The words of IPS Metropolitan Nicholas at the beginning of the Nativity Fasttranslated

The middle of November represents for Orthodox Christians the beginning of the Nativity Fast. A period of preparation for the great feast of the Incarnation of the Word, preparation that must be analyzed at the beginning of each fast.

"As we know, there is physical fasting and there is spiritual fasting. Carnal fasting is when the stomach refrains from eating and drinking. Spiritual fasting is when the soul abstains from evil thoughts, deeds and words," says St. Hierarch Tikhon of Zadonsk. We must start fasting from food and drink well knowing that this is only the beginning of fasting. Carnal fasting serves to kill our passions. For less and poorer food no longer gives the body the opportunity to satiate. it is a reality that must be experienced in fasting.We can not only experience it through a few days of fasting, but we can feel our body in such a state after a long effort.

St. Tikhon then speaks of spiritual fasting: "True and pure fasting is abstinence from all evil. If you want, Christian, for fasting to be useful to you, then, fasting...