THE FASTS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE FASTED
A. FAST of Wednesdays and Fridays
Each Wednesday and Friday of every week throughout the year shall be fasted as is customary (ie. no meat and dairy products or any bi-products thereof), including from the consumption of oil and wine, except if it happens to fall on a Feast day or period for which consumption of oil and wine is permitted. Fasting on Mondays is optional and left to the discretion of the individual.
B. FAST of Great Lent
(+JC: Feb 22 - Apr 10/ GC: MAr 7 - Apr 23)1,2
Each day from Monday through Friday a strict fast is held during which no consumption of any meat, dairy, oil and wine product or bi-product is permitted. On Wednesdays and Fridays only dry foods such as dried fruits and nuts are consumed according to each individuals capabilities.

Consumption of oil and wine is permitted each Saturday and Sunday throughout the Great Fast.

Consumption of fish, is only permitted on the Feast of the
+Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos
C. FAST of the Holy Apostles
(+JC: Jun 7 - 28 / GC: Jun 20 - JUL 11)
Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday shall be fasted as is customary, including from the consumption of oil and wine.

Consumption of oil and wine is permitted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Consumption of fish is permitted on Saturdays and Sundays.
D. FAST of the Dormition of Theotokos
(+JC: Aug 1 - 14 / GC: Aug 14 - 27)
Each day from Monday through Friday shall be fasted as is customary, including from the consumption of oil and wine.

Consumption of oil and wine is permitted on Saturdays and Sundays.

Consumption of fish is only permitted on the Feast of the
+Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
E. FAST of Christmas
(+JC: Nov 15 - Dec 24 / GC: Nov 28 - Jan 6)
Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday shall be fasted as is customary, including from the consumption of oil and wine.

Consumption of oil and wine is permitted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Consumption of fish is permitted on the Feast of
+The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos
and every following Saturday and Sunday until the Sunday that either precedes or falls on the Feast of
+St Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous, the Wonderworker
F. FAST of Feast Days
A strict fast shall be upheld on the following Feast Days:
  1. +The Day Before Theophany
  2. +The Beheading of St John the Forerunner
  3. +The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
  4. +The Day of Christmas Eve
If any of the above Feast days falls on either a Saturday or Sunday, the consumption of oil and wine is permitted.
G. FAST of Clean Week and Holy Week
A strict fast shall be upheld throughout Clean Week (first week of Great Lent; Monday thru Friday) and Holy Week (last week of Great Lent; Holy Monday thru Holy Saturday) during which no consumption of any meat, dairy, oil and wine product or bi-product is permitted. Only dry foods such as dried fruits and nuts may be consumed and preferably only after evening prayers ("Enathn" - The Ninth Hour) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week, especially on Good Friday.

No consumption of oil and wine is permitted on any day during these two weeks that may coincide with a Feast day that the consumption of oil and wine would otherwise have been permitted,

H. FAST of Cheese-Fare Week
(+JC: Feb 15 - 21 / GC: Feb 28 - Mar 6)
During the week prior to Clean Week, all foods may be consumed with the exception of any meat products or bi-products.
 
 
 
1  +JC = Julian Calendar and GC = Gregorian Calendar
2   The above listed dates are for the 2011 Calendar Year

+JC: Dec 24 / GC: Jan 6
+JC: Sept 14 / GC: Sept 27
+JC: Aug 29 / GC: Sept 11
+JC: Jan 5 / GC: Jan 18
+JC: Dec 12 / GC: Dec 25
+JC: Nov 21 / GC: Dec 4
+JC: Aug 6 / GC: Aug 19
+JC: Mar 25 / GC: Apr 7
+JC: Apr 5-10 / GC: Apr 18 - 23
+JC: Feb 22 -27 / GC: Mar 7-12