Resources
Orthodox Fasting Guides
Practical answers to the questions that come up when you start fasting Orthodox.
Start Here
The fundamentals: what fasting is, why the Church keeps it, and how to begin.
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Orthodox Christian Fasting Rules Explained
A clear guide to the four levels of Orthodox fasting: what you can eat, when, and why the Church fasts at all.
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Why Do Orthodox Christians Fast?
The theological and spiritual reasons behind Orthodox fasting: not as a diet or a rule, but as a path of prayer.
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Orthodox Fasting for Beginners: Where to Start
A practical guide for catechumens and new Orthodox Christians: how to begin fasting, what to expect, and common mistakes to avoid.
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What Can You Eat on an Orthodox Fast Day?
A practical guide to Orthodox fasting foods: what's permitted on wine & oil days, strict fast days, and fish days, with meal ideas.
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Orthodox Fasting FAQ: Common Questions Answered
Answers to the most common questions about Orthodox Christian fasting: what's allowed, what counts, and how to handle everyday situations.
The Fasting Seasons
The four fasts of the year, from Great Lent to the Nativity Fast.
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Great Lent Fasting: What You Can and Cannot Eat
Week-by-week guide to the Orthodox fasting rules during Great Lent, from Clean Monday through Holy Week.
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The Apostles' Fast: What It Is and What You Can Eat
A complete guide to the Apostles' Fast: when it starts and ends, the fasting rules, and why the Church observes it.
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The Nativity Fast: Orthodox Advent Fasting Rules
When is the Orthodox Nativity Fast, what are the fasting rules, and how does it build toward Christmas?
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The Dormition Fast: August Fasting in the Orthodox Church
Guide to the Dormition Fast (August 1–14): fasting rules, the feast of the Dormition, and why the Church observes it.
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Holy Week Fasting: The Most Intense Fast of the Year
Day-by-day guide to fasting during Holy Week: from Holy Monday through Holy Saturday, culminating in the Paschal Vigil.
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Meatfare and Cheesefare: The Weeks Before Great Lent
The two preparatory weeks before Great Lent: when meat is put away, then dairy, and the fast begins in earnest on Clean Monday.
Feasts & Fast-Free Times
Pascha, the Great Feasts, and the weeks when fasting is set aside.
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Orthodox Fast-Free Weeks: When Fasting Is Suspended
The five fast-free weeks in the Orthodox calendar: when all fasting is suspended, including Wednesday and Friday, and why.
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Pascha and Bright Week: Orthodox Easter and the Fast-Free Week
What happens to fasting at Pascha? Bright Week explained: the greatest feast-free period in the Orthodox year.
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The Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church
The twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox calendar, their dates, and how they affect fasting: including feasts that fall on fast days.
Rules in Depth
The weekly fast, strict fast days, and pastoral exceptions.
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The Wednesday and Friday Fast: Orthodox Weekly Fasting
Why Orthodox Christians fast every Wednesday and Friday, what they abstain from, and when exceptions apply.
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Orthodox Fasting and Health: Pregnancy, Illness, and Dispensations
How the Orthodox Church approaches fasting during pregnancy, illness, old age, and other health conditions, and how to talk to your priest.
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Strict Fast Days: When No Oil or Wine Is Permitted
What a strict fast means in Orthodox practice: the days when oil and wine are set aside along with meat, fish, and dairy.