What does the Coptic Orthodox Church teach about fasting, particularly abstinence? How does it bring us closer to Christ, and why might it fail to do so if practiced incorrectly?

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

The Coptic Orthodox Church views fasting not merely as a change of diet, but as a spiritual discipline of the soul and body together. It is a return to the state of Paradise, where man lived in communion with God before the fall.

The Foundation of Fasting and Abstinence

In the Coptic tradition, fasting consists of two essential parts:

1. Abstinence: This is the period of time when one refrains from all food and drink. This period usually lasts from midnight until a specific hour in the afternoon (often the 3rd, 6th, or 9th hour of the day, depending on the season and the individual's spiritual father).
2. Dietary Restriction: Following the period of abstinence, the food consumed must be vegan (free from animal products, including meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy).

How Fasting Brings You Closer to Christ

Fasting is a tool used to subdue the flesh so that the spirit may soar. It facilitates a closer relationship with Christ in several ways:

• Subduing the Passions: By denying the stomach its desires, we learn to deny the self. This weakens the "carnal mind" and makes us more sensitive to the movements of the Holy Spirit.
• Creating Space for Prayer: Fasting without prayer is merely a biological diet. The energy usually spent on digestion and the pursuit of food is redirected toward prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures.
• Fellowship with Christ’s Sufferings: We fast because "the Bridegroom has been taken away" (Matthew 9:15). It is an act of love and longing for the Second Coming of our Lord.
• Preparation for Holy Communion: Abstinence is mandatory before receiving the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Christ. As the prayer before Communion states, we ask that this participation be for the "purification of my soul and body from every sin" and for "union with You."

When Fasting Does Not Get You Closer to Christ

The Church Fathers, such as St. Anthony the Great and St. John Cassian, warn that fasting can be spiritually dangerous or useless if practiced incorrectly:

• Pharisaism and Pride: If a person fasts to be seen by others or feels superior to those who do not fast, the fasting becomes a sin of pride. This "spiritual ego" creates a barrier between the soul and Christ.
• Formalism (The "Pharisaic" Trap): If one strictly follows the rules of food but neglects love, mercy, and kindness, the fasting is "the fasting of demons"—who never eat but are full of malice.
• Focusing Only on Food: If you refrain from meat but "devour your brother" through gossip, backbiting, or anger, the physical abstinence is void. As the Fathers say, "What is the use of not eating meat if you eat the flesh of your brother?"
• Lack of Obedience: Modern Protestants often fast according to their own whim. In the Coptic Church, fasting must be done under the guidance of a Father of Confession. Attempting extreme abstinence without a blessing can lead to physical illness or spiritual delusion (prelest).

The Goal: Repentance

The ultimate goal of fasting is Metanoia - change of mind/heart. We fast to become "fruitful". If the fast does not result in increased humility, more frequent confession, and greater love for God and neighbor, it is merely a physical exercise.

As we pray in the Litanies of the First Hour, we ask the "true Light" to enlighten us. Fasting is the lens through which that light becomes clearer, provided the heart is focused on Christ and not on the stomach or the ego.