A clear rule handed down by the Fathers is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied.

Saint John Cassian, Philokalia, Vol. 1 Faber & Faber, 1986, p.74

This fasting is in regard to food. Living in an age in which man much too easily lives for the sake of exterior effects, we can be fooled into thinking that fasting from food should be sufficient for spiritual growth. But in the holy Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ says, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come….all these evil things,… and they defile a man.” (Mark 7:21-23) Here the Savior teaches us that most important is the purification from within of our heart and soul. Fasting of soul is the defeat of egotism, the renunciation sins and the abstention from passions. It is a a humble realization within ourselves emulating the example of Saint John the Baptist, the greatest man born frogwoman and the greatest faster. He says, He [Christ] must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30) In order to receive Christ in our hearts… we must work to destroy all that separates us from Him. We have the means close at hand to accomplish this”

• repentance and sincere Confession, which are the hyssop which makes our souls whiter than snow (Psalm 50:7)
• love of God and fellow creatures who are made in the image of God” this is the great commandment of God, making us like Him Who is true Love
• charity, which covers a multitude of sins and changes the vanity of this world into eternal glory
• spiritual hymns and pure prayer, which is the center from which all good deeds draw their power and strength
• and above all, participation at Holy Liturgy and receiving of Holy Communion

When we join these efforts to bodily fasting, then our fast truly becomes a knitting together of ascetically effort in both body and soul. All these things we must accomplish with joy of heart as the Lord teaches us when He says: “but when you fast, anent your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18)

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“Life Transfigured”

A Journal of Orthodox Nuns, Volume 50 #3