Eastern Orthodox Church services require standing for the duration without pews, and adherents fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.
"You have to stand for 2 hours for the service. There's no you don't sit down. There's no pews. Um, you have to fast Wednesdays and Fridays." (said at 1:49:38)
The speaker's statement reflects traditional Eastern Orthodox Christian practices, but overgeneralizes them as absolute, invariable rules. In Eastern Orthodox tradition, weekly fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays (traditionally commemorating Christ's betrayal and crucifixion by abstaining from meat, dairy, and animal products, except during specific fast-free periods) is standard canonical practice, though individual adherence varies and exceptions exist for medical or personal circumstances. Regarding worship posture, traditional Eastern Orthodox church architecture omits pews to allow freedom of movement, veneration, and standing as the primary liturgical posture during services (which often last 1.5 to 2 hours). However, traditional churches typically provide wall-mounted stalls (stasidia) or perimeter seating for the elderly and infirm, and many contemporary Orthodox parishes—particularly in North America and across the Greek diaspora—routinely feature pews and permit sitting during specific portions of the service.
- supports: Greek Orthodox fasting rituals: a hidden characteristic of the Mediterranean diet of Crete (British Journal Of Nutrition 2004)
"The impact of Greek Orthodox Christian Church fasting on these dietary habits has never been studied. One hundred and twenty Greek Orthodox Christians living in Crete participated in a 1-year prospective study... The Orthodox Christian dietary regulations are an important component of the Mediterranean diet of Crete characterised by low levels of dietary saturated fatty acids, high levels of fibre and folate, and a high consumption of fruit, vegetables and legumes." (abstract, methods and results, passage verified)
openalexfull study (doi) - context: Orthodox Fasting in a Postsecular Society: The Case of Contemporary Russia (Religions 2018)
"It remains unclear, who should be responsible for fasting mitigation in case of illness, pregnancy, or other circumstances; people are exposed to many different opinions, what results in confusion and anxiety. The article shows that contemporary believers—including the clergy—are not ready to follow tradition blindly. The discussants are roughly divided into two groups: those supporting traditional rules (fasting from animal products), and those inventing their own practices" (abstract, passage verified)
openalexfull study (doi)