St. Theodore the Studite | I beg you then, my children...

'I beg you then, my children, now too stand steadfast and immovable from hope in God and by tearing apart the tangled wiles of the devil [Cf. Eph. 6:11.] show yourselves to be above the passions as you trample down the pleasures and desires of the flesh and guard from every side your virginity and purity of soul and body. You realize that it is springtime when every animate nature is moved to reproduction. Let your sleep be in moderation, as I said to you before Easter, let your food be regulated as prescribed. It is good, says the Apostle, not to eat meat or to drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. [Rom. 14:21.] And I too, my brothers, say by way of advice, not as a regulation, for the sake of your precious souls, not to the sick but to those who are in good health, it is good not to drink wine, particularly for the younger ones, for through wine the passions are enflamed. We have in ourselves the tempest of the physical pleasures; why then do we add the waves of wine to it? Taste therefore and see that self-mastery in this regard is good. [Cf. Ps. 33:8.] For you will see yourself by abstinence from wine rising above thoughts, freed from fever of the soul, awake to the love of God and aroused for those things that are better and abound in salvation. One who abstains from wine is filled with the Holy Spirit; one who drinks water has drunk the streams of compunction. However, as you are able, act thus to preserve your bodily health or in proportion to your toil; for I have not issued an order, but I am giving you advice in the matter.'

St. Theodore the Studite