By Elder Daniel Katounakiotis
Without fasting neither pure prayer will be attained nor chaste virginity achieved, nor will the Christian not subjugating his body through the suitable means of fasting be able to bear the cross of our Savior Jesus and follow Him.
He, our Savior Jesus, fasted forty days and nights as an example for us. And when? After His baptism. This shows us that all baptized Christians are obliged to fast according to their strength.
From Contemporary Ascetics of Mount Athos (vol. 1) by Archimandrite Cherubim, p. 313.