Briefly and in general, we can say about the purpose of fasting that it is impassibility and at the same time the radiance in impassibility of love for God and people.

In response to the personal love for God of the fasting, the Lord mercifully forgives their sins [28] and reveals His grace-filled brightness [29] and joy [30] in the Holy Spirit.

The revealed liturgical teaching on the essence of spiritual fasting fits into the following formula:

Spiritual fasting is the displacement from the soul of passionate thoughts, feelings, and inclinations by the grace of prayer and feats of humility and mercy, and at the same time a burning with pure love for God and people.

The Christian accompanies the feat of cleansing himself from the movements of pride, self-isolation and self-interest with the strongest tensions: a) to humility, b) to prayer of repentance, and c) to mercy.

And

Humility is a constant and inseparable companion of believers in Christ always, during Lent it is poured out in lamentations, sighs, weeping before God for sins and supplications for their forgiveness. Like the flowing publican, the fasting pray to God in the spiritual cage in contrition, sorrowful, self-condemned, and humble words. Their inner eyes do not see any other sinners around them except themselves. Those who are contrite in spirit and come without high-wise thoughts about themselves, the Lord does not humiliate, but accepts. He gives them the riches of justification and covers their nakedness with the grace of the Holy Spirit. The humble, in the sense of their inner poverty, have cast down their proud minds and pushed away from themselves self-praise, haughty thoughts about themselves, malice, insolence, and a fierce temper. This exalts them in the eyes of God and leads them to God as if by a ladder. The light of grace shines in humble souls quite obviously, since without it they would not be able to deeply see and feel their sinfulness. That is why they sigh so deeply and with repentant sobs, as it were, strike their conscience [31].

B

Humbling themselves, the fasting pray to God for salvation and forgiveness of sins at every hour, day and night. Their mental and heartfelt gaze is intently, uninterruptedly, wholly directed to the Throne of God with perfect faith [32]. From their lips burst out terse but fervent exclamations to the Lord, such as the following:

"Our Father who art in heaven! Forgive us our sins" [33].

"My Christ! Do not despise me who have sinned, but cleanse me with repentance" [34].

"Jesus! Give me now tenderness and sighing, that I may weep over my evil deeds, more immeasurable than the sea" [35].

"Lord! by the light of Thy Countenance correct me now" [36].

"I have sinned without number before Thee, O Word! I expect endless torment. Give me tears, that I may obtain forgiveness with them" [37].