Indeed, just as physical food makes the body fat, so fasting strengthens the
soul, makes it lighter, elevates it spiritually and stimulates it towards the desire
of the heavenly, making it despise the pleasures and enjoyments of the
present life. Indeed, just as ships that are not heavily laden cross the seas
more quickly, while those that are heavily laden sink, so fasting, by making
our minds light, enables us to cross the sea of the present life with ease, to
turn our minds to heaven and be moved by heavenly goods and pay no
attention to the present, but despise them as shadows and dreams.
Saint John the Chrysostom
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
