The priest told about the rules of observance of the Dormition fast

Observing the Dormition Fast involves abstaining from meat and dairy products, as well as spiritual work on oneself: prayer, reading the Scriptures, visiting the temple, communion and performing good deeds. The main goal of fasting is to learn abstinence, control over your emotions and actions, and get rid of irritation and ill-will. Vladislav Beregovoy, a priest and head of the missionary department of the Pesochenskaya diocese, told Izvestia about this.

He noted that during the Dormition fast, believers refuse meat and dairy products, but the meaning of restrictions is not to change the diet. According to Beregovoy, fasting involves not only abstinence from food, but also spiritual work on oneself.

"It is important not only to give up some foods, but also to live virtuously, read, write, receive communion and not quarrel with each other over trifles," the priest said.

The priest added that for those who strictly adhere to the church rules, there may be various restrictions on eating on days, but in general, the Dormition fast is considered simple according to the rules of nutrition.

"It is necessary to refrain from eating meat and dairy products. But the problem with fasting is not just that you can't eat something. We still need to do something: do more good deeds, go to church, receive communion more often, read the Scriptures, and do something good," he said.

According to Beregovoy, the main purpose of fasting is to develop the skill of abstinence and the ability to control one's emotions and actions.

"In order to become better, cleaner and closer to God. The most important thing is to learn the skill of abstinence, through which we can restrain our anger, irritation and other unfriendly thoughts and actions towards people," the priest said.

Read more in the Izvestia article

Fish and meat are strictly forbidden: why is the Assumption Fast considered one of the strictest