“‘These Russian Orthodox Christians took their religion entirely from those called the “Orthodox Greeks”, from whom, together with many other Christian customs, this same custom of “fasting” also passed to them. BTG XLII

“‘Most of the millions of these Russian Orthodox Christians still continue to fast as is said “rigorously”, in conformity with what is called the “orthodox code” now existing there. BTG XLII

“‘The fasting of these Russian Orthodox Christians is just a case of this kind. BTG XLII

“‘As long as they are called Christians and moreover Orthodox — even though they receive no shock whatever from the fast, is it not all the same? BTG XLII

“‘As I have already said, these Russian Orthodox Christians even of the present time very strictly observe the seasons and the days of the fasts indicated in the aforesaid “codes”. BTG XLII

“‘You will clearly understand how these contemporary Russian Orthodox Christians fast, if I repeat to you the exact words of one of these genuine Russian Orthodox Christians, spoken to me not long ago there in Russia. BTG XLII

“Old Believers is the name given to those Orthodox Christians whose ancestors several centuries ago declined to accept the new rules then laid down by somebody or other for Russian Orthodox Christians, but remained faithful followers of the previously existing rules also laid down by somebody or other, only a century or two before the given ‘religious schism’ such as usually occurs among them from time to time. BTG XLII

“‘And so the said worthy Russian Old Believer’ — I continued to the young Persian — ‘once when we were dining together at his house in the company of several other Russians, also Orthodox Christians, turned to me and said: “‘”Eh! old dear!” BTG XLII

“‘And so this worthy genuine Orthodox Christian, addressing me as “old dear”, said: “‘”Never mind, old dear! We shall soon be having Lent and then we shall feast together on real Russian dishes. BTG XLII

“‘After this prayer, this worthy Orthodox Russian Christian drained a monster glass of genuine refined Russian vodka and stared fondly at a little statue of “Venus and Psyche” which stood nearby. BTG XLII

“‘And indeed, my friend, almost every Russian Orthodox Christian has a similar idea of fasting and a similar attitude towards it. BTG XLII

“‘During these “Christian fasts” which passed to them from the Orthodox Greeks, they all eat the flesh of fish. BTG XLII

“‘I find it incomprehensible because the Orthodox Christians from whom they took this religion, namely, the Greeks, neither in the past nor in the present have ever eaten or do eat the fiesh of fish during fasts. BTG XLII

“‘Even the Greeks of today eat fish during Lent only on one day, and even then in accordance with the code of the Orthodox Church in memory of a day associated with the Divine Jesus Christ. BTG XLII

“‘But the Russian sorry Orthodox Christians, who consider themselves faithful followers of that great religion, also fast, but during their fast they eat the flesh of fish, that is to say, they eat just those organisms which contain according to the researches of the great Hertoonano that harmful substance Eknokh, precisely to guard them against which that wise and salutary custom was created’. BTG XLII