About Fasting
A young man is talking with an Elder at the Holy Mountain. “My child, fasting is as old as we are. It was given to us in Paradise when God told us not to eat from a specific kind of a food. We also read about fasting in the Old Testament where Prophets Moses and Elias fasted, Kind David and Queen Esther fasted, Daniel and the three children fasted, and many others”. “My child, we don’t fast in order to get a better body for the summer, but we fast to develop obedience and strength of the Holy Spirit inside of us. Remember our Lord fasted for 40 days in the desert while being tempted by the enemy”. “My child, remember that the angel who appeared to Cornelius praised him for his fasting and his alms giving. This is why our prayer is stronger when is combined with fasting and giving to the poor”. “My child, fasting teaches to be chaste, capable of refraining, and more importantly strengthens our own will, making us capable of saying no to desires of any kind. This is why is so important to also teach children from young age to fast”.
Personal testimonies to Dr. Nick Stergiou