Fasting, Prayers, and Almsgiving

The Orthodox Church inherited its rules of fasting from the early Christians. On strict fast days we give up meat products, dairy products, eggs, olive oil, and alcoholic drinks and limit the number of meals. Your spiritual father can adapt the fasting discipline for poor health, heavy work, or small children.

Orthodox Christians move through several fasting periods each year: the six weeks of Great Lent (beginning Clean Monday and ending Holy Saturday), Holy Week, the Nativity Fast, the Dormition Fast, and the Fast of the Holy Apostles. We also fast every Wednesday and Friday, the Eve of Theophany, the Beheading of St. John, and other single days.

Click HERE for the complete calendar, including fast-free periods. 

Think plant power: beans, grains, vegetable oil, fruit, and nuts form the base. Shellfish and “meaning fish” like calamari are usually fine; actual fish appears only on certain feast days such as Palm Sunday or the Forefeast of the Annunciation.

Need ideas for full meals that still follow the strict fasting rule? Visit our fasting recipes site.

During a total fast we avoid all animal products, dairy, eggs, olive oil, and wine. The restriction eases on certain days, but meat stays off the table until Pascha.

Orthodox Christians keep two forty-day seasons—Great Lent and the Nativity Fast. We imitate Jesus Christ’s wilderness fast, the Old Testament vigils of Moses and Elijah, and the teaching of Saint Paul. Church Fathers explain that ascetic fasting deepens spiritual disciplines, invites the Holy Spirit, promotes spiritual growth, and prepares us for a worthy reception of Holy Communion.