Fasting Guidelines

The purpose of fasting is to focus on the things of God's Kingdom and be freed from dependence on wordly things. Fasting in itself is not a means of pleasing God. Fasting is not a punishment for our sins. Nor is fasting a means fo suffering and pain to be undertaken as some kind of atonement. Christ already redeemed us on His Cross. Salvation is a gift from God that is not bought by our hunger or thrist. We fast to be delivered from carnal passions so that God's gift of salvation may bear great fruit in our lives. We fast and turn our eyes toward God in His Holy Church. Fasting and Prayer are meant to go together. Most of all, it is important that we do not eat each other. We ask God to "set a watch and keep the door of our lips" Fasting is not irrelevant, is not obsolete, is not something for someone else. Fasting is from God, for us, right here and right now. We fast faithfully and in secret, not judging others and not holding ourselves up as an example

MEAT-Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork, Veal, Rabbit, Buffalo, etc.

DAIRY-Milk, Cheese, Butter, Eggs, Yogurt, Cream, etc.

FISH-Any fish with a backbone. This does not include shellfish.

WINE-Wine, (some include all alcohol), Permitted on all Saturdays and Sundays.

OIL-Olive Oil, (some include all oils), Permitted on all Saturdays and Sundays. Except Great and Holy Saturday.

TIMES OF FASTING:

Each Week-Wednesdays (in memory of the Betrayal) and Fridays (in memory of the Crucifixion): MEAT, DAIRY, FISH, WINE, OIL

Nativity Fast-11/15 until 12/25: MEAT, DAIRY, FISH-allowed on Saturdays and Sundays before 12/20, WINE-allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays before 12/20, OIL-allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays before 12/20

Meatfare Week-MEAT

Great Lent/Holy Week-Begins on the Monday after Cheesefare Sunday until Pascha: MEAT, DAIRY, FISH-allowed on Annunciation and Palm Sunday, WINE-allowed on Annunciation and Great Thursday, OIL-allowed on Annunciation and Great Thursday

Apostles' Fast-Begins on the Monday after All Saints' Sunday (the Sunday next after Pentecost) and lasts until June 29 (Ss. Peter & Paul): MEAT, DAIRY, FISH-allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, WINE-allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, OIL-allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Dormition Fast-8/1 until 8/15-MEAT, DAIRY, FISH-allowed on Transfiguration, WINE-allowed on Transfiguration, OIL-allowed on Transfiguration.

Strict Fast Days-Total Abstinence from all food and drink (except water and herbal teas, if hydration is absolutely necessary)(Traditionally observed on the first three days of Great Lent and from Great Friday until Pascha

Eucharistic Fast/Evening Divine Liturgy-total abstinence at least from the previous midnight for communing at a morning liturgy. Usually from noon for evening divine liturgy. Fast also from Marital Relations, smoking, food & drink.

DO NOT FAST:

-12/25-1/5

-Week following the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

-Pascha to Acension -Week following Pentecost

-If you are pregnant or nursing a newborn

-during serious illness

-without prayer

-according to your own will without guidance from your spiritual father