Fasting Seasons and Days

Paschal Cycle:

1. Meatfast the week before the beginning of Great Lent

​

2. Great Lent and Holy Week

​

Yearly Cycle:

1. Nativity (St. Philip's) Fast Nov. 15 through Dec. 24

​

2. Apostles' (Peter and Paul) Fast from the Monday after All Saints Sunday through June 28

​

3. Dormition (Theotokos) Fast Aug. 1 through Aug. 14

​

Fast Days:

1. The Wednesdays and Fridays of the Year, except for Fast-free Weeks

​

2. The Eve of Theophany Jan. 5

​

3. The Beheading of St. John the Baptist Aug. 29

​

4. The Elevation of the Cross Sept. 14

​

Fast-free Weeks:

1. Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ to Theophany Eve Dec. 25 through Jan. 4

​

2. The week following the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

​

3. Bright Week the week after Pascha

​

4. Trinity Week the week after Pentecost, concluding with All Saints Sunday

 

Excerpt taken from "These Truths We Hold - The Holy Orthodox Church: Her Life and Teachings". Compiled and Edited by A Monk of St. Tikhon's Monastery. Copyright 1986 by the St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, South Canaan, Pennsylvania 18459.

​

To order a copy of "These Truths We Hold" visit the St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary Bookstore.