The soul-corporeality of a human being makes both fasting and people twofold. In addition to bodily fasting, every Christian is obliged to submit to a special regime of spiritual fasting. We will talk about this later.

2. SPIRITUAL FASTING

Only two spiritual and superficial passions are weakened by bodily fasting - fornication and gluttony. Deeper than them in the soul lie greed and pride with all manifestations of evil.

Hence, the true and God-pleasing fasting of the soul is the laying aside of varieties of pride and self-interest, that is, anger, rage, deceit, contempt for others, flattery, lies, abuse, slander, perjury, avarice, and the cessation of all malice, quarrelsomeness, envy, temptation to sin and injustice.

Whoever, by fasting bodily, does not cleanse his soul of passionate thoughts, carnal thoughts, sinful feelings, desires and deeds, rejoices in vain at his imaginary fast. He is a liar before God and is like evil demons who never eat [12]. The beginning of spiritual fasting is supposed to be the removal from the consciousness of harmful thoughts about sinful things [13]. Feelings and desires of a passionate nature, having no support in the firm mental images of a person, inevitably die out [14].

The one who fasts spiritually directs himself to the right path and, like Adam before his fall, eats the fruits of the fulfillment of every commandment of God [15].

He manifests a great correction of himself in humility, mercy to others, a quiet countenance, quiet customs of spiritual order, and mentally always stands before the Crucified Christ, himself crucified by Him [16]. The ousting of passionate thoughts from the consciousness of the fasting person is achieved by keeping an unceasing warm heartfelt prayer to God.

What has been said about spiritual fasting clarifies the meaning of its liturgical names as the beginning of a pure life, a transformation to incorruption, a feat of patience, a prayerful ascent to God, and the clothe of the soul with joy according to God [17].

He who fasts with all his soul really becomes the best, gentle, loving everyone, touched, bright, youthfully cheerful, the keeper of purity of mind and heart, and willing to do all that is good. From his lips one does not hear the condemnation of others, slander and slander. He reverently works for Christ alone, hates the dark, harmful, and bitter deeds of malice, and during the short days of fasting he is all nourished with the heavenly food of God's grace. Overcoming sinful inclinations and the sleep of laziness opens up to him the freedom to pour out a fervent prayer before God. The whole spirit of the purely fasting person is assigned to God, devotes itself to Him alone, and lovingly opens itself to all those around him, like the bright sun shining on the earth [18].

True fasters are not burdened by fasting, they do not lose heart when they abstain from food and passions [19]. In anticipation of their own forgiveness from God, they are filled with the spirit of forgiveness for others [20] and works of mercy. Contemplation of Christ's sufferings on the Cross wounds them with love for Christ and tears them away from all sinful deeds [21].

Peering into the liturgical depiction of the appearance of a spiritually fasting person, it is impossible not to notice that until the time of fasting, the face of his soul is enveloped in darkness. He is locked in selfishness and passion. Fasting breaks the fetters of passions in him. In this regard, the power of his love freely turns to God and people.

Liturgical writing, obviously, considers the ultimate goal of the mental-bodily fast to be the liberation of man's love for God and neighbor from the bondage of passions.

Let us cite a number of literal excerpts from the Lenten Triodion, illustrating and substantiating this conclusion.

In the words of the holy hymn-singers, "those who have enlightened the flesh by fasting are spiritually strengthened by virtues... making holy love his food" [22]. "Fasting out of malice, they enjoy the love of God" [23], "they are reconciled to Him with all the warmth of their hearts" [24] and "they are assigned to Him" [25] "perfectly" [26]. "Those who pray for the forgiveness of their sins are full of peace with all and love for one another" [27].