March 17, 2012

Fr. Alexander Men: On Keeping the Orthodox Fasts


"The only thing that I decidedly oppose is the abrogation of fasts, which I learned about long ago. Perhaps this does correspond to the Western way of life, but I cannot in any way endorse it and I urge you to live according to our Orthodox canons. You know that I am an ecumenist, but this does not at all mean that I consider Western customs to be in all ways better than ours. They too could learn a thing or two from us."

- Fr. Alexander Men, 'Letters to a Spiritual Daughter' (Christianos vol. XIV. Riga (2005): pg. 84.