Great Lent is the most demanding of the Church’s four fasting seasons. It begins on Clean Monday and concludes with the Paschal Vigil. The fast varies in intensity across the weeks.

Before Great Lent begins

Meatfare Sunday — The last day meat is eaten before Pascha. Dairy, eggs, and fish remain permitted for one more week.

Cheesefare Week (Maslenitsa / Forgiveness Week) — The week before Clean Monday. Meat is abstained; dairy, eggs, and fish are permitted every day including Wednesday and Friday. The week concludes with Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday evening.

Clean Week (First week of Great Lent)

The strictest week of the year. The traditional monastic rule calls for xerophagy (dry eating — bread, water, raw vegetables) on most days, with no oil or wine. For parish life:

  • Monday–Friday — Strict fast. No meat, dairy, fish, wine, or oil.
  • Saturday — Wine and oil permitted.
  • Sunday — Fish, wine, and oil permitted.

Weeks 2–6 of Great Lent

The standard weekday rule:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday — Wine and oil fast (no meat, dairy, or fish).
  • Wednesday, Friday — Strict fast (no wine or oil either).
  • Saturday, Sunday — Fish, wine, and oil permitted.

Feasts of high rank (feastlevel ≥ 4) falling on weekdays may ease the fast — consult your priest.

The Annunciation (March 25)

If the Annunciation falls during Great Lent (it almost always does), fish, wine, and oil are permitted regardless of what day of the week it falls on — even on Holy Friday.

Lazarus Saturday

Fish is not permitted, but wine, oil, and caviar are — an ancient exception that symbolises the abundance of the coming feast of Pascha.

Palm Sunday

Fish, wine, and oil are permitted.

Holy Week

The fast intensifies dramatically:

  • Holy Monday – Holy Wednesday — Strict fast (no wine or oil).
  • Holy Thursday — Wine and oil permitted at the Liturgy of Holy Thursday.
  • Holy Friday — The strictest fast day of the year. No food is eaten until after the shroud procession in the evening, if possible.
  • Holy Saturday — Strict fast until the Paschal Vigil begins.

After Pascha

Bright Week — No fasting at all. All foods are permitted every day. The fast is completely lifted.

These are standard Antiochian and OCA guidelines. Rules vary slightly by jurisdiction and by your personal rule with your priest.