Theologians and priests everywhere, in Greece, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, America, and elsewhere, in order to support the view that fasting before Holy Communion is not required, put forward a single argument: “There is no Sacred Canon.” And this is true. But the question is, why?
Canons were established whenever a problem arose, in order to resolve that problem. For example, there were Christians who fasted together with the Jews. A Canon was established prohibiting such fasting (Canon 70 of the Holy Apostles). There were Christians who fasted on Sundays and Saturdays. A Canon was established prohibiting this fasting as well (Canon 64 of the Holy Apostles).
Throughout the long history of our Church, no question arose as to whether Christians should fast before Holy Communion, because they were already fasting from the fourth century onward. If the Church had been opposed to this fasting, an Ecumenical Council, at least the Quinisext Council (691 AD), would have established a Canon to abolish it. Yet no Council abolished it. How, then, can we abolish a tradition that had the approval of the Church?
Now, is there a Canon prescribing the fast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14)? No! There is a tradition. Is there a Canon prescribing the fasts of Christmas, the Holy Apostles, and the Dormition of the Theotokos? No! There is a tradition. The same applies to fasting before Holy Communion. There is a tradition that prescribes fasting before Holy Communion. And tradition, according to St. Basil the Great, has the force of law (Canon 87 of St. Basil the Great).
Yes, there may be no Canon prescribing fasting before Holy Communion, but neither is there a Canon prohibiting fasting before Holy Communion. In other words, fasting before Holy Communion is not sinful. Nevertheless, we choose not to fast. Why? Let us reflect on this.
Do we observe the Canons that prescribe fasting? For example, do we observe Canon 50 of the Council of Laodicea, which requires us to fast throughout Great Lent by eating only dry foods? Do we observe Canon 89 of the Quinisext Council, which requires us to remain without food or water from the evening of Holy Thursday until the early hours of Easter Sunday?
The issue, therefore, is not whether there is a Canon prescribing fasting before Holy Communion, but whether we have the willingness to fast before Holy Communion. Otherwise, we will always find ways to eat and still receive Holy Communion.
It is said that a missionary, while walking through a desert in Africa, saw a lion in the distance. He became frightened and prayed to the Lord to make the lion think like a Christian, so that he would not be eaten by it. And when the lion saw the missionary, it said, “Lord, bless the food of Your servant.”
When we want to eat, our stomach finds arguments…
Next in this series: The Council of Crete (2016): Fasting Before Holy Communion
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