FASTING
Fasting accompanied with prayer and charity helps the Christian both spiritually and physically. Our Christ was fasting. The Prophets, the Apostles and all the Saints were fasting. Every Christian should fast.

WHEN WE MUST FAST

1. Every Wednesday and Friday. Normally we fast the oil, unless an important Feast takes precedence over the fast.
2. The Great Lent. From Clean Monday till Great Saturday. During the first week of the Lent (Clean Week) and the Great Week we fast the oil. The day of the celebration of the Annunciation of Theotokos on the 25th of March fish is permitted. The same on Palm Sunday as well.
3. The forty days Lent before Christmas. From the 15th of November to the 24th of December. During this Lent fish is permitted except on Wednesday and Friday. However fish is not permitted from the 17th to the 24th of December.
4. The period of the Feast of the Dormition of Theotokos (Decapentavgoustos) 1-14 of August. On the 6th of August fish is permitted due to the Lord’s celebration of Transfiguration.
5. The period of the celebration of the Holy Apostles. From Monday after Sunday of all Saints till the 28th of June included. Also during this fast fish is permitted except on Wednesday and Friday.
6. The day before Theophania (5 January), the feast of the Elevation of the Precious Cross (14 September) and the feast of the beheading of the precious head of Saint John the Baptist (29 August). On these days we fast the oil unless it happens to be on Saturday or Sunday and we eat oil.

WHEN WE DO NOT FAST

We do not fast:

1. During the holy 12 Days. That is from Christmas day 25th of December to the 4th of January included.
2. The Week after Easter (Easter week), from Easter Sunday till Sunday of Thomas.
3. The Pentecost Week, from Pentecost Sunday till Sunday of all Saints. These great and joyful days are free of fast, even on Wednesdays and Fridays. Also the first week of Triodion, from Sunday of Tax Collector and Pharisee till Sunday of the Prodigal Son is fast free even on Wednesdays and Fridays.
4. The week from Sunday of Meat-Fare till Sunday of Cheese-fare is fast free except meat (white fast).
5. On the day of Apodosis of the Feast of Easter (40 days after Easter) and on Wednesday of Middle Pentecost fish is permitted.
6. On the Feast days of Theotokos (Virgin Mary, Mother of God) and on the Feast days of Saint John the Baptist if it happens to be on Wednesday or Friday then fish is permitted. Exception is only the 29th of August when we fast the oil unless it happens to be on Saturday or Sunday and we eat oil.
7. We never fast the oil on Saturday or on Sunday except on the Great Saturday.