This is the first article of the series ‘Coptic Diaries’, where Marina Makary takes Egyptian Streets’ readers on a journey in the Coptic Orthodox church — its people, history, traditions, and culture. “Make sure that fasting has changed anything in you. Consider how much you have fasted and you’re still the same!,” – Pope Shenouda II Fasting is one of the major pillars of the Coptic Orthodox church in Egypt. Most Egyptians are not aware that Copts fast for more than half the year — nearly 210 days out of 365. While some fasts are longer than others, Coptic fasting, in nature, ranges from intermittent fasting, a vegan diet, and a vegan fast with seafood allowed. As the Coptic Orthodox Church approaches the longest fast of the year, Lent, also called ‘The Great Fast’, here is an overview of the fasting tradition in the Coptic Orthodox church. Christmas and Easter are the two biggest feasts in Christianity, and therefore, both are preceded by a fasting period. Before Christmas, the church celebrates Advent for 43 days, where Copts follow a vegan diet with seafood allowed. The 43 days of the Nativity … Continue reading How Many Days Do Coptic Orthodox Christians Fast?