Special Fast Days

• August 29 - The Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
• September 14 - The Elevation of the Holy Cross.
• January 5 - The Eve of the Epiphany.

Lent, the Great Fast

Lent begins forty days before Palm Sunday, on the Monday after Cheese-Fare Sunday, and lasts until the evening preceding Palm Sunday. Holy Week is a special Fast in honor of our Lord's Passion, and lasts from the evening of Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday.
• Start of Lent in:
  1999 - February 22
  2000 - March 13

The Fast of the Holy Apostles

The Fast of the Holy Apostles begins on the Monday after All Saints' Sunday (the Sunday next after Pentecost) and lasts until June 29, the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This Fast varies in length according to the date of Pascha (Easter).

The Fast of the Theotokos

The Fast which preceeds the Feast of the Falling-asleep of the All-holy Theotokos begins on August 1 and lasts until the day of the Feast, August 15.

The Fast Before Christmas

The Fast before Christmas begins on November 15 and lasts until the day of the Feast of the Nativity, December 25.

Periods when fasting is forbidden

The Church forbids fasting during the following periods:
• From December 25 to January 5.
• The week following the Sunday of the Pahrisee and Publican.
• The week following Meat-fare Sunday (abstinence from flesh-meat is required during this week, but no fasting).
• The week following Pascha (Easter).
• The week following Pentecost.
• All Saturdays, excepting Holy Saturday.