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.
- 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 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 ›