The Holy Martyrs Terence, Pompeius and others with them.
Day 39 of the Great Fast.
Sixth Hour – Isaiah 65:8-16; Vespers – Genesis 46:1-7; Proverbs 23:15-24:5.
Read Proverbs 23:15-24:5
There are several references to avoiding drunkenness. “Do not be a wine-bibber, neither provide contribution of meats or goods at drinking parties. For every drunkard shall clothe himself with tattered and ragged garments” (Pr. 23:20-21). “Who has woe? Who has tumult? Who has condemnation? Who has unpleasantness and gossip? Who has afflictions with no purpose? Whose eyes are pale? Is it not those who linger long with wines? Is it not those who hunt for the whereabouts of drinking parties? Do not be drunk with wine, but keep company with righteous men” (Pr. 23:28-30).
God does not condemn wine. At Vespers every day, we pray: “He causes grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart” (Ps. 104:14-15). At the wedding at Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle, He changed water into wine (see Jn. 2:1-11). At the Last Supper when Jesus instituted the celebration of the Eucharist, He took the cup of wine and said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (Mk. 14:24-25). In the long tradition of Christian monasticism, there are certain days when wine and oil are allowed to be consumed to lighten the burden of fasting. When we serve Artoklasia (the blessing of bread, wheat, wine, and oil) which most often accompanies Great Vespers with Lytia, we share in the consumption of blessed wine.
There is a difference between enjoying wine responsibly and getting drunk. Wine nourishes us and may even offer some health benefits, and in past times it was used medicinally, for sanitation, and for wound care. However, “drunkenness” is condemned. In his letter to the Galatians St. Paul writes: “Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).
We must be compassionate to those who have developed addictions to substances such as alcohol. Addictions are not easy to overcome. In our lives, we should always seek self-control and moderation. We must never raise other creatures or created things like alcohol on a higher pedestal than our Creator, becoming idolaters in the process.