Why you can eat seafood in fasting. An unchanging and saving custom has been established - after the holy and joyful days celebrated by us in honor of the Lord, who has risen from the dead and then ascended into heaven, and after accepting the gift of the holy spirit, pass

Can you eat seafood during Lent? On the days of the Great Simple, which in 2019 will last from March 11 to April 27, believers refuse to eat meat, fish, eggs, milk and dairy products ( butter, cheese, cottage cheese, cream, kefir), as well as strong alcoholic beverages.

Is it possible to eat squid, shrimp, mussels during Lent?

Science claims that they belong to the chordless, that is, to bloodless living beings. It turns out that they can be eaten during fasting.

But the ministers of the church have a different opinion. According to the church charter, animal food is excluded from the diet these days. Seafood, with all the great desire, cannot be attributed to plant foods, this is the animal world of the sea.

And to the question: “What seafood can you eat in Lent?” many clergy give an unequivocal answer: none.

However, there are other interpretations about whether it is possible to eat seafood during Lent. Indeed, during this period, various concessions are provided.

So, Palm Sunday (in 2019 it falls on April 21) you can include fish in your diet. The same applies to the Annunciation. Holy Mother of God(celebrated April 7). However, if this holiday falls on Holy Week, the strict rules of Great Lent remain in force during this period.

Among the holidays celebrated Orthodox Church at this time, Lazarus Saturday also applies (celebrated on March 20, 2019), when you can serve fish caviar to the table.

Fish, which the charter allows on holidays, is considered semi-lenten food, like seafood. Accordingly, on Lazarus Saturday and the Annunciation it is possible to eat seafood, on other days it is impossible.

So is it possible to eat squid, shrimp and mussels during Lent? In some monasteries, it is allowed to include seafood in the menu not only on holidays, but also on weekends during fasting. Even Athos monks eat them. However, in Russian monasteries such dishes are not cooked.

What seafood can you eat during Lent?

As for the laity, they may not observe a strict fast. Everyone should be determined with food these days individually.

Priests advise to plan a diet in accordance with one's own strength and state of health.

And they give this advice: if giving up meat is a serious enough test for you, then in order to withstand the fast, you can afford some fish or seafood. They can sometimes be included in the diet, for example, on weekends. No one will judge you for this.

The meat of shrimp, squid, oysters, mussels, crabs, lobsters, scallops, cuttlefish, lobsters contains a large amount of protein (up to 19%), minerals, at the same time low fat.

Seafood is faster and better absorbed by the human body than meat. They are eaten fresh, boiled, fried, baked, pickled and stuffed.

Refusing to eat fish and seafood is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women, young children, people engaged in mental work and suffering from various diseases.

It is of interest not only to new believers, but also to those who have been believing for many years and, it would seem, have studied well church rules and establishments. The fact is that many products, which until relatively recently could only be read in a historical novel, have become available, and it is not always clear whether they are lean or modest. For example, many believers are interested in the question of whether they eat shrimp in fasting.

Old Testament Rules

In principle, the prescriptions of the Old Testament concerned the Jews. However, it is also part of Christianity, and it would seem that its provisions should be observed by church-going Christians as well. So, in this regard, it is very categorical. Is it possible to have shrimp in the post? Yes, in no case, and on ordinary days they are prohibited. The main resolving feature for aquatic animals was the presence of scales. But shrimp don't have it. Therefore, they were considered unclean animals and were not eaten.

However, many Athos monasteries allow monks to eat sea reptiles during fasting. Some Russian monasteries act similarly. So, probably, it is not a sin for the laity to taste the “skullskins”. However, if you still doubt whether shrimp can be fasted, consult with the priest of your parish. Since you can’t solve this issue for yourself, follow his advice.

Finally, we can say that fasting shrimp is the same as fasting wine or meat at the same time. Orthodoxy does not put pressure on parishioners, but only recommends. Hard work, recovery from illness, the small age of children or women "in position" - all these nuances give relief during fasting. And if you eat the same ones, not because you really want to, but simply to maintain strength, you are already fasting.

A true Christian first of all cares about his mental health and only then about the health of his body. The period of fasting is a special time for spiritual aspirations, "an auspicious time, this is the day of salvation."

Bodily abstinence cannot be absolutely categorical; it must be within the power of the believer. According to the church charter are considered origin. Fish and seafood are marine animals, they are classified as semi-lean food. And if it is permissible to eat fish dishes during fasting only on holidays (for example, on Palm Sunday), then there is no consensus on the question of whether it is possible to eat squid during fasting.

Different opinions

In the writings of the Old Testament, a strict ban was imposed on the use without feathers and scales. In the future, church views underwent some changes, and Christians of different nationalities were ordered to eat in accordance with national traditions.

The question of whether seafood can be consumed constantly in fasting does not have a definite answer today. A number of clergy believe that shellfish can be eaten on Saturdays and Sundays. Some are of the opinion that "sea reptiles" should be cooked on a par with fish only on the days of great holidays. There are also those spiritual persons who do not wonder whether it is possible to eat squid in fasting - they are firmly convinced of the impossibility of this.

It will be right if a Christian consults with his spiritual mentor on this matter. A wise person will consider many factors before giving instruction. What matters is the age of the believer, his physical health, character traits and life experience.

Is it possible to eat squid in fasting? The final decision, of course, remains with the Christian.

Need to know

About two hundred varieties of squid are found in the seas and oceans. Not all of them are edible. In cooking, the most common squid is common. The mollusk consists of 80% water, therefore, during heat treatment, it significantly decreases in volume.

Squid meat is recommended by many diets, it is rich in various useful substances. It is a source of easily digestible protein that even young children can eat. Thanks to taurine, the human body is freed from cholesterol, which contributes to the normalization of cardiovascular activity. Iodine stabilizes the thyroid gland, and vitamin E and selenium favor the cleansing of the body from toxins. According to many doctors, squid meat is much healthier than animal meat.

Modern cooking offers a lot of cooking recipes. Shellfish meat goes well with vegetables, fruits, herbs, rice. Appetizers, salads, hot dishes, soups and even desserts are prepared from squid. To cook lean squid, you should use only herbal ingredients.

Comment

For people old age, children and people weakened by the disease, there should be no doubt whether it is possible to eat squid in fasting. Of course, they need to use this product.

Is it possible to eat seafood during Lent: squid, shrimp, mussels. Many of those people who decide to fast do not know the correct answer to this question. Let's figure it out together, is it possible to fast seafood.

See how to approach it. There are clergymen who claim that you can eat everything in fasting, but only know when to stop. That is, to eat the way you ate before with only one condition, you must list all the products by day. For example, fish on Wednesday, dumplings on Saturday.

Of course, if you are not a very religious person, then there is no need for you to fast. In old Russian times, under the tsars, the peasants were strongly religious. We went to matins and vespers, gathered for Veche. Then everyone knew what was possible and what was not.

Today, there are also many true believers, and they argue that any food that is considered a delicacy for you, a delicacy, will become a great sin to eat during fasting. Even the bible says, do not take care of your stomach, and do not stuff your flesh for the sake of worldly pleasures.

Sea food, squid, shrimp, crabs, lobsters are considered by the Orthodox to be royal fish, and according to the canon, one should not eat such fish during fasting. Is it possible to post seafood? it turns out that it doesn't.

As one priest said; everything must go on as usual, and everyone must choose for himself what is possible for him and what is not, but before a person makes his final choice, he will go through seven circles of earthly hell before he really understands what he needs.

The most interesting thing is that all the grandmothers of the Soviet times (the mothers of our grandmothers) knew and adhered to what day to cook. On which day fish, and on which porridge. And when does it start Holy Week then, not only fish certain days you can’t eat, but not all cereals can be.

What is a post

Let's take a look at what a post is. Fasting is when a person refuses for a certain time of the year, from delicacies, dishes, delicacies. That is, they switch to simple healthy food. But that's not all, fasting means not swearing, forgetting about threats, reproaches, leading a meek, inconspicuous life, and not attracting special attention to yourself.

For example, you often get drunk, go to restaurants, and swear so that the neighbors can hear you. And here you change radically, stop drinking alcohol, go to a restaurant, but order lenten food, which is related to ordinary Christian porridge. Neighbors stop hearing you. You begin to go to matins, communicate with the clergy, etc.

If you are very worried about whether it is possible to fast seafood, if you are a strongly believing Christian, then go to the priest, talk to him. If you are sick, or working hard, then the priest will give you an indulgence in fasting so that there is no breakdown or recovery from illness.

With the onset of fasting, many of us are asking well-founded questions. For example, like this: “Can I eat seafood in fasting?” Here opinions are rather contradictory.

But before moving on to a discussion of this issue, let's try to figure out: what is a post.

What is a post?

How wrong are those who believe that fasting is starvation, equating it with a diet. In fact, this period in the life of a believer has completely different, spiritual goals. The meaning of fasting lies in repentance, in maintaining bodily and spiritual purity. But here everything is ambiguous. Everyone should be determined with food these days individually. For someone to give up meat is already a feat, but someone can easily eat for a long time one porridge. Therefore, you need to plan your own menu in accordance with your own strength. After all, the purpose of fasting is not to determine what you can eat and what you can’t. Its purpose is abstinence and repentance. If you can refuse seafood, then do not eat them.

Seafood: what is it?

Is it possible to eat seafood in fasting? Complex issue. Let's define this term first. The generalized name includes several varieties. These are crabs, and squids, and mussels, and shrimps. Science claims that they belong to the chordless, that is, to bloodless living beings. It turns out that they can be eaten during fasting. But the church is of a different opinion. She recalls that the main criterion for lean food is origin, while seafood belongs to the animal kingdom. As, in fact, fish, which is considered semi-lean food.

Do they eat seafood?

No one can give a definite answer to this question. But let's try to understand it in more detail. Crabs, squids, shrimps from time immemorial in our country belonged rather to delicacies than to ordinary food. That is why seafood in fasting is undesirable. After all, the purpose of such periods is purification. Fasting teaches us the ability to manage our desires, humility and moderation. As the priests themselves advise, on such days you should eat the food that you are used to in everyday life. Of course, with some restrictions. If you consider seafood a delicacy, then it is better to refuse them.

However, not all so simple. Even during Lent, there are days when fish can be fasted. Many refer to it as seafood. So, for example, on the day of the Annunciation and Palm Sunday no one will forbid you to taste your favorite fish delicacy. And on Lazarus Saturday it is allowed to eat caviar. But there are limitations here too. Caviar should be only red. From ancient times in Rus', it was considered ordinary food, not a delicacy, which is why its use is not prohibited by monastic charters. But black caviar cannot be eaten.

It is highly undesirable to completely refuse fish or seafood. After all, they contain high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids. It is thanks to these elements that the level of bad cholesterol is reduced and the work of the heart is normalized.

What can you eat in a post?

Lenten menu can be very tasty and varied: lasagna, pizza, dumplings, spaghetti. Is it possible to eat seafood in fasting? Depends on what. For example, no one can forbid you or You can fast such seafood. However, with the salad you need to be careful. When buying it in a store, pay close attention to the label. It is recommended to purchase only the product that contains the minimum amount of preservatives. It is desirable that there be no more than one. Currently, the Ministry of Health has allowed the food supplement E-211. Seeing that it is included in the salad you have chosen, you can safely pay for the purchase. When purchasing kelp, you should give preference to the product in a transparent package. It's easier to evaluate appearance and product quality. If the cabbage looks like porridge, it is best to refuse to buy. The product must have been damaged.

Summing up

However, one should not forget that it exists primarily for monastic life. It is prescribed by the charter of the monastery. For ordinary people, there are concessions. The measure of the severity of fasting is determined either by the confessor or the fasting person himself.

Therefore, in order not to feel guilty, it is better to approach the priest and ask: “Can I eat seafood during fasting?” If he gives a blessing, then feel free to eat seafood.

In addition, when deciding to fast, you should remember some rules. Pregnant women need to be very careful, because they have to think not only about themselves, but also about the unborn child. It is better for sick people to consult with their doctor. Indulgence is given to small children, as well as to those who are on the road. There is one more clarification. It is not recommended to refuse to eat fish, and therefore seafood, for students and those people who are engaged in mental work.