| Periods | Mon | W | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| Great Lent is a moving date | hot without oil* | hot without oil* | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter |
| Spring meat eater | fish** | fish** | |||||
| Apostolic post rolling date | fish** | fish** | hot with butter | fish** | hot with butter | fish** | fish** |
| Summer meat eater | hot with butter | hot with butter | |||||
| Assumption Fast from August 14 to 27. | hot without oil* | hot without oil* | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter |
| Autumn meat eater | hot with butter | hot with butter | |||||
| Christmas post 28 Nov. to 6 Jan. | |||||||
| 28 Nov – 19 Dec. | fish** | fish** | hot with butter | fish** | hot with butter | fish** | fish** |
| 20 Dec. – Jan 1 | hot with butter | hot with butter | hot without oil* | hot with butter | hot without oil* | fish** | fish** |
| Jan 2–6 | hot without oil* | hot without oil* | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter |
| Winter meat eater | fish** | fish** | |||||
* This means that olives are used instead of vegetable oil.
** Lenten recipes.
The Charter fully applies to the monastic practice of Palestine (see “Fast according to the Typikon”). This table reflects current parish practice, which may vary depending on local traditions. The laity determine their norm individually, preferably with the blessing of the priest.
Dates are indicated according to the new style
In the Russian Orthodox Church there are four multi-day fasts, fasts on Wednesday and Friday throughout the year (with the exception of five weeks, called continuous), and three one-day fasts.
Lent
The Savior Himself was led by the Spirit into the desert, was tempted by the devil for forty days and did not eat anything during these days. Great Lent is a fast in honor of the Savior Himself, and the last passionate week of this 48-day fast is established in remembrance of the last days of earthly life, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Fasting is observed with particular strictness during the first, fourth (Worship of the Cross) and Holy weeks.
On the first two days of Lent, as well as on Good Friday, the Typikon orders (monks) to completely abstain from food. The rest of the time: Wednesday, Friday – dry food (water, bread, fruits, vegetables, compotes); Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil; Saturday, Sunday – food with vegetable oil.
Fish is allowed on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on Palm Sunday. Fish caviar is allowed on Lazarus Saturday. On Good Friday there is a tradition of not eating food until the shroud is taken out (usually this service ends at 15-16 hours).
Islam[edit]
Fasting, established according to tradition by Muhammad in 624, became one of the obligatory canons (and pork cannot be eaten on ordinary days) and there are 3 types: in the month of “Ramadan” or “Ramadan” (“as-saum” or “Uraza” , also called by the name of the month), by vow and determined upon repentance of sins.
There are many contradictory nuances about observing fasts. Ramadan is preceded by the evening breaking of the fast - "Iftar". During the period of Eid, Muslims refuse to eat, drink, smoke, etc., every day from sunrise to sunset throughout the entire month of Ramadan. But the specificity of this is simple: it is not the composition of the food that limits it, but the time of its consumption. If one breaks the fast during Ramadan (Kabir), the believer must repent and observe the fast later. If he saw a person eating and not observing fasting, then he should remind him. At the same time, swimming is discouraged because you might swallow water. Sharia law also prohibits the inhalation of scented substances and sexual relations.
Recommended posts for which full moon days are usually chosen are:
- every Monday and Thursday;
- 13th, 14th and 15th of each lunar month;
- the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah;
- 9, 10, 11, 9 and 10 or 10 and 11 of the month of Muharram;
- 6 days of the month of Shawwal;
- 9th Dhul-Hijjah;
- 15 "shaabana";
- 27 "rajaba".
In addition, it is recommended to fast during times of war, epidemics, and solar and lunar eclipses. There are many things considered unclean and therefore violative of the fasts, including menstruation (hayz), postpartum bleeding (nifasa), vomiting and bloodletting. Taking medications, pills, injections (except those necessary for routine treatment, such as penicillin or insulin) and even blood transfusions are considered formally as food.
Apostolic post
On Monday of the Week of All Saints, the Fast of the Holy Apostles begins, established before the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. The continuation of fasting varies depending on how early or late Easter occurs.
It always starts on All Saints Monday and ends on July 12th. The longest Petrov fast consists of six weeks, and the shortest one is a week and a day. This fast was established in honor of the Holy Apostles, who, through fasting and prayer, prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel and prepared their successors in the work of saving service.
On Wednesday and Friday, hot food with butter. On other days - fish, mushrooms, cereals with vegetable oil.
Judaism[edit]
There are several fasts in Judaism. The most famous is Yom Kippur (Day of Forgiveness), when Halacha prohibits eating, drinking, washing, leather shoes, anointing with oils and marital intimacy. This fast, as well as the fast of the Ninth of Av (Tisha B'Av), lasts from sunset until the stars emerge in the evening of the next day, that is, more than 24 hours.
The fast of the Ninth of Av is preceded by three weeks of mourning; during the last week you cannot, for example, wash with hot water and eat meat and wine.
Less strict fasts, when food and drink are prohibited, are observed on 3 Tishrei (Fast of Gedaliah), 10 Tevet and 17 Tamuz. Before Purim, the Fast of Esther is celebrated in memory of the events described in the book of Esther (Esther), and before Passover there is the so-called fast of the firstborn. All these fasts continue from sunrise until the first stars emerge.
Dormition Fast August 14 – August 27
A month after the Apostolic Fast, the multi-day Dormition Fast begins. It lasts two weeks - from August 14 to 27. With this fast, the Church calls us to imitate the Mother of God, who, before her resettlement to heaven, constantly remained in fasting and prayer.
Wednesday, Friday – dry eating. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - hot food without oil. On Saturday and Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.
On the day of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), fish is allowed. If the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Wednesday or Friday, then the charter allows fish.
Nativity Fast November 28 – January 6
At the end of autumn, 40 days before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church calls us to winter fasting. Popularly it was also called Filippov, because it begins after the day dedicated to the Apostle Philip.
This fast was established so that we can adequately prepare for the grace-filled union with the born Savior.
The charter about food coincides with the charter of Peter's Fast, until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19).
If the feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple falls on Wednesday or Friday, then fish is permitted by the charter. After the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas and before the forefeast of Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. On the eve of the holiday, the statute prohibits eating fish on all days; on Saturday and Sunday - food with oil.
On Christmas Eve, it is not customary to eat food until the first star appears, after which they eat juice - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.
Why are fast days necessary?
To celebrate a divine holiday, you need to prepare. We can say that apastia is the cleansing of the body and soul of an Orthodox person. People have noticed a connection between a full stomach and spiritual physicality. Therefore, fasting means improving spiritually and observing:
- Nativity Fast 40 days from November 28 to January 7.
- The apastia preceding Easter is 48 days. The date is not given because the holiday occurs on a different Sunday in the spring each year.
- The Apostolic and Petrine apasta, which takes place 8 days after Trinity and ends on July 12.
- Uspenskaya - from August 12 to August 28.
The best article for you, go to: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: holiday, signs, when celebrated
By calculation, it turns out that the number of fasting days in a year is 200. But the main thing is not quantity, but quality.
Solid weeks
A week is a week from Monday to Sunday. These days there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday.
There are five continuous weeks:
Christmas time - from January 7 to January 18 ,
The Publican and the Pharisee - 2 weeks before Great Lent,
Cheese (Maslenitsa ) – the week before Lent (no meat),
Easter (Light) – week after Easter,
Trinity - the week after Trinity.
Question answer
If it is not possible to find reliable information about a particular holiday or the rules for observing Lent, you need to contact a priest. But sometimes this cannot be done (due to geographical location), then questions can be asked to the clergyman online.
Fasting on Wednesday and Friday: what can the laity eat?
Albina, 28 years old, Omsk: “I began to observe asceticism before major holidays, when I decided to lose weight. Then this principle of nutrition became a habit and now I want to develop further in this direction. Tell me, what’s possible on Wednesdays and Fridays?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“It is not a great loss for a Christian to give up certain foods. If you decide to take religious rules seriously, then I advise you to find out what is best to eat: mushrooms, fruits, berries, vegetables - everything that contains vitamins, fiber, as well as cereals (semolina, barley, buckwheat, rice, pearl barley, oatmeal). Nuts and beekeeping products are also not prohibited. They use seasonings and compotes.”
Autumn meat eater - what is it?
Varvara, 33 years old, Belgorod: “I kept putting off this moment, but now I already feel an urgent need to become closer to religion. Previously, I did not observe a single fast in a year. Easter and Trinity are ahead - everything is clear with these holidays, but I haven’t studied the autumn holidays yet. Tell me, what kind of autumn meat-eater is this, and how to observe it?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“This is the name for a long period when you have the right to eat meat and other previously prohibited foods (such as, for example, before the start of the Easter period). It is distinguished from the rest by other time frames: from 28.08 to 27.11. Every day the Lord gives us ordinary food. But it is important to observe fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays for the laity.”
Next Christian post?
Valeria, 34 years old, Tula:
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“It's Easter. Moreover, there are very few days left until the closest holiday. Lent will soon come to an end (May 1), so I advise you to start with the next multi-day fast - Petrov (28.06).”
How many fasts are there in Orthodoxy?
Anna, 29 years old, Tambov: “Tomorrow I want to start limiting myself in food. There is an idea to stick to different fasts over the years, but I’m not sure if I can stand it. Tell me, how often does Lent happen?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“A long journey awaits you - there are 4 major Lents ahead of 2021, the nutrition calendar of the Orthodox religion will help you keep track of the beginning of new ones. In addition, there are also one-day ones - there are 3 of them. There is another fast throughout the year - Wednesday and Friday, it lasts long and cyclically - throughout the year, excluding religious holidays.”
When are fast days in the week?
Inga, 43 years old, Perm: “I decided to stick to fasting. So that the children do not suffer so much from this, I first want to introduce all family members to fasting days. When do they happen?
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“For the fasting person, this is Wednesday and Friday every week. If you go further in your desire to introduce family members to the Divine, you can find out when there will be other Orthodox holidays. However, I would not recommend violating existing religious canons in order to teach a person religion. This ability will appear gradually on its own, but it will not arise if a person forcibly came to changes by fasting under pressure.”
Lent in the summer?
Irina, 39 years old, Yaroslavl: “I have already missed the period of preparation and restrictions before Easter, and when is Lent in the summer?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“Indeed, the period of preparation and asceticism before Easter is almost over. But in the summer there is no Lent; each of them has its own names: Uspensky, Petrov. Lent was defined as Great in the spring (pre-Easter period).”
Solid week: what can you eat?
Inna, 45 years old, Moscow: “I’m not at home now, I’m temporarily living in another country, but I adhere to the traditions of Orthodoxy (despite the fact that they are actively introducing Protestantism here). Tell me, what is allowed to be consumed during the continuous week?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“There are no restrictions. You can eat meat, fish and other products. Moreover, it is allowed to eat them on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
How many fasts do Orthodox Christians have?
Anna, 43 years old, Voronezh: “Help me determine how long the period of abstaining from food lasts? My husband and I have a wedding ahead, but there will be many guests representing Protestantism and Orthodoxy, we need to please everyone - to celebrate a wedding celebration when there are no restrictions on food. Thank you".
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“There are only 4 major fasts, they are long, so I still recommend getting a church calendar to determine the exact date. In addition to 4 major ones, there are 3 more one-day ones, as well as an untimely one – Wednesday and Friday.”
What does the Orthodox meal for every day consist of?
Olga, 35 years old, Vladivostok: “I want to fully understand how religious holidays are celebrated, otherwise there are a lot of surprises every year - I don’t have time to follow. In addition, it is important for me to understand for myself what is included in the meal every day.”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“The presence or absence of restrictions and austerities during this period is taken into account. If at the moment there is no first, second week, and so on, then you can return to your usual diet.”
Fish days in Orthodoxy?
Oksana, 36 years old, Stavropol: “I love fish, but I also go to church, so I don’t want to break the Fast. When can you eat fish dishes?
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“The days of quitting this product are fleeting. They may change depending on the period of the year and Lent during each subsequent week, follow the church calendar.”
What can you eat today according to the Orthodox calendar?
Veronica, 42 years old, Novomoskovsk: “I don’t know all the canons yet, tell me what products are allowed now?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“Today (4.04) it is recommended to prepare hot Lenten dishes; you can add a little oil.”
What is the current post?
Inga, 33 years old, Tula: “Tell me, what is the Lent now? What is the name of?"
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“Lent is a preliminary stage, celebrated before Easter. Its main function is to prepare the souls of the laity for the moment when it is necessary for believers to draw closer to God. Not everyone will be able to survive this, so it is better to prepare your soul. You are on the right track!”
Is today a fast day or not?
Inna, 26 years old, Omsk: “I was 25 years old yesterday (it’s my birthday tonight, I’m already 26 years old!), but we’re celebrating the holiday later (due to circumstances). Until now I was not interested in religion (to be honest), but I decided to improve. I want to fast. Today, for example, is it a fast day?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“Yes, now it’s Lent, Saturday is another fast day. You can safely prepare dishes without meat or eggs.”
Wednesday and Friday
Weekly fast days are Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday, fasting was established in memory of the betrayal of Christ by Judas, on Friday - in memory of the suffering on the cross and death of the Savior. On these days of the week, the Holy Church prohibits the consumption of meat and dairy foods, and during the week of All Saints before the Nativity of Christ, one should also abstain from fish and vegetable oil. Only when the days of celebrated saints fall on Wednesday and Friday is vegetable oil allowed, and on the biggest holidays, such as Intercession, fish.
Those who are sick and engaged in hard work are allowed some relief, so that Christians have the strength to pray and do the necessary work, but eating fish on the wrong days, and especially the full permission of fasting, is rejected by the rules.
One-day posts
Epiphany Christmas Eve - January 18 , on the eve of the Epiphany. On this day, Christians prepare for cleansing and consecration with holy water on the feast of Epiphany.
The beheading of John the Baptist - September 11 . This is the day of remembrance and death of the great prophet John.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27 . The memory of the Savior's suffering on the cross for the salvation of the human race. This day is spent in prayer, fasting, and contrition for sins.
One-day fasts are days of strict fasting (except Wednesday and Friday). Fish is prohibited, but food with vegetable oil is allowed.
What is allowed
On days of abstinence, meat and meat products are excluded, and it is allowed to eat dry plant foods:
- Vegetable products in raw, stewed and boiled form.
- Porridge without milk and butter.
- Lenten bread products.
- Legumes and soybeans.
- Fish products.
- Mushrooms.
- Fruits, dried fruits, nuts.
How can you diversify your products? These are porridges made from cereals: eggs, semolina, wheat, oatmeal, rice, pearl barley, corn, millet. You can add raisins, prunes, muesli, and fruits to porridge.
Wednesday is the main day since Judas betrayed Christ at Passover. This day is observed every seven days.
Wednesday is fast day, what can you eat?
On this day you can only eat dry foods without oil, fish is excluded. On Friday Christ died for sins. On this day, believers adhere mentally and physically.
About meals on holidays
According to the Church Charter, there is no fasting on the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany, which happened on Wednesday and Friday. On Christmas and Epiphany Eves and on the holidays of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the Beheading of John the Baptist, food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the feasts of the Presentation, Transfiguration of the Lord, Dormition, Nativity and Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, Her Entry into the Temple, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which occurred on Wednesday and Friday, as well as in the period from Easter to Trinity on Wednesday and Friday Fish allowed.
Question answer
If it is not possible to find reliable information about a particular holiday or the rules for observing Lent, you need to contact a priest. But sometimes this cannot be done (due to geographical location), then questions can be asked to the clergyman online.
Fasting on Wednesday and Friday: what can the laity eat?
Albina, 28 years old, Omsk: “I began to observe asceticism before major holidays, when I decided to lose weight. Then this principle of nutrition became a habit and now I want to develop further in this direction. Tell me, what’s possible on Wednesdays and Fridays?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“It is not a great loss for a Christian to give up certain foods. If you decide to take religious rules seriously, then I advise you to find out what is best to eat: mushrooms, fruits, berries, vegetables - everything that contains vitamins, fiber, as well as cereals (semolina, barley, buckwheat, rice, pearl barley, oatmeal). Nuts and beekeeping products are also not prohibited. They use seasonings and compotes.”
Autumn meat eater - what is it?
Varvara, 33 years old, Belgorod: “I kept putting off this moment, but now I already feel an urgent need to become closer to religion. Previously, I did not observe a single fast in a year. Easter and Trinity are ahead - everything is clear with these holidays, but I haven’t studied the autumn holidays yet. Tell me, what kind of autumn meat-eater is this, and how to observe it?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“This is the name for a long period when you have the right to eat meat and other previously prohibited foods (such as, for example, before the start of the Easter period). It is distinguished from the rest by other time frames: from 28.08 to 27.11. Every day the Lord gives us ordinary food. But it is important to observe fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays for the laity.”
Next Christian post?
Valeria, 34 years old, Tula:
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“It's Easter. Moreover, there are very few days left until the closest holiday. Lent will soon come to an end (May 1), so I advise you to start with the next multi-day fast - Petrov (28.06).”
How many fasts are there in Orthodoxy?
Anna, 29 years old, Tambov: “Tomorrow I want to start limiting myself in food. There is an idea to stick to different fasts over the years, but I’m not sure if I can stand it. Tell me, how often does Lent happen?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“A long journey awaits you - there are 4 major Lents ahead of 2021, the nutrition calendar of the Orthodox religion will help you keep track of the beginning of new ones. In addition, there are also one-day ones - there are 3 of them. There is another fast throughout the year - Wednesday and Friday, it lasts long and cyclically - throughout the year, excluding religious holidays.”
When are fast days in the week?
Inga, 43 years old, Perm: “I decided to stick to fasting. So that the children do not suffer so much from this, I first want to introduce all family members to fasting days. When do they happen?
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“For the fasting person, this is Wednesday and Friday every week. If you go further in your desire to introduce family members to the Divine, you can find out when there will be other Orthodox holidays. However, I would not recommend violating existing religious canons in order to teach a person religion. This ability will appear gradually on its own, but it will not arise if a person forcibly came to changes by fasting under pressure.”
Lent in the summer?
Irina, 39 years old, Yaroslavl: “I have already missed the period of preparation and restrictions before Easter, and when is Lent in the summer?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“Indeed, the period of preparation and asceticism before Easter is almost over. But in the summer there is no Lent; each of them has its own names: Uspensky, Petrov. Lent was defined as Great in the spring (pre-Easter period).”
Solid week: what can you eat?
Inna, 45 years old, Moscow: “I’m not at home now, I’m temporarily living in another country, but I adhere to the traditions of Orthodoxy (despite the fact that they are actively introducing Protestantism here). Tell me, what is allowed to be consumed during the continuous week?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“There are no restrictions. You can eat meat, fish and other products. Moreover, it is allowed to eat them on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
How many fasts do Orthodox Christians have?
Anna, 43 years old, Voronezh: “Help me determine how long the period of abstaining from food lasts? My husband and I have a wedding ahead, but there will be many guests representing Protestantism and Orthodoxy, we need to please everyone - to celebrate a wedding celebration when there are no restrictions on food. Thank you".
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“There are only 4 major fasts, they are long, so I still recommend getting a church calendar to determine the exact date. In addition to 4 major ones, there are 3 more one-day ones, as well as an untimely one – Wednesday and Friday.”
What does the Orthodox meal for every day consist of?
Olga, 35 years old, Vladivostok: “I want to fully understand how religious holidays are celebrated, otherwise there are a lot of surprises every year - I don’t have time to follow. In addition, it is important for me to understand for myself what is included in the meal every day.”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“The presence or absence of restrictions and austerities during this period is taken into account. If at the moment there is no first, second week, and so on, then you can return to your usual diet.”
Fish days in Orthodoxy?
Oksana, 36 years old, Stavropol: “I love fish, but I also go to church, so I don’t want to break the Fast. When can you eat fish dishes?
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“The days of quitting this product are fleeting. They may change depending on the period of the year and Lent during each subsequent week, follow the church calendar.”
What can you eat today according to the Orthodox calendar?
Veronica, 42 years old, Novomoskovsk: “I don’t know all the canons yet, tell me what products are allowed now?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“Today (4.04) it is recommended to prepare hot Lenten dishes; you can add a little oil.”
What is the current post?
Inga, 33 years old, Tula: “Tell me, what is the Lent now? What is the name of?"
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“Lent is a preliminary stage, celebrated before Easter. Its main function is to prepare the souls of the laity for the moment when it is necessary for believers to draw closer to God. Not everyone will be able to survive this, so it is better to prepare your soul. You are on the right track!”
Is today a fast day or not?
Inna, 26 years old, Omsk: “I was 25 years old yesterday (it’s my birthday tonight, I’m already 26 years old!), but we’re celebrating the holiday later (due to circumstances). Until now I was not interested in religion (to be honest), but I decided to improve. I want to fast. Today, for example, is it a fast day?”
Expert opinion
Father Innocent
“Yes, now it’s Lent, Saturday is another fast day. You can safely prepare dishes without meat or eggs.”
