Calendar of fasts for 2025: all dates of Orthodox fasts

Fasting plays an important role in the lives of believers, helping them to focus on spiritual values and give up excesses. In 2025, Orthodox Christians will observe four main fasts and several additional fasts. When to fast, what you can and can not do during the period of restrictions, read in the material "Izvestia".

The main Orthodox fasts of 2025

The word "fasting" comes from the Greek word νηστεία, which means "do not eat". According to the biblical commandments, gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. Thus, the main purpose of fasting is considered to be the purification of the soul and body of the fasting person.

In the Orthodox tradition there are four multi-day fasts, the observance of which is an important part of the spiritual life of a believer. They are connected with preparation for significant church holidays and include food restrictions, prayerful concentration and renunciation of worldly pleasures.

Lent in 2025

Lent includes six weeks and Holy Week, during which believers must observe strict restrictions. It will last from March 3 to April 19 and will be a preparation for the celebration of Easter, which in 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, April 20.

Great Lent is considered the strictest, it is designed to remind believers of the forty days spent by Jesus Christ without food in the desert, where he was tempted by the devil. The Holy Week, which concludes the fast, is established in memory of the last days of the earthly life, suffering and death of the Son of God.

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During Lent believers exclude meat, dairy products, eggs from their diet. Fish is allowed to eat only on Annunciation on April 7 and Palm Sunday on April 13.

St. Peter's (Apostolic) Lent in 2025

St. Peter's Lent is dedicated to the memory of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, who by restrictions and prayer prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel.

Lent begins seven days after the feast of Pentecost, the date of which depends on Easter. In 2025 it will last from June 16 to July 11.

During this period the food requirements are not as strict as in the Great Lent. Strict restrictions (dry eating) are provided only on Wednesday and Friday. On Monday believers are allowed to eat hot food without oil. On other days fish, mushrooms, cereals with vegetable oil are allowed.

Dormition Lent in 2025

A month after the Apostolic Lent comes the turn of the multi-day Dormition Lent, which lasts two weeks - from August 14 to 27. It is a preparation for the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on August 28, and reminds the faithful of the last 14 days of the life of the Mother of God.

It is similar to the Great feast in severity, but shorter in duration. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday believers should observe dry fasting. On Tuesday and Thursday hot food without oil is allowed. On Saturday and Sunday - with vegetable oil.

On August 19, the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, believers can cook fish.

Christmas fast in 2025

The Christmas (Philip's) fast comes at the end of fall, 40 days before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ. In 2025 it will begin on November 28 and will last until January 6, 2026.

It is also called Philip's Lent because it begins after the day dedicated to the memory of the Apostle Philip.

The fast calls the faithful to offer the Lord a sacrifice of thanksgiving for the harvested fruits of the earth and to prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, celebrated on January 7.

It provides for gradual abstinence, food restrictions coincide with the statutes of St. Peter's Lent until St. Nicholas Day (from November 28 to December 19). Monday (hot food without oil is allowed), Wednesday and Friday (only dry eating is allowed) are considered strict. On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, fish and seafood may be eaten.

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From December 20 to January 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays it is no longer allowed to eat fish, only food with vegetable oil is allowed. On other days the rules of eating remain the same.

If the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin falls on Wednesday or Friday, fish is allowed on that day. It can also be eaten on Saturday and Sunday after the feast of St. Nicholas and before the pre-Christmas feast, which lasts five days from January 2 to January 6.

On the pre-Christmas holiday itself, fish is forbidden on all days. On January 2 hot food without oil is allowed, on January 3 - dry fasting, and on January 4 and 5 - hot food with oil.

Christmas Eve is considered to be the strictest day of pre-holiday. On January 6 it is not allowed to eat until the first star, after that it is allowed to eat sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins. The word "Christmas Eve" comes from the name of this traditional dish.

One-day fasts in 2025

In addition to multi-day fasts, there are one-day fasts, during which meat, eggs, milk and fish are not consumed, but food with vegetable oil is allowed.

On Epiphany Eve (Epiphany Eve), January 18, a strict fast is observed before the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. It is forbidden to eat any food until the first star appears, after which it is customary to eat sochivo.

Also fasting is observed on September 11 on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist, when they remember the martyrdom of the prophet who predicted the coming of the Savior to earth. On this day you can not eat meat, fish, eggs, butter.

On September 27, the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Orthodox Christians observe the one-day Fast of the Exaltation of the Cross. This is a special time of repentance and prayer. It implies the refusal of meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. If September 27 falls on Wednesday or Friday, the dietary restrictions are even stricter - only dry eating is allowed.

Prohibitions and recommendations during Christian fasts: what can and cannot be done

Traditionally, fasting is a time for in-depth prayer, reading the Holy Scriptures and attending church services.

During this period there are a number of restrictions. A fasting person should refuse to eat animal products (meat, milk and eggs), alcohol, as well as attending entertainment events and noisy parties. Carnal pleasures are forbidden.

However, the main meaning of fasting is not in giving up certain foods, but in gaining inner harmony and spiritual purification. Believers are advised to control not only food, but also their own thoughts, for example, to avoid envy, discouragement and aggression.

Since the restrictions will require not only physical but also volitional efforts, believers are advised to prepare in advance. For example, familiarize themselves with traditions, make a list of healthy plant foods to avoid nutrient deficiencies.

During fasting, food restrictions may not be observed for medical contraindications. So, an exception can be made for diabetics, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, as well as patients with chronic diseases.

Earlier "Izvestia" told what prayers should be read on the Feast of the Epiphany.