A Clash of Discourses: the Byzantine Reaction to the Armenian artzibourion Fast and the Inner-Byzantine Debate about the Weekly Fast Days
A Clash of Discourses: the Byzantine Reaction to the Armenian artzibourion Fast and the Inner-Byzantine Debate about the Weekly Fast Days

Summary/Abstract: In the second half of the eleventh century a reform movement came into being, which focused on the observance of weekly fasts. The reformers demanded that the faithful must fast on every Wednesday and Friday of the year, eating dry food and drinking water. This was a considerable tightening of the fasting regime, at least as regards laypeople who traditionally had only abstained from meat. The reformers backed up their claim with a barrage of canonical proof texts among which canon 69 of the Apostles took pride of place. Since canon 69 did not mention any exceptions they declared that one should keep a strict fast even on feast days. Traditionally monks had consumed cheese and eggs on feasts of Christ and Mary and of a number of ‘great’ saints, and dishes prepared with oil on the feasts of less important saints. The reformers outlawed eating of cheese and eggs altogether, demanded that only oil be consumed on great feasts, and maintained that all other saints did not warrant any relaxation at all. Yet in practice they had to compromise, which earned them the scorn of the Armenians. The reformers looked askance at a recent development, the custom to break the fast during the Meatfare Week. During this week the Armenians kept a strict fast, only eating bread and water. The Byzantines reacted by eating well throughout the week: laypeople ate meat and monks consumed cheese and eggs. This was a grassroots movement, which spread without an élite input. The fast was broken even on Wednesdays and Fridays, which led to a strong reaction by the religious leaders. They attempted to stamp out the custom but had little success. Indeed, they were even accused of Armenian leanings since their practice of eating dry food and drinking water was identical with the Armenian fast.

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