion was obligatory for any Christian present. Every Sunday, and sometimes more often, people gathered in the house of one of the Christians and had a meal with prayers and sharing bread. Then there was no special fasting before this action, because the Eucharist was celebrated in the evening and all participants in the action had already had lunch and even dinner.

It often happened that the dinners of wealthy Christians were too luxurious and were combined with music and dancing, as was customary in the East. The Apostle Paul, who himself often celebrated the Eucharist, considered it unacceptable that such Christians approach Communion after feasts and entertainment, when their thoughts cannot concentrate on prayer. Over time, the Liturgy began to be celebrated in the morning and the custom arose of eating the Body and Blood of Christ on an empty stomach, “before any food.” However, even then they did not fast for several days, as is customary in the modern Church.

When the persecution of Christians stopped in 4 AD, many began to be baptized. What were once small, close-knit communities that met secretly in homes became large gatherings of worshipers in spacious churches. Due to human weaknesses, the moral level of believers has decreased. The Holy Fathers of the Church, seeing this, called on every Christian to carefully examine his conscience when approaching Communion.

It was not allowed to approach the Sacrament if a person ate food the night before the Liturgy, had sexual contacts or “unclean visions” (dreams). Christians who revealed these involuntary sins during confession were temporarily removed from Communion and followed a special prayer rule. There were no restrictions regarding food on other days, since believers strictly observed Wednesday, Friday and four fasts a year.

The tradition of fasting before Communion for three or seven days was established during the synodal period (XVIII-XIX centuries). This was associated with a general decline in spirituality and religiosity. Many began to go to church “out of habit,” and received communion only because it was taken into account in church documents. If there was no record in the church register that a parishioner had confessed and received communion, trouble in the civil service could follow.

At this time, the tradition of “fasting” was introduced - preparing for Communion for several days in order to distract a lazy person from the bustle of life and help tune in to prayer. This custom is preserved in the Russian Orthodox Church to this day. Retreat consists of food restrictions and confession on the eve of Communion

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The confessor decides how many days to fast
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You can also read about this in the Rules, a stand with which is usually located in a visible place in the temple.

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The general order of reading prayers for Muslim believers is described in the table below.