Priests of different religions agree on one thing: the main thing during fasting is not diet, but moral cleansing. However, many believers, especially those who are fasting for the first time, are interested in food restrictions, in particular, whether beer is allowed during fasting.
Historical information
Christianity originated in the Middle East, where wine was the only alcoholic drink at the time. The ancient Jews did not know about the existence of beer, and therefore only the consumption of wine is regulated in Scripture. It is allowed to drink it only on certain days of fasting, and be sure to dilute it with water.
Some Orthodox priests believe that the same rules that Scripture applies to wine can be applied to beer. There is logic in this: the strength of beer is 4-6 degrees, which is quite consistent with diluted wine.
Beer in Orthodox Lent
Depending on the fast, the Orthodox are allowed to drink beer on the following days:
- during Great Lent – on Sundays, as well as on April 7 (on the feast of the Annunciation);
- in Petrov post – on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays;
- in the Assumption fast – on Sundays and August 19 (the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord);
- during the Nativity Fast – on Sundays, December 4 (the feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos) and December 19 (St. Nicholas Day).
On such days, the Charter allows you to drink no more than two krasovulya (krasovulya is an old measure of liquids equal to 125 ml), that is, 250 ml. Since non-alcoholic beer also contains a certain amount of alcohol, this restriction applies to it.
In no case should permission be interpreted as a duty: “can” does not mean “should”. In the old days, beer was used as a medicine that restores the strength of people weakened by fasting.
Now the laity very rarely adhere to a strict fast, and beer is far from being a staple product. Usually, priests strongly recommend to refrain from all types of alcohol during fasting, and to spend the saved money on charity.
Beer and Catholic Lent
Catholic fasts are much less strict than Orthodox fasts. In fact, lay Catholics are strictly forbidden to drink beer during fasting only on the following days:
- on Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent);
- Fridays during Lent;
- on Friday and Saturday in Passion Week;
- on Christmas Eve.
In the Catholic tradition, beer is not a fast food. The fact is that in the Middle Ages, it was the monastery breweries in Germany and Belgium that were considered the best. It is no wonder that the monks themselves often drank intoxicated drink, respectfully calling it “liquid bread.”
Medieval monastic charters were not inferior in severity to prison ones: often during the fast, the brethren were forbidden to eat not only meat and animal products, but also solid food in general. The economy in each monastery was large, the work was hard labor, and hearty, invigorating beer, rich in vitamins B and C, literally saved people from exhaustion. A stronger drink, the so-called “beer of the fathers”, was brewed in male monasteries, weaker beer – in women’s. During the fast, the monk was allowed to drink up to 5 liters of beer.
There is even a legend according to which one day the German clergy decided to ask the Pope for a blessing to drink beer during Lent. To do this, it sent a barrel of intoxicating potion to Rome. From Germany to the Vatican is a long way. On the way, the beer turned sour.
The papacy in those days was usually occupied by a noble Italian. When the pampered patrician, accustomed to sweet grape wines, tasted the sour cloudy drink sent to him, he came to the conclusion that it cannot give pleasure to a normal person. So, if monks from a distant country want to drink this vodka, let them drink it.
Be that as it may, monastery brewing flourished in European countries even during the wars and has successfully survived to this day, bringing good profits to the monasteries. Therefore, the Catholic clergy never particularly forbade their flock to drink beer during fasting. Naturally, we are not talking about drunkenness: moderation in eating and drinking is one of the main Christian virtues, and not only during fasting.
Whether to drink beer during fasting, each Christian decides for himself. If possible, it is better to discuss this issue with your spiritual mentor or priest.