Pascha 2029: April 8
Fasting Seasons
Begins on Clean Monday. Strict fast on most days; fish, wine, and oil permitted on certain feasts. The most ancient and strict of the Church's fasting seasons.
The strictest fasting of the year. Wine and oil are permitted only on Great Thursday and Great Saturday. No fish throughout.
Begins the Monday after All Saints Sunday (the first Sunday after Pentecost). Ends on the eve of the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: no oil or wine.
- Tuesday and Thursday: no fish, but oil and wine are permitted.
- Saturday and Sunday: fish is permitted.
- If a Saint with a Great Doxology falls on Tuesday, Thursday, or Monday: fish is permitted. If on Wednesday or Friday: oil and wine only.
- If a Saint with a Vigil falls on Wednesday or Friday, or the feast of the patron of the temple: oil, wine, and fish are permitted.
Fourteen days in honor of the Theotokos. Similar strictness to Great Lent.
- Wine and oil are allowed only on Saturdays, Sundays, and some feast days and vigils.
- Fish is permitted only on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6).
Forty-day fast before the Nativity of Christ.
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: no oil or wine.
- Tuesday and Thursday: no fish, but oil and wine are permitted.
- Saturday and Sunday: fish is permitted.
- If a Saint with a Great Doxology falls on Tuesday, Thursday, or Monday: fish is permitted. If on Wednesday or Friday: oil and wine only.
- If a Saint with a Vigil falls on Wednesday or Friday, or the feast of the patron of the temple: oil, wine, and fish are permitted.
- From December 20 through December 24: no fish is permitted even on Saturday or Sunday.
Pre-Lenten Weeks
Concludes with Meatfare Sunday, the last day to eat meat before Pascha. Wednesday and Friday fasting is observed as normal this week.
Begins the Monday after Meatfare Sunday and concludes with Forgiveness Sunday. Dairy, eggs, and fish are permitted; no meat. Wednesday and Friday fasting is lifted this week.
Fast-Free Weeks
From the Nativity of Christ through the eve of Theophany. No fasting of any kind.
No Wednesday or Friday fast this week. Commemorates the parable of the Publican and Pharisee, which calls us to humility over self-congratulation.
The Paschal week. "It is meet to eat and drink with gladness." No fasting of any kind.
The week following Holy Pentecost. No fasting. Ends on the Saturday before All Saints Sunday, when the Apostles' Fast begins two days later.
Individual Fast Days
Strict fast. If the Paramone falls on Saturday or Sunday, the fast is observed on the Friday before.
Strict fast in honor of the Forerunner, whose death we mourn.
Strict fast commemorating the raising up of the True Cross by Patriarch Sophronius of Jerusalem.