An important part of religious life for the Orthodox is fasting. But the specificity of the religious calendar is that fasting dates can change. Therefore, you need to know how they can be determined.
Instruction manual
1
Find out the dates of fixed posts. They are usually tied to religious holidays that occur on a fixed date. These include the Christmas post, each year lasting from November 28 to January 6 inclusive. The next day, January 7th, is always Christmas. From August 14 to August 27, it is necessary to observe the Assumption Post. It ends on August 28 with the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
2
Keep fasting every Wednesday and Friday. These days were defined as the time of remembrance of the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ. However, during some periods fasting is not respected these days. This applies to the week after Easter and after Trinity Day (it falls on the fiftieth day after Easter). Also on Wednesday and Friday, you can eat meat, if they fall on Christmas Eve - the time between Christmas and Epiphany, from January 7 to 18.
3
Do not forget about the one-day fasts that occur on certain religious holidays - the Exaltation (September 27) and the Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11).
4
Check the dates of the moving posts. Lent begins 40 days before Easter and usually falls on March-April. The exact date of Easter in the current year can be found on the church calendar or on one of the Orthodox sites, for example, on the resource of the Moscow Patriarchate. There is also information about the beginning of the Petrov Lent, which should be held a week after the day of the Trinity and end on July 12, the day of Peter and Paul.
note
Keep in mind that fasting involves not only abstinence from certain types of food, but also spiritual self-improvement. At this time, you should especially actively pray and go to church, receive communion and repent. You also need to give up entertainment and devote time to pious thoughts. For sick, pregnant women and children, the fasting dietary rules can be relaxed.
