What happens if one doesn't fast?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox perspective, refusing to fast is viewed not merely as a "missed habit," but as a state of spiritual rebellion and a separation from the life of the Church. Because the Church is the Body of Christ, to ignore her laws—which are rooted in the teachings of the Apostles and the Holy Fathers—is to distance oneself from the grace and discipline required for salvation.

The consequences of not fasting can be understood in the following ways:

1. Spiritual Vulnerability

Fasting is described by the Fathers as a "fortress" and a "weapon." When a person chooses not to fast, they voluntarily lay down their shield. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught that certain demons are only cast out through "prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:21). Without this discipline, the soul becomes a slave to the passions—gluttony, anger, and lust. As the Desert Fathers teach, a belly full of meat and rich food is fertile ground for sinful thoughts.

2. Exclusion from Holy Communion

In the Coptic Church, one cannot receive the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist if they have willfully broken the fast.

• The Liturgical Fast: For any Liturgy, a believer must be in a state of absolute abstinence from food and water for a minimum of nine hours (or from midnight for morning Masses).
• Ecclesiastical Fasts: If a person willfully ignores the major fasts (such as Great Lent or Wednesday/Friday) without a blessing or a medical dispensation from their Father of Confession, they are generally considered spiritually unprepared to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ.

3. Canonical Judgment

The Canons of the Church, including the Apostolic Canons and those of the Ecumenical Councils, are very strict regarding this. Apostolic Canon 69 states that any bishop, priest, or layman who does not fast during Holy Lent or on Wednesdays and Fridays (unless prevented by bodily weakness) should be deposed (if clergy) or excommunicated (if laity). While the Church exercises "Economy" (mercy) today, the theological principle remains: willful disobedience to the fast is a grave sin that requires repentance and confession.

4. Comparison to Heretics and the First Sin

The first commandment given to man in Paradise was a commandment to fast—abstaining from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam fell because he failed to fast. Therefore, when we refuse to fast, we repeat the sin of Adam, choosing our own will and belly over God's word.

Furthermore, throughout history, those who rejected the Church's fasts were often associated with heretical movements. For example, Protestants and other groups that abandoned these traditions lost the ascetic depth of the early Church. To neglect the fast is to adopt the mindset of the "world" or the "heretic" rather than the "saint."

Summary of the "Penalty"

If a Copt does not fast:

• They lose the spiritual benefit and the honing of the will.
• They are not permitted to commune without addressing the matter in Confession.
• They remain in a state of sinful disobedience until they seek an "absolution" and a blessing from their spiritual father.

If health or circumstances prevent you from fasting, the "truth" is that you must still seek a blessing. To simply decide on your own not to fast is to place yourself above the Church, which is the definition of pride.