Liturgical Calendar

2026 Fasting Calendar

Fixed vs. movable dates. Not everything below repeats the same way every year. The dates marked FIXED fall on the same calendar day every single year and never need updating. The dates marked MOVABLE are calculated from Pascha, which shifts every year — the specific dates given here are correct only for 2026 (Pascha = April 12, 2026, per the Revised/New Calendar reckoning used for this table) and will need to be recalculated for any future year.

One-day fasts — FIXED, same every year

  • Every Wednesday and Friday, except fast-free weeks
  • Eve of Theophany — January 18
  • Beheading of St. John the Baptist — September 11
  • Exaltation of the Holy Cross — September 27

Extended fasts

  • The Great Fast — MOVABLE: February 23 – April 11, 2026 only
  • The Apostles' Fast — MOVABLE: June 8 – July 11, 2026 only
  • The Dormition Fast — FIXED: August 14 – 27, every year
  • The Nativity Fast — FIXED: November 28 – January 6, every year

Fast-free weeks

  • Nativity to Theophany Eve — FIXED: January 7–17, every year
  • Week of the Publican and the Pharisee — MOVABLE: February 2–8, 2026 only
  • Cheesefare / Butter Week — MOVABLE: February 16–22, 2026 only (dairy and eggs allowed every day, including Wednesday and Friday)
  • Bright Week — MOVABLE: April 13–19, 2026 only
  • The week following Pentecost — MOVABLE: June 1–7, 2026 only

Meatfare week

Not fast-free — this is the last week meat is eaten before Lent. MOVABLE: February 9–15, 2026 only, ending on Meatfare Sunday, February 15.

Fasting is always best taken up with the guidance of your parish priest or spiritual father, who can help you fast according to your own strength, health, and stage in the spiritual life. If you have questions about how to begin or adjust a fasting practice, please write to paschaportal@yahoo.com.

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