2026 Orthodox Fasting Calendar: When Each Fast Falls and What You Can Eat
Orthodox fasting isn’t a single period in the year — it’s four separate fasts, each with its own rules and length. Here’s when each one falls in 2026 and what’s generally allowed to eat.
Dormition Fast — August 14–27, 2026
The Dormition Fast runs from August 14 to 27 and is one of the stricter fasts of the year. It ends on August 28, the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Fish is traditionally allowed only on the feast of the Transfiguration, August 19 — outside that day, the diet excludes meat, dairy, eggs, and usually fish as well.
Nativity Fast — November 28, 2026 – January 6, 2027
The Nativity Fast always begins on November 28 and lasts until Christmas Eve, January 6. Its rules are gentler than the Dormition Fast — fish is usually allowed on weekends and major feast days until mid-December, and the fast becomes stricter in its final days before Christmas.
Great Lent
Great Lent begins seven weeks before Orthodox Easter and runs for 40 days plus Holy Week. Because its date depends on Easter, which shifts every year, we check the exact start date each year — it generally falls between February and April.
Apostles’ Fast
The Apostles’ Fast begins on the Monday after All Saints’ Sunday (eight days after Pentecost) and always ends on July 11, the eve of the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Its length depends on that year’s Easter date — sometimes just a few days, sometimes several weeks.
What exactly does "fasting food" mean?
Fasting food excludes meat, dairy, and eggs. Depending on how strict a given fast is and the day of the week, fish, oil, and wine are sometimes excluded too — this is set by the church calendar (typikon), not a single blanket rule for every day.
Is cooking chocolate fasting-compliant?
It depends on the product — standard cooking chocolate often contains powdered milk or milk fat. In our range, the vegan white confectionery bar is made without any dairy ingredients and is clearly labeled as fasting-compliant.
When exactly is fish eaten during the Dormition Fast?
Traditionally, fish is allowed only on the feast of the Transfiguration, August 19. Outside that day, the Dormition Fast is one of the stricter fasts in the church calendar.
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