"It is remarkable that however much we trouble about our health, however much care we take of ourselves, whatever wholesome and pleasant food and drink we take, however much we walk in the fresh air, still, notwithstanding all this, in the end we sicken and corrupt; whilst the saints, who mortify the flesh by continual abstinence and fasting, by lying on the bare earth, by watchfulness, labors, unceasing prayer, make both their souls and bodies immortal. Our well-fed bodies decay and after death emit an offensive odor, whilst theirs remain fragrant and flourishing both in life and after death. It is a remarkable thing: we, by building up our body, destroy it, whilst they, by destroying theirs, built it up-by caring only for the fragrance of their souls before God, they obtain fragrance of the body also." -St. John of Kronstadt (1829-1908)
- Strict Fast - Total abstinence of all food and water, true fasting in its purest form.
- Xerophagy – Literally ‘dry eating’ partaking of unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts or perhaps even dried bread and water (no animal foods; no oil; no wine).
- Oil and Wine - On days when oil and wine are allowed, so are octopus and shellfish (fish with no backbone, because it has no blood).
- Fish - On days when fish (with backbone) is allowed, so also are oil, wine, octopus and shellfish.
- Dairy - On days when eggs, cheese and dairy products are allowed, so are all of the above.
- Meat – On days when meat is allowed (unless one is monastic) all foods are allowed.
Wednesdays and Fridays
- Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year are fast days without wine or oil, unless a feast day or festive period coincides in which partaking is allowed, as noted in the calendar.
- This has been the custom from the beginning, established by the Apostles, as stated in the Apostolic Constitutions and Apostolic Canon 69.
THE FOUR GREAT FASTS
The Nativity Fast (November 15th to Christmas Day)
- On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays the fast is limited to vegetables, grains, fruits and nuts, without wine and oil.
- On Tuesdays and Thursdays wine and oil is allowed.
- According to tradition, fish is allowed on the Entry of the Theotokos (21st of November).
- On Saturdays and Sundays until the Feast of St. Spyridon (Dec. 12th) fish is also allowed.
- Saturdays and Sundays after Dec. 12th only wine and oil are allowed.
The Fast of Great Lent and Holy Week (before Pascha).
The Fast of Cheese-fare Week (the week before Lent):- The partaking of dairy, cheese, and egg products is allowed throughout the entire Cheese-fare Week, that is from the Monday after Meat-fare Sunday until and including Cheese-fare Sunday.
Beginning with Clean Monday (first day of Lent):
- All the days of Lent include some type of fasting, with a less strict fast on Saturdays and Sundays.
- The first week of the Great Fast, Clean Week is kept as strictly as one is able.
- On weekdays (Monday thru Friday) the fast is observed without wine and oil.
- On Saturdays and Sundays wine, olive oil, and shellfish are allowed.
- On the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25th) all fish is allowed.
- Holy Week (the week after Palm Sunday) is kept as strictly as possible.
- Holy Friday especially, if possible, is kept with total abstinence from food until after the Divine Liturgy on Holy Saturday when bread and wine are blessed for consumption in the church.
- The Lenten Fast ends after the Divine Liturgy on Pascha.
The Apostles Fast (the Monday following All Saints Sunday to the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29th)
- On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, vegetables, grains, fruits and nuts are permitted, without wine and oil.
- On Tuesdays and Thursdays wine and oil is allowed.
- On Saturdays and Sundays fish is allowed.
The Dormition Fast (1st – 15th of August)
- On all weekdays, a fast limited to vegetables, grains, fruits and nuts, without wine and oil, is observed.
- On Saturdays and Sundays wine and oil is allowed.
- On the Feast of the Transfiguration (Aug. 6th) fish is allowed.
Particular Fast Days
A strict fast or xerophagy, without wine and oil, is observed on the following Holy Days:
- Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Sept. 14th
- The Eve of the Nativity of Christ, Dec. 24th
- Eve of Theophany, Jan. 5th
- Beheading of St. John the Forerunner, Aug. 29th
(If the above days fall on Saturday or Sunday, oil & wine are allowed.)
Feast Days that Permit Oil and Wine which Coincide with Days of Fasting
September - 1, 6, 9, 13, 20, 23, 26
October - 6, 18, 23, 26
November - 1, 8, 12, 13, 16, 25, 30
December - 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 15, 17, 20
January - 11, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 30
February - 8, 10, 11, 17, 24
March - 9, 26
April - 23, 25, 30
May - 2, 8, 15, 21, 25
June - 8, 11, 30
July - 1, 2, 17, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27
August – 31
Feast Days that Permit Fish, when they coincide with days of fasting
8th of September - The Birth of the Most Holy Theotokos.
14th of November - The Holy Apostle Phillip.
21st of November - The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos.
7th of January - The Synaxis of Saint John the Forerunner.
2nd of February - The Presentation of the Lord.
25th of March - The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The Wednesday of Mid-Pentecost
The Apodosis (Leave-taking) of Pascha, the Wednesday 39 days after Pascha.
24th of June - The Birth of Saint John the Forerunner.
29th of June - The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
6th of August - The Transfiguration of our Saviour.
15th of August - The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Festive Periods without Fasting
- The twelve days after the Nativity of Christ (Christmas), that is from the day of the Nativity of Christ till two days before Theophany (25th December till 4th January) and the on day of Theophany (6th January).
- The first week of the Triodion, that is from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee till the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. (pre-Lenten period)
- The week of Pascha (New or Bright Week), that is from the Sunday of Pascha till the Sunday of Thomas.
- The week of the Holy Spirit, that is from the Sunday of Pentecost till the Sunday of All Saints.
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