The Fasts
The Church fasts and feasts by turns, and the fast is always for the sake of the feast, a readiness of the heart, received from your priest, never a law gripped alone.
The Orthodox Church keeps four fasting seasons: Great Lent and Holy Week before Pascha, the Apostles’ Fast in early summer, the Dormition Fast in August, and the Nativity Fast before Christmas. Through the rest of the year it fasts on Wednesdays and Fridays, apart from a few fast-free weeks. The dates for this year and next are below.
- Great LentThe forty days, the Church's long journey of repentance toward Pascha.
- The Nativity FastForty quiet days that prepare the heart to receive the One born in Bethlehem.
- The Apostles' FastA summer fast in the footsteps of the apostles, before the feast of Peter and Paul.
- The Dormition FastTwo weeks in August, keeping company with the Mother of God toward her feast.
- The Wednesday & Friday FastTwo days each week the whole year keeps, the betrayal, and the Cross.
The Orthodox fasting calendar, 2026 and 2027
| Fast or feast | New Calendar | Old Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| The Nativity Fast | Nov 15 to Dec 24 | Nov 28, 2026 to Jan 6, 2027 |
| The Twelve Days, fast-free | Dec 25, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 7 to Jan 17, 2027 |
| Fast or feast | New Calendar | Old Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| The Eve of Theophany, a strict fast | Jan 5 | Jan 18 |
| Fast-free week after the Publican and the Pharisee | Feb 21 to Feb 27 | Feb 21 to Feb 27 |
| Cheesefare week: no meat; dairy, eggs, and fish | Mar 8 to Mar 14 | Mar 8 to Mar 14 |
| Great Lent and Holy Week | Mar 15 to May 1 | Mar 15 to May 1 |
| Bright Week, fast-free | May 2 to May 8 | May 2 to May 8 |
| Fast-free week after Pentecost | Jun 20 to Jun 26 | Jun 20 to Jun 26 |
| The Apostles' Fast | Jun 28 | Jun 28 to Jul 11 |
| The Dormition Fast | Aug 1 to Aug 14 | Aug 14 to Aug 27 |
| The Beheading of St John the Baptist, a strict fast | Aug 29 | Sep 11 |
| The Exaltation of the Cross, a strict fast | Sep 14 | Sep 27 |
| The Nativity Fast | Nov 15 to Dec 24 | Nov 28, 2027 to Jan 6, 2028 |
| The Twelve Days, fast-free | Dec 25, 2027 to Jan 4, 2028 | Jan 7 to Jan 17, 2028 |
Outside these, Wednesdays and Fridays are fast days through the year. Every day’s fast is on its own page in the calendar.
Questions about the fasts
What are the four fasting seasons of the Orthodox Church?
Each at its next keeping, on the New Calendar:
- The Nativity Fast, November 15 to December 24, 2026.
- Great Lent and Holy Week, March 15 to May 1, 2027.
- The Apostles' Fast, a single day, June 28, 2027.
- The Dormition Fast, August 1 to 14, 2027.
On the Old Calendar:
- The Nativity Fast, November 28, 2026 to January 6, 2027.
- Great Lent and Holy Week, the same days as the New Calendar (apart from the Church of Finland), March 15 to May 1, 2027.
- The Apostles' Fast, June 28 to July 11, 2027.
- The Dormition Fast, August 14 to 27, 2027.
Do Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays?
Yes. Through most of the year the Church fasts on Wednesdays and Fridays, apart from a few fast-free weeks, as your priest will guide you.
The measure, by level
- StrictNo meat, dairy, fish, wine, or oil, the sharpest days.
- Wine & oilThe fast relaxed a little, as the Church appoints.
- FishFish permitted, on the great feasts that fall within a fast.
- Fast-freeThe bright weeks, when the Church sets the fast aside.
And always: the measure is yours to receive, ask your priest.
The fast is broken at the table of the Church.
Orthros marks the fast, but the feast that ends it is kept together. See the whole liturgical year › What to eat on a fast day › A voluntary fast from apps and social media ›