Fasting

Just as there are times for feasting in the Church, there are also times for fasting. Jesus Christ Himself often fasted and insisted that the people fast as well. Fasting is not a set of dietary laws or legalistic requirements. Those who for reasons of health cannot fast from certain foods can still participate fully in the fast. We are all called to fast from fleshly desires, to give alms to the poor, and to pray more, both privately and corporately. Fasting, when accompanied by prayer and alms-giving, is a spiritual aid in disciplining the body and the soul, enabling us to bring our whole person closer to God. Fasting, in the Orthodox tradition, involves abstaining from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine and olive oil, eating a smaller quantity of food and even eating less meals.

Below are listed the periods of fasting in the Orthodox Church:

1. All Wednesdays and Fridays (unless otherwise indicated below).
2. January 5, the day before Epiphany.
3. Cheesefare Week, the last week before Great Lent (no meat is allowed but dairy is allowed all week).
4. Great Lent
5. Holy Week
6. Holy Apostles Fast (from the Monday after All Saints Day until June 28 inclusive - fish, wine and oil are allowed)
7. Dormition of the Virgin Mary - August 1-14
8. The beheading of St. John the Baptist - August 29
9. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 14
10. Advent, Christmas Lent, November 15 - December 24

Fast Days on which Fish, Wine and Olive Oil are permitted:

1. Annunciation - March 25 (If it falls outside of Great Lent it is fast-free)
2. Palm Sunday
3. Transfiguration

Fast-Free periods:

1. The first week of Triodion (third week before Great Lent)
2. Bright Week (the week after Pascha, the Resurrection)
3. The week after Pentecost
4. December 25 through January 4