[jeaccatty]

How can we possibly show love if we constantly say, I can't participate with you because I am Orthodox or because I am fasting?

Just last week, we had a visiting hieromonk, who was very adamant about the necessity, when traveling, to eat what you are served without objection or fuss. As an example, he said, that if he were offered a steak while on his trip, he would eat it (whether or not it was a fast day and regardless of the fact that he is a monastic and therefore never eats meat). This, he said is a simple rule of accepting hosptiality in love which is more important than legalistically keeping to a rule.

And I must say that Fr N is not a "modernist" or "liberal" by anyone's definition. Having known him personally for few years and knowing his family for many more than that, there is no way that he would even suggest compromising on matters of the faith.

Thus if an Orthodox Christian were visiting family (or anyone else for that matter) on a fasting day, he should eat what is served without even the hint of protest.

Fr David Moser