On Sunday, His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși officiated the Forgiveness Vespers at the diocesan Cathedral in Huși, once again urging the faithful to observe a media fast during Lent.
“Fasting is more than just abstaining from food—it is a healing process from our pathological dependencies, particularly our addiction to digital media,” said the bishop.
During the service, Bishop Ignatie emphasized that Lent is a time to combat addictions, citing Isaiah 58 as a call for deep spiritual transformation.
“It would be good for us to go beyond simply avoiding certain foods and understand fasting at a much deeper level—as a form of spiritual struggle capable of radically changing our lives. It should help us give up many of our vices. Fasting is not just abstinence from food, but healing from dependencies,” he explained.
The Three Major Addictions of Modern Society
Bishop Ignatie identified three major addictions affecting contemporary society.
The first is food addiction, which manifests through gluttony and excessive consumption, often leading to serious health problems.
“Saint John Climacus spoke extensively about pathological dependence on food. This addiction is called gastrimargia or gluttony. He said that a glutton would not be satisfied even if he drank all the waters of the Nile or ate all the grain of Egypt,” the bishop noted.
The second addiction is lust and sexual passions, particularly pornography, which deeply disturbs the spiritual and emotional well-being of individuals.
“Many people today, especially those addicted to pornography and bodily passions, experience a profound inner rupture. They can no longer find balance or peace because their lives fall into disorder when they fail to control the sexual instinct with which God has endowed them. It is a blessed gift, but if it dominates us, we become animalistic, spiritually disfigured,” warned Bishop Ignatie.
Finally, the third addiction is digital media dependency, which leads to anxiety, depression, and a loss of purpose.
“Technology is a blessing and should not be demonized. However, the way we use it matters greatly. Internet addiction steals our peace, generating depression, anxiety, loneliness, and, even more dangerously, a sense of emptiness and lack of meaning in life,” the bishop added.
Fasting as a Path to Freedom
Bishop Ignatie stressed that fasting serves as a means of liberation from these dependencies and urged the faithful to safeguard their peace and sense of purpose.
“It is crucial to understand that fasting should make us free people—people of Christ. Every time we renounce sin, we become free. When we give in to addictions, we are no longer free. The very word ‘addiction’ implies that we are bound by the chains of sin,” concluded Bishop Ignatie.
Photo: Diocese of Huși
