Dear Friends,
I came across a Russian language webpage discussing the formal offices of prayer before and after eating. As we are in a period fasting, I thought I'd share some of these fascinating points related to our Eastern Church practice, especially for those who do not read Russian.
It is noted that there are really only two formal offices of prayer for before and after eating in the Orthodox Church, lunch and dinner.
This is based on the monastic practice since most of the morning would be taken up with the long services, but laity and lay monastics who needed to work would often leave the morning services early to begin their work and needed some breakfast ("zavtrak") to fortify themselves.
Then came the later practice of afternoon tea ("Chayepittiye") and even other snack times.
But the Optina Fathers, while not denying the need for such snacks, did regard them as a form of "giving into our weak nature" and so the prayers prescribed for these "before and after" eating periods were penitential in nature.
This led to the development of a formal office of prayer for other times than lunch and dinner which I give here:
One begins with three bows with the Prayer of the Publican "God be merciful to me a sinner"
Then one prays the Prayer to the Holy Trinity - All Holy Trinity have mercy on us etc. then Glory be . . . followed by Lord have mercy 3 times and Lord, bless.
Then: "By the Prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bless this food and dring, for You are Holy indeed, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
After eating, one immediately prays "It is truly meet to glorify you, Theotokos . . ." then Glory be . . . Lord have mercy 3 times, Lord bless and "By the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God (or "our God") have mercy on us Amen." This is then followed with three bows with the Prayer of the Publican above.
For breakfast, these verses from Psalm 144 are prescribed: The eyes of all look to Thee, and Thou dost give them their food in due time, Thou dost open Thy hand and dost satisfy the desire of every living thing - and this is said before the Glory be etc to the end.
There is a separate office before a commemorative supper for the dead at funerals etc. And additional prayers are said on great feast days, like the Dormition, STS Peter and Paul etc.
Also, in monasteries, additional Troparia are added at lunch, which is the main meal of the day at which one may eat until "one is full." They are the troparia for the feast/saints of the day, St Elias the Prophet (who was fed by the raven etc.) and the All Saints of Rus'. The midday meal office is quite long in monasteries and includes the Panghia service with the bread and wine in honour of the Theotokos.
Prayers at meal time also end with prayers for those who prepared the food, kissing them three times on the cheeks etc.
This is a true window on the richness of the religious/social heritage of the Orthodox Catholic Church of Orthodox Christians and also of Eastern Catholics who can also share in it (with a little effort!).
Hope no one is now hungry . . .
Alex
