From the 1st to the 14th of August we fast in honor of Our Most Holy Lady, the Mother of God. It’s a strict fast, with fish eaten only on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior (6 August). If 15 August falls on a Wednesday or Friday there is a dispensation only for fish.
Fasting is a commandment from God. The first. The oldest of all. He gave it to Adam in paradise. The meaning of the fast was: with the weapon of the fast, people were to become accustomed to obedience to God and to the struggle against the devil.
According to tradition it was common practice to fast for a period for this particular feast and this became formally established in the 7th century. Initially it was divided into two: one period before the feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior and another before the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. In the 10th century, these were combined into a period lasting 14 days, beginning on 1 August. During this fast, oil is not eaten except on…
