Nativity Fast

The Nativity Fast is the Orthodox Christian way to experience the waiting which is Advent. Instead of “pre-celebrating” Christmas, they have a 40-day period of fasting, beginning on November 15th (but I wait until sometime AFTER Thanksgiving!)

The Orthodox Church teaches that Advent represents the time before Jesus‚ when the people were disconnected from God. Advent is our chance to experience this loss and disconnection in order to embrace and celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth in its fullness.

During the fast, Orthodox Christians eat less than normal, and avoid meat‚ cheese‚ eggs‚ fish and wine on most days. They keep a primarily vegan diet, without being strict about it - the spirit of the practice is more important than what is actually eaten. Besides fasting, the practice includes also prayer, alms-giving, and love. 

Agenda Today:
1. Prayer for the fast

2. Love

3. My Nativity fast

4. Read "Soulful Simplicity"

5. Make Mushroom Stroganoff

1. Prayer for the fast:

Photo Alan Gillespie

Bless us with Love, O Merciful God; 
That we may Love as you Love!
That we may show patience, tolerance,
Kindness, caring and love to all!
Give me knowledge; O giver of Knowledge,
That I may be one with my Universe and Mother Earth!
O Compassionate One, grant compassion unto us;
That we may help all fellow souls in need!
Bless us with your Love O God.
Bless us with your Love.

- Author Unknown

2. Love:

I've been trying to get a handle on what the Orthodox Church means when it says Love is part of the nativity fast. 

A Bulgarian writer says, "Fasting is a way to prepare to love; to stop paying so much attention to yourself, to what you eat or drink; to sharpen the senses for the joy of communication; to see things you used to ignore."

Another Orthodox writer says, "Without the presence of a spiritual effort and vigilance; the message of sharing the love of Christ with our neighbor is easily lost. Fasting and praying have, as their goal, to make one more aware of the needs of others."

3. My Nativity fast:

I'm not Orthodox, but I like the idea of fasting for advent, because it's symbolic to me of keeping it simple, and waiting for Christmas to arrive before beginning the celebration. I practice a relaxed fast: I eat vegetarian more often, I drink less alcohol, eat fewer sweets, and also eat smaller portions of everything. I'm not very strict with myself, and I don't make a big fuss when others cook meat for me.

But I do believe a vegetarian diet is better, over all, for the planet, and I lean towards vegetarian all year round. According to many people, raising animals for food produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the cars, planes, and other forms of transportation combined. Other studies indicate that it's more complicated than that, and the benefits of a vegetarian diet depends on where your vegetables come from.

Food: I intend to plan several simple vegetarian meals each week, and make an effort to collect organic and local foods; also I intend to eat smaller portions and less alcohol and sweets, because this discipline will help me to remember to be grateful for the abundance of the earth.

 

Prayer: I intend to continue a morning meditation, adding in an element of love with an Open-heart prayer, and a focus this week on love for Nature.

Alms: I intend to choose a group or charity to donate to each week of advent; this week, 350 Eugene.

 

4. Read Soulful Simplicity:

This book by Courtney Carver (2017) is a personal journey through the author's life with MS, and along the way shows how "simplicity allowed hope to replace fear."

Section One is Making Me: "Remembering yourself, connecting with your heart, making you -- these are all surprising results of getting simple. ... Once you remove all the things that have been covering you up and holding you back, you can tap into yourself, back into your heart, and be you again."

5. Make Mushroom Stroganoff:

I often make a traditional Greek vegan soup called Revithia Soupa (ρεβιθόσουπα) to kick off my fast. Revithia means chickpeas; the stock is creamy and lemony-delicious.

This year I decided to try this Mushroom Stroganoff, a classic Russian dish in vegetarian form, and it is also delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. wide egg noodles
• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 1 small white onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 lb. baby mushrooms
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1-1/2 c. vegetable stock
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 3-1/2 Tbsp. flour
• 3 small sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt or light sour cream
• Kosher salt
• freshly-cracked black pepper

Serves 4-5

1. Start a pot of water to boil for egg noodles. Slice the onion and mushrooms thinly, and mince the garlic.
2. Melt 1 Tbsp. of the butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp. butter, garlic and mushrooms, and stir to combine. Continue sautéing for an additional 5-7 minutes, until the mushrooms are cooked and tender.
3. Cook egg noodles al dente in boiling, generously-salted water according to package instructions.
4. Add the white wine to the mushrooms, and deglaze the pan by using a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Let the sauce simmer for 3 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable stock, Worcestershire and flour until smooth. Pour the vegetable stock mixture into the pan, along with the thyme, and stir to combine. Let the mixture simmer for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
6. Then, stir in the Greek yogurt or sour cream evenly into the sauce. Taste, and season with a generous pinch of two of salt and pepper as needed.
7. Serve immediately over the egg noodles.