In the Christian West, the celebration of All Saints occurs on the first of November. But in the Christian East, it falls on the Sunday after Pentecost; that is, today.

Which, of course, means that #NoKingsDay was Halloween.

Tonight is the last hurrah before the Apostles’ Fast begins tomorrow (for the Eastern Orthodox). This fast lasts from the second Monday after Pentecost up until the eve of the feast of Ss Peter & Paul, which falls on June 29.

This fast is less strict than the Lenten fast. On weekends we may have fish; otherwise we are vegan. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we may eat foods cooked in oil. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, it is traditional to get by on bread and steamed (or boiled) vegetables, though many just try to avoid oil-heavy dishes; on these days we also abstain from wine, and by extension all alcohol.

I have some Brie cheese which must be eaten before I go to bed tonight.

I've posted this before, but in light of political goings-on in the USA, I'm going to re-post.

“The way to God lies through love of people. At the Last Judgment I shall not be asked whether I was successful in my ascetic exercises, nor how many bows and prostrations I made. Instead I shall be asked did I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners. That is all I shall be asked. About every poor, hungry and imprisoned person the Savior says 'I': 'I was hungry and thirsty, I was sick and in prison.' To think that he puts an equal sign between himself and anyone in need... I always knew it, but now it has somehow penetrated to my sinews. It fills me with awe.”

— St. Maria of Paris, who died in Auschwitz because she helped smuggle Jewish children out of Paris

[This is as close to politics as I am likely to allow myself to be on Fedi.]