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As published in Horizons, March 5, 2017
ABSTINENCE The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat or meat byproducts, permitting the use of eggs and dairy products. Abstinence is to be observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays during the Great Fast.
STRICT ABSTINENCE The law of strict abstinence forbids the use of meat, eggs and dairy products or any of their byproducts. All adult faithful, who receive Eucharist, are obliged to observe strict abstinence on the first day of the Great Fast, Feb. 27, and on Great and Holy Friday, April 14. Those with valid medical reasons, as well as pregnant or nursing mothers, are not bound to fast.
DISPENSATION Pastors and administrators may, for a just cause, grant to individual faithful and individual families, dispensations or commutations of abstinence and strict abstinence into other pious practices.
PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY The Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom or St. Basil the Great are not to be celebrated on the weekdays of Great Lent, not even for funerals. In compliance with liturgical prescriptions, pastors and administrators should celebrate the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during the Great Fast, that is, on Wednesdays and Fridays, if possible, and on at least one of the first three days of Great and Holy Week. A stipend may be accepted for this Liturgy; it is to be the only Liturgy celebrated that day. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays of the Great Fast, a liturgical service may be celebrated; the Presanctified Gifts may be distributed, if there is pastoral need.
FUNERALS A funeral may be served during weekdays of Great Lent without the Eucharist. However, if there is a real pastoral need, a Presanctified form is to be observed.
VESTMENT COLOR Vestments worn on Sundays during the Great Fast are to be bright or white; red or an appropriate Lenten color is to be worn only on the third Sunday of the Great Fast (the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross and on weekdays). This rule applies to Liturgies celebrated in anticipation of Sunday as well.