What are the holidays in Lent. Orthodox church calendar. Why is it necessary to refrain from eating while fasting?

Great post (forty-day) - a central post in all historical churches and many Protestant denominations, the purpose of which is to prepare a Christian for the celebration of Easter; also the corresponding period of the liturgical year, marked in the service by prayers of repentance and remembrance of the death on the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Established in memory of the fact that Christ fasted in the desert for forty days. The duration of Lent is somehow related to the number 40, but its actual duration depends on the calculation rules adopted in this particular denomination.

Great Lent Dates:

Preparation

Preparation for Great Lent begins four weeks before it begins, which serves the purpose of spiritually preparing a Christian for the main and only meaning of Lent - repentance. Each of the Weeks (Sundays) and weeks preceding Great Lent has its own name.

Sunday of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

In the first week of preparation for fasting, the Church calls on Christians, following the example of Zacchaeus, to exercise free will in order to draw closer to God. The undersized Zacchaeus is sinful and limited, but his desire transcends and conquers all this. He forcefully attracts the attention of Jesus Christ, brings Him to his house.

Sunday of the publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14)

Three weeks before Great Lent, the Church recalls the gospel parable of the publican and the Pharisee. From this day begins the singing of the Lenten Triodion. At Matins, after the reading of the 50th Psalm, special penitential troparia “Open the doors of repentance to me…” are read, which are sung in all subsequent Weeks up to and including the fifth Week of Holy Lent.

The Church calls on the faithful to reflect on true and ostentatious repentance, when the one who condemns himself (the publican) was justified by God, and the one who exalts himself (the Pharisee) was condemned.

In commemoration of the fact that blind adherence to the letter of the law (charter) carries spiritual harm, on the following Wednesday and Friday, fasting is canceled. The next week is therefore called "solid", since on all its days, including Wednesday and Friday, according to the charter, it is allowed to eat fast food. The Typicon (Ch. 49) speaks of the abolition of fasting during this period: “It is fitting to know that in this week those who are wise keep fasting, which is called the Artsivurians. We are monks for every day, now on Wednesday and Friday, we eat cheese and eggs, at the 9th hour. The laity, on the other hand, eat meat, corrupting one of the dictates of a bit of heresy.

Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

At Matins, Psalm 136 “On the rivers of Babylon ...” is added to the usual polyeleos psalms with “red alleluia” (this psalm, in addition to the Week of the Prodigal Son, is also sung on the Week of the Last Judgment and the Week of Cheesefare).

During the following Meat Week, meat products are still allowed to be consumed, except for Wednesday and Friday.

Week of the Last Judgment

The penultimate Sunday preceding Great Lent, the fall into sin and the exile of Adam and Eve (Matt. 25:31-46), is dedicated to the coming Last Judgment - this is the last day when eating meat is allowed (“spell” on meat).

The week following it is called Myasopust, in folk tradition known as Shrovetide: the whole week, including Wednesday and Friday, it is allowed to eat fish, eggs, cheese, dairy products; however, on Wednesday and Friday, according to the Typicon, only one meal is served in the evening, and the services on these two days are similar to Great Lent: it is not allowed to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, the penitential prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is read with bows, etc.

The last Sunday before Great Lent is Forgiveness Sunday, also called “Cheese Week”: after Vespers on this day, the rite of mutual forgiveness is performed, after which the field of Holy Forty Days begins.

Great Lent lasts six weeks + Holy Week, starting no earlier than February 2 (15) and ending no later than April 24 (7) May, inclusive, depending on the date of the celebration of Easter. At the same time, the period from March 8 (21) to March 12 (March 25) always falls on Great Lent.

Each of the six weeks of Lent (ends on Friday of the sixth week, on the eve of Lazarus Saturday) in the month-word is named by serial number: the 1st week of Great Lent, the 2nd week of Great Lent, etc. - and ends with the Week (Sunday). From Holy Week, the counting of days in weeks begins with the Week (Sunday).

worship

The service during the entire duration of the Fortecost differs from the usual one mainly in that:

on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays there is no liturgy (if there is no holiday), but the hours are read and sung and pictorial;

on Wednesdays and Fridays, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated;

on Saturdays and Palm Sunday - the usual liturgy of John Chrysostom;

on Sundays (except Palm) - the liturgy of Basil the Great;

each of the six Sundays is dedicated to a special memory.

The 1st week of Great Lent is popularly known as Fedorov's Week. At church services on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at Great Compline, the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read, in parts, and on Friday, after the prayer behind the ambo, the prayer canon to the Great Martyr Theodore Tiron (hence the name of the first week) and the blessing of the koliva (kuti) is performed. ). Monday is popularly known as Clean Monday.

First week Lent - The Triumph of Orthodoxy: in the modern practice of the Russian Orthodox Church, "eternal memory" is proclaimed to all deceased defenders of the Orthodox faith, and "many years" to the living faithful. Until 1919, heresies were also anathematized, and even earlier in Russia - state criminals. At present, heresies are being anathematized in cathedral churches.

Second Week Great Lent - The Russian Orthodox Church remembers one of the great theologians - St. Gregory Palamas.

Third Week Great Lent - Adoration of the Cross: after the great doxology at Matins, the Holy Cross is worn out from the altar and offered for veneration by the faithful. The 4th week of Great Lent following the Week is called the Adoration of the Cross; its environment is the mid-afternoon of the Holy Forty Days (colloquially it was called the Cross of the Cross); from this day until Great Wednesday, at all liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts, the litany "On those preparing for holy enlightenment" (baptism) is added.

Fourth Week- passing memory prp. John of the Ladder. On Thursday of the 5th week, at matins, the entire great penitential canon of Andrew of Crete is read, as well as the life of St. Mary of Egypt - "Andreev standing" or "standing of Mary of Egypt." Another name for this week has become widespread - “Commendable” from the Saturday Akathist or Praise to the Most Holy Theotokos: on Saturday morning, the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos is solemnly read. The celebration was established in memory of the salvation of Constantinople from a foreign invasion in 626 under the emperor Heraclius.

Fifth Week- memory of Rev. Mary of Egypt, a model of true repentance. The sixth week is the week of vay, on the heel of which the Holy Forty Day ends; Saturday - Resurrection of the righteous Lazarus (Lazarus Saturday).

Sixth Week- The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday, the twelfth feast.

Passion Week:

Great Monday, Holy Monday- Monday of Holy Week. On this day, the Old Testament patriarch Joseph, sold by his brothers to Egypt, is remembered as a prototype of the suffering Jesus Christ, as well as the gospel story about Jesus cursing a barren fig tree, symbolizing a soul that does not bear spiritual fruit - true repentance, faith, prayer and good deeds.

Great Tuesday- Tuesday of Holy Week, which remembers the sermon of Jesus Christ in the Jerusalem Temple.

Great Wednesday, Holy Wednesday- Wednesday of Holy Week, which remembers the betrayal by Judas of Jesus Christ and the anointing of him with the world.

Maundy Thursday- Christ establishes the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Zion Room in Jerusalem. The Synoptic Gospels describe this day as the day of unleavened bread, that is, the Jewish Passover (Pesach). The Gospel of John and further events of other Gospels show that the Jews of Jerusalem celebrated Easter after the day of the execution of Christ, that is, two days later. One explanation, also based on the Qumran finds, suggests that the Galilean calendar was two days behind the Jerusalem calendar. Thus, at the Last Supper, the Old Testament Pesach - the lamb, wine and unleavened bread - is mystically associated with the New Testament Pascha - Christ, His Body and Blood;

Good Friday- according to tradition, before the Passover holiday, Pontius Pilate wanted to release one prisoner, in the hope that the people would ask for Jesus. However, incited by the high priests, the people demand that Barabbas be released. John emphasizes that the crucifixion takes place on the day of Easter, since the slaughter of the Paschal sacrificial lamb on the Old Testament Easter (Pesach) is a prototype of the New Testament Easter - the slaughter of Christ as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. Just as the bones of the Paschal lamb (first-born and without blemish) should not be broken, so Christ's legs are not broken, unlike other executed ones. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, having asked Pilate for the burial of the body of Jesus, wrap it in a shroud soaked in spices, and put it in the nearest coffin - a cave until the Sabbath rest. Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" are present at the burial;

Holy Saturday- the high priests, remembering that Christ spoke about his resurrection on the third day, despite the current holiday and Saturday, turn to Pilate to put guards for three days so that the disciples do not steal the body, thereby depicting the resurrection of the teacher from the dead;

Enamel miniature "The Resurrection of Christ" (shoulder pad of Andrey Bogolyubsky, c. 1170-1180s)

Easter - Bright Resurrection of Christ:

Resurrection of Christ (the first day after Saturday) - after the Sabbath rest, the Myrrh-bearing Women go to the tomb. In front of them, an angel descends to the tomb and rolls off a stone from it, an earthquake occurs, and the guards are plunged into fear. The angel tells the women that Christ is risen and will lead them to Galilee. Appearance of Christ to the disciples;

Meals in Lent

With regard to the meal, the Church Charter prescribes the following rules:

in the first and last (Holy Week) weeks - a particularly strict fast;

“fast” foods are not allowed;

on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - cold food without oil once a day (in the evening);

on Tuesdays and Thursdays - hot food without oil once a day (in the evening);

on Saturdays and Sundays, it is allowed to consume vegetable oil and grape wine (except for the Saturday of Holy Week) twice a day (in the daytime and in the evening);

on Good Friday nothing is supposed to be eaten;

on Great Saturday, many believers also refuse food until Easter, but the Charter allows a single meal of raw food with wine on the evening of this day;

fish is allowed only on the holidays of the Annunciation (if it did not coincide with Holy Week) and on Palm Sunday (Vaiy); on Lazarus Saturday, fish is not allowed, but caviar can be eaten.

On the days of memory of the most revered saints, if they fell on Great Lent, it is also allowed:

• on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - eat hot food with vegetable oil;
• on Wednesday and Friday - hot food without oil, but with wine.

Lent falls in the spring, so the main products of this fast are pickles and jams from vegetables and fruits, as well as carrots, onions, cabbage, beets, canned green peas and other legumes, apples, oranges, dried fruits and nuts. There are many different dishes that can be prepared using these and other products.

The Orthodox calendar has four multi-day fasts preceding the annual church holidays. However, Great Lent is considered the most significant and important in the life of Orthodox Christians, designed to awaken repentance in believers and realize their sins. Let us consider in more detail the most important rules that must be observed during Great Lent, its purpose and the dates on which it will take place in 2017.

When will Lent begin?

This post does not have a clear and unambiguously defined start and end date, since it is directly related to the onset time. The duration of Lent is seven weeks. In 2017, this will be the period from February 27 to April 15, after which the Orthodox will joyfully celebrate the feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ.

Easter is one of the most joyful Christian holidays, but preparation for this event requires renunciation of worldly fuss and temptations, manifestation of spiritual and physical stamina that helps the laity to be cleansed of sins. The pre-Easter fast belongs to the category of the most strict. In addition, this is also one of the oldest posts - according to some written sources, Christians have adhered to it since the time of the apostles!

By adhering to Great Lent, believers, as it were, repeat the feat of Jesus, who renounced food for forty days during his wanderings in the wilderness. Throughout this period, in no case should you let sad thoughts into your soul, nurture resentment, experience envious or malicious feelings. This time should be spent in soul-saving prayers, bringing a peaceful state and absolute peace of mind.

Many Orthodox during the pre-Easter Lent attend evening and morning services. During this time, the church forbids loud music, noisy entertainment, laughter and raised voices, as well as foul language. An important point for young people: throughout Lent, you can’t spend it!

Features of food in Lent

According to the Typikon (liturgical charter containing information about church traditions and rituals), during the seven weeks of fasting, you can not eat products obtained from animals. That is, modest food in the form of meat, milk, butter, animal fat, eggs, and the like is under the strictest ban. The church also includes alcoholic beverages (except red wine), coffee and tea in the group of forbidden products.

The strictest periods of fasting are the first and seventh weeks. As soon as the first day of fasting comes - Clean Monday - believers should refuse to eat and spend this day, renouncing the worldly fuss as much as possible, tuning in to the period of purification. The dietary rules to be followed during Lent can be summarized as follows:

• Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday characterized by special severity in comparison with other days. Believers may eat dry food such as bread, vegetables, nuts, honey, or fruits. From drinking only plain water is allowed. At the same time, you can eat only once a day after sunset;
• Tuesdays and Thursdays are characterized by some relaxation of fasting, since these days the Orthodox can eat hot food, in the preparation of which cereals and vegetables were used. Dishes cannot be seasoned with oil, and you can eat only once a day in the evening;
• On Saturdays and Sundays dishes can be seasoned with vegetable oil. It is also allowed to drink a little red wine twice a day to maintain strength;
• On the Feast of the Annunciation (April 7), Orthodox can diversify the lenten menu with fish. However, this rule does not apply to days when the holiday falls on Holy Week;
• Palm Sunday also gives the Orthodox a slight relaxation of the fast. You can cook dishes based on fish;
• Lazarus Saturday allows believers to diversify the Lenten table with fish caviar dishes;
• On Good Friday believers must adhere to especially strict rules of fasting, if possible, not eating at all.

Traditions and memorable dates of Great Lent

During the seven weeks during which Great Lent continues, believers must observe certain traditions and remember the most significant deeds of the saints:

• Fedorov week (first week of Lent) takes place in the commemoration of the defenders of the Christian faith. On Saturday, believers honor the memory of the martyr Theodore of Amasea, who, under the threat of hunger, laceration with iron and burning at the stake, did not break and refused to offer sacrifices to pagan gods;
• Second week of fasting takes place in commemoration of Gregory Palamas. This hereditary aristocrat at the age of twenty abandoned brilliant prospects and left the royal court of the rulers of Constantinople to spend his life as a hermit on Mount Athos in confinement in monasteries and work his way up to the rank of Archbishop of Thessaloniki, an Orthodox theologian, polemicist and philosopher;
• Third week of fasting called the Cross. At this time, believers worship the Life-Giving Cross;
• Fourth week of fasting dedicated to the life of John of the Ladder, who at the age of sixteen went to the mountains of Sinai to become a monk. Subsequently, he lived as a hermit in the desert for another forty years, and then became the abbot of the monastery in Sinai. It was John who became the author of the Ladder - spiritual ascetic tablets, which are designed to help believers achieve spiritual perfection;
• Fifth week of fasting takes place in commemoration of the life and deeds of the patroness of all penitent sinners - Mary of Egypt;
• Sixth (Palm) week- it's time to remember the events when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem;
• seventh week, completing the post, is called Passionate. This week you need to repent of voluntary or involuntary sins, take communion and be cleansed of everything sinful, since during this week Jesus endured cruel torments for the sake of people. Every day of this week is Great, as it was accompanied by the most important biblical events: the Last Supper, the betrayal of Jesus, the Calvary execution and the miraculous Resurrection. This week, believers should protect themselves as much as possible from worldly fuss - do not watch television programs, do not listen to music, and stay at home as much as possible.

What date does Great Lent begin in 2017, a nutrition calendar by day, what you can and cannot eat - read about all this in the Topnews material.

Lent in 2017: what date does it begin and end

On February 27, 2017, Orthodox Christians begin the most "important" and strict fast. Lent will last until Easter, which falls on April 16 this year. And this weekend ends Shrovetide - the preparatory fasting period.

It is not called preparatory by chance. In order to smoothly enter the post, you need to properly prepare - for which it is not recommended to lean on the days before the start of Lent intcbatch for heavy and fatty foods. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the body to quickly rebuild, and this threatens with big problems with the stomach and intestines.

The services of the first week of Great Lent will also be special and different from the rest of the days. For example, from Monday to Thursday, Great Compline is served every evening with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

In itself, the upcoming fast is considered the most strict, believers must give up many products.

Lent 2017: what you can and cannot eat

The first and main rule of Great Lent states that during this period, Orthodox Christians should not consume meat products of animal origin. The ban also remains not only meat, but also any milk and dairy products, eggs and other products of animal origin.

The first and last weeks of abstinence from fast food are especially strict, Friday, Monday and Wednesday are also very strictly observed, since during this period you can only eat raw dishes that have not been cooked.

In addition, three days a week, meals are necessarily transferred to the evening after sunset.

On Tuesday and Thursday, food is also consumed only once a day, while eating is done after sunset, although it is quite allowed to eat hot dishes here, but on this day you will also have to refrain from adding oil to dishes.

On weekends, fasting becomes a little easier, as there are some indulgences, if desired, a little vegetable oil is added to the dishes, food is allowed to be cooked in the oven or on the stove, in addition, the Orthodox can afford a couple of glasses of wine per day.

There is also Holy Week, it is considered the most strict, since after it the Great Easter is celebrated, Orthodox Christians should be especially strict on Friday this week, since Good Friday implies a complete rejection of food, you can only drink clean water.

If it is not possible to completely refuse food, it is worth using a raw food diet.

Well, Palm Sunday and the Annunciation are considered the simplest days during fasting, since these days are holidays when housewives can serve fish dishes on the table.

There are other days when there is a slight relaxation of the diet, for example, if Great Lent falls on one of the days of the great holy martyr, then the Orthodox can afford hot dishes seasoned with a small amount of vegetable oil.

So, during Lent, meat, milk, eggs, cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, animal butter, rich bread and pastries fall under a complete ban. It is not necessary to completely abandon flour products, the main thing is that they do not contain milk and eggs, but only water, flour and salt.

You can eat: vegetables, fruits, cereals, legumes, mushrooms, on some days - fish and caviar.

Sweets are also allowed, but only if they are made without adding milk, such as dark chocolate, honey and sugar.

Lent 2017: food calendar by day (table)

According to church canons, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, only cold food is eaten, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, hot food is allowed without oil.

On Saturdays and Sundays, in addition to vegetable oil, you can sip a little wine. It is impossible only on Saturday of Holy Week.

Many Orthodox Christians are looking forward to Great Lent. Fasting is not only bodily fasting, but also spiritual cleansing. Great post in 2017, what date is a popular question. The post date each year is floating. Fasting begins after the end of the oil week, that is, on Forgiveness Sunday. Lent 2017 begins on February 27th and will last until April 15th.

Great Lent lasts 47 days. It is divided into several stages. Fasting requires the preparation of the body and psychological attitude. During the fast, not only do they not eat many types of food, but they refuse lush festivities, alcohol and bad thoughts. The purpose of observing Great Lent is repentance. A person during this period must realize all his sins and repent of them. According to Orthodox canons, the duration of fasting symbolizes the forty-day fasting of Jesus Christ during his wanderings in the wilderness. When Great Lent comes, prayers should be read, a person’s thoughts should be pure, and bad thoughts should leave the head.

Great Lent and its stages:

forty days of fasting begin on Monday, February 27 and last for 40 days until April 6;
The Annunciation comes on April 7;
Palm Saturday and Sunday 8.9 April;
a particularly strict fast begins on April 10 and is called Passionate. It will last until April 15, 2017.

The Annunciation is one of the most revered Christian holidays. Spring makes winter leave the earth on this day. All earthly creatures on this day leave their holes and wake up after hibernation. According to popular beliefs, the Annunciation is a greater holiday than Easter. On this day, it is strictly forbidden to work, even sinners in hell are not subject to torment.

According to the day of the annunciation, they evaluate what Easter will be like, the upcoming weeks and even the whole year of life.

What do they eat while fasting

The choice of dishes for fasting is a difficult task for a modern person. The modern rhythm of life implies the use of high-calorie foods, which during this period will have to be abandoned.

It is permissible and desirable during the days of Great Lent, as well as the next Holy Week, to eat a raw or dry diet. On weekends you can eat hot food, and on Sunday even drink wine.

It is customary to eat once a day on fasting days. The time for eating is evening. You can violate this order on April 7,8,9. It is allowed to eat fish on the Annunciation. Such a table will be considered festive. Fish can be served with potatoes, buckwheat or rice. All these side dishes can be fried with butter and onions. Vegetable salads are also appropriate on the festive table. They can be seasoned with vegetable oil, or lean mayonnaise. This can often be found on store shelves in the post. Baking can also be lean, without the use of butter and eggs. Do not forget that on the feast of the Annunciation it is undesirable to load the body with heavy foods and a large amount of food eaten. The body is already getting used to eating once a day, so a large load can only harm health.

holiday superstitions

A festive day, especially in the old days, was filled with a large number of signs:

On the day of the Annunciation, it was not worth putting on new clothes. The holiday is considered spiritual. Clothing on this day should be worn already in the sock. He new attire is worth giving up;
in order not to spoil your fate, you should not comb your hair;
in order not to give away your happiness and not accept someone else's grief on this day, refuse money transactions, that is, you should not borrow and repay your debts;
work is also considered a sin. A person on this day should think about the spiritual beginning.

Signs and superstitions are good, and the modern rhythm of life makes you borrow and repay debts, as well as look neat and combed, so if you want to break these superstitions, pray before doing the things described above.

fasting calendar

On the Sunday before Lent, meat is allowed. Monday and Tuesday are the first days of fasting, on which they do not eat. The first week is considered especially strict not only in terms of eating, but also in terms of thoughts. On certain days of fasting, deceased relatives are commemorated, and saints are also remembered.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you can eat raw food: nuts, vegetables, fruits, compotes. On Tuesday and Thursday, it is allowed to eat food that is warm, but does not contain oil.

On the Annunciation, Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, you can eat fish products.

On Good Friday, they do not eat anything until the removal of the shroud.

On days when it is allowed to eat hot food, you can be content with soups and borscht, cereals, and vegetables. You need to cook without oil. Nuts and dried fruits provide a lot of energy, so they are considered indispensable during fasting days.

Alcoholic drinks are allowed only on Sunday and on the Annunciation. Wine is considered a permitted drink.

In addition to food, you should refrain from attending festive events, concerts, shows, parties. Going to the cinema or the theater is also not welcomed by the church. Marital duty also requires abstinence.

The soul of a person at this time should be freed from bad thoughts, malicious thoughts. This is the time for reading spiritual literature, enlightenment. It is worth doing more good deeds, trying to free yourself from tension and negative energy. People who endure 47 days of abstinence become more sacred, spiritual and open.

A modern person can use fasting as a diet. This is not always recognized and supported by the church. Spirituality is a significant role.

Who is allowed not to fast

Fasting is not in the belly, but in the spirit
folk proverb

Nothing in life comes without effort. And to celebrate a holiday, you need to prepare for it.
In the Russian Orthodox Church there are four multi-day fasts, fasting on Wednesday and Friday throughout the year (with the exception of a few weeks), three one-day fasts.

On the first four days of the first week of Great Lent (from Monday to Thursday), during the evening service, the Great (Penitent) Canon is read, the work of the brilliant Byzantine hymnographer St. Andrew of Crete (VIII century).

ATTENTION! Below you will find information about dry eating, oil-free food and days of complete abstinence from food. All this is an old monastic tradition, which even in monasteries can not always be observed in our time. Such strictness of fasting is not for the laity, but the usual practice is to abstain from eggs, dairy and meat food during fasting, and during a strict fast - also abstaining from fish. For all possible questions and about your individual measure of fasting, you need to consult with the confessor.

Dates are in the new style.

Calendar of fasts and meals for 2017

The Savior himself was led by the spirit into the wilderness, was tempted by the devil for forty days, and did not eat anything during those days. The Savior began the work of our salvation by fasting. Great Lent is a fast in honor of the Savior Himself, and the last Passion Week of this forty-eight-day fast is established in honor of the memory of the last days of earthly life, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
With special strictness, fasting is observed in the first and Passion Week.
On Clean Monday, complete abstinence from food is customary. The rest of the time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry eating (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 (April 7) and on Palm Sunday (April 24 in 2017). On Lazarus Saturday (April 23, 2017), caviar is allowed. On Good Friday (April 29, 2017), food must not be eaten until the shroud is taken out.

Petrov fast is also called Apostolic fast

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. This post is called summer. The continuation of the fast is different, depending on how early or late Easter is.
It always starts on All Saints Monday and ends on July 12th. The longest Petrov fast includes six weeks, and the shortest week with a day. This fast was established in honor of the Holy Apostles, who through fasting and prayer prepared themselves for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel and prepared their successors in the work of salvific service.
Strict fasting (dry eating) on ​​Wednesday and Friday. On Monday you can have hot food without oil. On other days - fish, mushrooms, cereals with vegetable oil.

Christmas (Filippov) post. At the end of autumn, 40 days before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church calls us to the winter fast. It is also called Filippov, because it begins after the day dedicated to the memory of the Apostle Philip, and Christmas, because it happens before the feast of the Nativity of Christ.
This fast was established in order for us to offer the Lord a thankful sacrifice for the collected earthly fruits and to prepare for the grace-filled union with the born Savior.
The charter on food coincides with the charter of Peter's fast, until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19).
If the feast of the Entrance into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos falls on Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. After the day of memory of St. Nicholas and before the feast of Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. On the eve of the feast, you can not eat fish on all days, on Saturday and Sunday - food with butter.
On Christmas Eve, you can’t eat food until the first star appears, after which it is customary to eat sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.

Solid weeks in 2017

A week is a week from Monday to Sunday. These days there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday.
Five continuous weeks:
Christmas time - from January 7 to 17,
Publican and Pharisee - 2 weeks before from February 5 to February 12,
Cheese (Shrovetide) - the week before (without meat) from February 20 to February 26,
Easter (Bright) - the week after Easter from April 17 to April 23,
Trinity - a week after the Trinity from June 5 to 11.

Post Wednesday and Friday

The 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 the death of the Savior. On these days of the week, the Holy Church forbids the use of meat and dairy foods, and during the week of All Saints before the Nativity of Christ, abstinence should also be from fish and vegetable oil. Only when the days of the celebrated saints fall on Wednesday and Friday is vegetable oil allowed, and on the biggest holidays, such as Intercession, fish.
Some relief is allowed for those who are sick and busy with hard work, so that Christians have the strength to pray and the necessary work, but the use of fish on the wrong days, and even more so, the complete resolution of fasting is rejected by the charter.

One day posts

Epiphany Christmas Eve- January 18, on the eve of the Epiphany of the Lord. On this day, Christians prepare for purification and consecration with holy water on the feast of Epiphany.
The Beheading of John the Baptist- 11 September. This is the day of memory and death of the great prophet John.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross- September 27. The memory of the suffering of the Savior on the cross for the salvation of the human race. This day is spent in prayers, fasting, contrition for sins.
One day posts- days of strict fasting (except Wednesday and Friday). Fish is forbidden, but food with vegetable oil is allowed.

Orthodox holidays. About eating on holidays

According to the Church Charter, there is no fasting on the feasts of the Nativity of Christ and Theophany, which happened on Wednesday and Friday. On Christmas Eve and Epiphany Eve and on the feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Beheading of John the Baptist, food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the feasts of the Presentation, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Assumption, the Nativity and Protection 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, and also in the period from Easter to Trinity on Wednesday and Friday fish are allowed.

When the marriage does not take place

On the eve of Wednesday and Friday of the whole year (Tuesday and Thursday), Sundays (Saturday), Twelve, temple and great holidays; in continuation of the posts: Veliky, Petrov, Uspensky, Rozhdestvensky; during Christmas time, on Meat Week, during Cheese Week (Maslenitsa) and on Cheese Fare Week; during the Paschal (Bright) week and on the days of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27.

If you would like to know more about Orthodox fasts then take a look at the article.