The Orthodox Church fasts throughout the year — four great fasting periods, and every Wednesday and Friday. A guide to the rules, the theology, and the practice.
On the Orthodox Fast
Fasting in the Orthodox Church is not punishment but medicine — a spiritual discipline that quiets the passions, sharpens prayer, and aligns the body with the soul's movement toward God. The Church fasts with the whole person: body, soul, and spirit together.
The Four Great Fasting Periods
The Weekly Fasting Rhythm
Wednesday commemorates the betrayal of Christ. Friday commemorates the Crucifixion. These are the two fasting days of the week, observed throughout the year except during fast-free weeks.
What Is Permitted
The Theology of Fasting
"Fasting is the foundation of every virtue, the beginning of the struggle, the crown of the temperate, the beauty of virginity and sanctity, the lustre of chastity, the commencement of the path of Christianity, the mother of prayer, the wellspring of prudence, the teacher of stillness, and the precursor of all good works."
— St. John Chrysostom
"When the stomach is contracted and does not desire much food, the mind becomes sharp and light for prayer. When the stomach is weighed down with food, thoughts become heavy and the mind becomes dull."
— St. John of the Ladder
Always consult your priest about your personal fasting rule. The Church's guidelines are adapted for health, age, pregnancy, illness, and circumstances of life. The letter of the rule serves the spirit of the rule.