Whether today is a fast day, the four great fasts, the strict fast days and the fast-free weeks β always as of today.
Today Β· β¦
The four great fasts
Great Lent
2026: 23 February β 11 April Β· 48 days 2027: 15 March β 1 May
The forty-eight days before Pascha, the strictest of the fasts.
Meat, dairy, eggs β not eaten for the whole season
Fish β only on the Annunciation and Palm Sunday
Oil and wine β on Saturdays and Sundays
The first and last weeks β especially strict
Apostles' Fast
2026: 8 June β 11 July Β· 34 days 2027: 28 June β 11 July
From Pentecost to the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Its length changes from year to year.
Meat and dairy β not eaten
Fish β allowed on Saturdays, Sundays and feasts
Dormition Fast
2026: 14 August β 27 August Β· 14 days 2027: 14 August β 27 August
The two weeks before the Dormition of the Mother of God.
Meat, milk, eggs, fish β not eaten
Fish β only on the Transfiguration (19 August)
Nativity Fast
2026: 28 November 2026 β 6 January 2027 Β· 40 days 2027: 28 November 2027 β 6 January 2028
The forty days before the Nativity of Christ.
Meat, dairy, eggs β not eaten
Fish β on Saturdays, Sundays and feasts (until 20 December)
The last week β a strict fast
The weekly fast days β Wednesday and Friday
Wednesday and Friday are fast days all year round: on Wednesday Judas betrayed the Lord, on Friday the Lord was crucified. The fast-free weeks are the exception.
Single days of strict fasting
18 January β Eve of Theophany
11 September β Beheading of St John the Baptist
27 September β Exaltation of the Cross
Fast-free weeks
Christmastide7 January β 17 JanuaryThe twelve days of the Nativity, up to the Eve of Theophany.
Week of the Publican and the Pharisee1 February β 7 FebruaryA week of preparation for Lent β without fasting, against the fasting of the Pharisee.
Bright Week12 April β 18 AprilThe week of Pascha.
Week of Pentecost31 May β 6 JuneFrom Trinity Day to the Sunday of All Saints.
