LENTEN FASTING
Fast free week: All foods allowed every day.
Meat fare week: Fasting Wed. & Fri. as usual.
Cheesefare Week: NO meat; all other foods permitted.
GREAT LENT: Beginning MONDAY after Forgiveness Sunday, we eliminate
MEAT, DAIRY AND EGGS, and FISH.
WINE (i.e., all alcohol) and OLIVE OIL are generally permitted on weekends and
some other days. FISH is permitted on ANNUNCIATION, March 25th
N.B. FISH includes only fish with backbone. Shellfish (e.g., clams, mussels, oysters) and
seafood (crab, lobster, shrimp) are PERMITTED THROUGHOUT LENT, just as on any
other fast day.
HOLY WEEK:
PALM SUNDAY: Fish permitted
HOLY THURSDAY: Wine and oil permitted
HOLY FRIDAY: Strict Fast until sundown for all with the strength to do so. For
those unable to do so: at the least they should eat as little as possible.
HOLY SATURDAY: wine but not oil permitted
***YOUNG CHILDREN, pregnant and nursing mothers, travelers and those under
doctors orders are EXEMPT from the full strictness of the rules
From the Lenten Triodion: “At all times it is essential to bear in mind that ‘you are not
under the Law but under grace’ (Rom.6:14), and that ‘the letter kills but the spirit gives
life’ (2 Cor.3: 6). The rules of fasting, while they need to be taken seriously, are not to be
interpreted with dour and pedantic legalism; ‘for the Kingdom of God is not food and
drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Rom. 14:17).”
Consult your St. Tikhon’s wall calendar for daily details.
Whatever your practice at home, please respect the full strictness of the rules when bringing items to share at church. Above all, beware of casting your eye critically on fellow church members.
Image source: https://www.oca.org/fs/icons-of-lenten-commemorations