Is alcohol allowed during fasting?translated

“Can I have wine during Lent?” The answer seems simple, because the church charter actually allows it on some fast days. But does this permission mean that fasting is completely compatible with alcohol? And why does the Church generally allow wine where it prescribes abstinence from many other, much more harmless products?

Fasting in Orthodoxy is a time when a person redirects his energy to spiritual work - prayer, repentance and good deeds. Abstaining from certain foods during Lent is not a goal, but a means to ensure that this work is carried out most effectively. From this perspective, drinking alcohol during fasting is indeed a very complex (and controversial) issue.

To understand the origin of fasting regulations, it is worth turning to the Typikon, a church charter that has evolved over the centuries and is largely based on the ancient monastic tradition. The statutory regulations primarily refer to grape wine, which was a common part of the Mediterranean meal. Modern strong alcoholic drinks are simply not considered in this context.

The Typikon provides for days when wine is allowed during Lent. Specific rules depend on the fast itself, the day of the week and the holiday. For example, the Great...