Orthodox Fasting Calendar

The total duration of Lent is 48 days. It begins on the Monday, seven weeks before Easter, and ends on the Saturday before Easter.

The first week of Lent is observed with particular strictness. On the first day, complete abstinence from food is required. Then, from Tuesday to Friday, dry food is permitted (eating bread, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey, and drinking water). On Saturday and Sunday, hot food with butter is allowed.

During the second through sixth weeks of Lent, dry food is permitted on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; hot food without oil is permitted on Tuesday and Thursday, and hot food with oil is permitted on Saturday and Sunday.

During Holy Week (the last week of Lent), dry eating is prescribed, and on Friday one is not allowed to eat until the removal of the shroud.

On the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7) (unless it falls during Holy Week) and on Palm Sunday (the week before Easter), it is permissible to eat fish. On Lazarus Saturday (the day before Palm Sunday), one may eat fish eggs.

It begins on Monday, the 57th day after Easter (a week after Trinity Sunday), and always ends on July 11th (inclusive). In 2026, it lasts 34 days.

During the Peter and Paul fast, fish is allowed on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, hot food without oil is allowed on Monday, and dry food is allowed on Wednesday and Friday.

On the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist (July 7), you can eat fish (regardless of what day it falls on).

It starts on August 14 and ends on August 27. Its duration is 14 days.

During the Dormition Fast, dry food is permitted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, hot food without oil on Tuesday and Thursday, and hot food with oil on Saturday and Sunday.

On the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), you can eat fish (regardless of what day it falls on).

It begins on November 28 and ends on January 6. Its duration is 40 days.

In the period from November 28 to the feast of St. Nicholas (December 19 inclusive), hot food without oil is allowed on Monday, fish is allowed on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and dry food is allowed on Wednesday and Friday.

From December 20th to January 1st, fish is no longer permitted on Tuesdays and Thursdays; hot foods with butter are allowed instead. The remaining days remain unchanged.

From January 2 to 6, dry food is prescribed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; hot food without oil on Tuesday and Thursday; hot food with oil on Saturday and Sunday.

On Christmas Eve (January 6th), one should not eat until the first star appears in the sky, after which it is customary to eat sochivo – wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.

On the feasts of the Entry of the Virgin Mary into the Temple (December 4) and St. Nicholas (December 19), fish can be eaten on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Set for January 18th – the eve of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.

During this fast, you are only allowed to eat hot food with oil (regardless of what day of the week it falls on).

Set for September 11, the day of the martyrdom of John the Baptist (the baptizer of Jesus Christ).

During this fast, meat, eggs, dairy products, and fish are prohibited. Hot foods with butter are permitted on all days of the week except Wednesday and Friday, when only dry foods are permitted.

Set for September 27 – the day of the discovery of the Life-Giving Cross.

During this fast, eggs, meat, dairy products, and fish are prohibited. Hot foods with butter are permitted (except on Wednesdays and Fridays, when only dry foods are permitted).

Wednesday and Friday are days of strict fasting.

During these days of the week, during the winter meat-eating period (between the Nativity and Great Lents) and the spring meat-eating period (between the Great Lent and the Apostles' Fast), meat and dairy products are prohibited. During the summer meat-eating period (between the Apostles' and Dormition Fasts) and the autumn meat-eating period (between the Dormition and Nativity Fasts), xerophagy is prescribed.

During Cheese Week, food without meat is permitted, and during the other solid weeks (Christmastide, Publican and Pharisee, Easter, Trinity) there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday.

On Wednesday and Friday of the first week after the week of the Publican and the Pharisee, hot food without oil is eaten.

On the following holidays, if they fall on Wednesday or Friday, it is allowed to eat fish:

• Meeting of the Lord (February 15)
• Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7) – if it does not fall during Holy Week
• Apostle John the Theologian (May 21 and October 9)
• Nativity of John the Baptist (July 7)
• Apostles Peter and Paul (July 12)
• Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19)
• Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 28)
• Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 21)
• Protection of the Holy Mother of God (October 14)
• Entry of the Virgin Mary into the Temple (December 4)
• Saint Nicholas (December 19)

On Christmas (January 7) and Epiphany (January 19), fasting on Wednesday and Friday is cancelled.

The period from Christmas to Epiphany. It begins on January 7th and ends on January 17th (inclusive). This week lasts 11 days. During Christmastide, there is no fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays; meat may be eaten every day.

It begins 21 days before Great Lent (on Monday) and ends on Saturday. It lasts six days. During this week, there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, and meat may be eaten every day.

The week before Lent. It lasts seven days, from Monday to Sunday. During these days, meatless foods (eggs, fish, dairy products) are permitted.

The week after Easter. It lasts six days, from Monday to Saturday. During this week, there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, and meat may be eaten every day.

The week following Trinity Sunday. It lasts seven days, from Monday to Sunday. During this continuous week, there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday, and meat is permitted every day.

The period between Lent and Great Lent. In 2026, it begins on January 7 and ends on February 22 (Forgiveness Sunday). During the winter meat-eating fast, there are no fasts on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Meat may be eaten on these days. Fish is permitted on Wednesday and Friday.

The period between Lent and St. Peter's Fast. In 2026, it begins on April 12 and ends on June 7. During the spring meat-eating fast, there are no fasts on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Meat is permitted on these days. Fish is permitted on Wednesday and Friday.

The period between the Apostles' Fast and the Dormition Fast. In 2026, it begins on July 12 and ends on August 13. During the summer meat-eating fast, there are no fasts on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Meat may be consumed on these days. A dry fast is prescribed for Wednesday and Friday.

The period between the Dormition and Nativity Fasts. In 2026, it begins on August 28 and ends on November 27. During the autumn meat-eating fast, there is no fasting on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Meat is permitted on these days. A dry diet is prescribed on Wednesday and Friday.