“If we try to pray without fasting, our prayers will be weak, without progress, without the fervor, concentration and contrition that is so pleasing to God. If we try to fast without proper prayer, we will become proud, vainglorious, thinking that we are better than others (Luke 18:9-14), despising, even nervous and irritable. Either way our last state will be worse than the first and our spiritual development will be greatly hindered.”
(Vladimir Ivlenko in St. Xenia Press article)