Attention! If you suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or improper metabolism, then observing fasting in all its severity is out of the question. You can fast in more gentle forms, moving away from the strict monastic canons.
Note. The definition of a week here has an unusual meaning. It is customary to call only Sunday a week. The seven-day period, starting from the week, has the name - week.
The holiday of Forgiveness Sunday marks the beginning of the first week. There are no food restrictions on this day.
The environment requires taking only raw plant foods, as well as bread.
Thursday will have to be spent in complete abstinence.
On Friday and Saturday you can include hot food in your diet.
Monday is a day of dry eating; you will have to give up hot food.
Tuesday marks the day of remembrance of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. You can eat hot food and also drink one cup of wine.
On this joyful and bright day, try the recipe for Lenten cabbage pie. It will perfectly serve as the main dish on the Lenten table.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – dry eating with one-time consumption of hot food.
On Saturday of the second week, you can include hot food and two cups of wine in the menu.
In the second week of Great Lent, the memory of St. Gregory Palamas is honored. He preached the doctrine of the power of fasting and prayer. On this day, hot food and two cups of wine are acceptable.
From Monday to Friday you will have to be content with dry eating and one hot meal.
On Saturday, hot food with vegetable oil and one cup of wine are acceptable.
It is called Cross-Worship or Sredokrestnaya. From Sunday until Friday of the fourth week Life-giving cross takes the place of the holiday icon in the center of the temple. There is a glorification of the Holy Cross as a symbol great power. On Friday, after the readings, the cross is moved back to the altar with a solemn move.
From Monday to Wednesday and Friday - dry eating with one hot meal in the morning.
Your table during Lent in 2019 will diversify your nutrition calendar by day. Thanks to healthy recipes on this day you can decorate the table with a lean squid salad. It is easy to prepare and has excellent taste.
On Saturday you can enjoy hot food and one cup of wine.
The beginning of the week is marked by a week dedicated to the theologian John Climacus. As abbot, he created the great scripture “The Ladder of Virtues,” in which he described in detail all the milestones and the path of spiritual perfection.
On this day, lean borscht cooked in a slow cooker will be an excellent decoration for your table. You can find the recipe for this wonderful dish in our calendar.
For the rest of the week you will have to alternate dry eating with hot food.
The week of the sixth week is the day of remembrance of the Venerable Mary of Egypt. Her life is an example of great repentance. After 17 years of living in sin, Mary tries to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but an unknown force prevents her from doing so. After spending long hours in prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God, Mary feels inner cleansing and enters the temple. The next day she crosses the Jordan River and begins a hermit's life. She spends the rest of her days in prayer and abstinence. The story of Mary is an example of the Lord's boundless mercy towards repentant sinners.
This week you can drink two cups of wine and eat hot food.
On Monday you need to observe strict dry eating.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, one hot meal is allowed.
The Annunciation is celebrated on Friday, and eating fish is allowed on this day.
The onset of Lazorevsky Saturday gives us the joy of tasting fish caviar, hot food and two cups of wine.
The week begins with the holiday of Palm Sunday. This day marks the arrival of Christ in Jerusalem. People threw numerous branches at his feet; we replaced them with willow.
On this day you can enjoy the taste of fish dishes and hot food. You are allowed to drink two cups of wine.
All days of Passion Week are called great. Your diet allows raw vegetables and fruits, as well as hot broth once a day.
IN Maundy Thursday You can taste porridge without oil.
The last day of Great Lent is Holy Saturday; on this day, many believers completely refuse food until the onset of the bright holiday of Easter.
Before starting your fast, be sure to talk to your spiritual mentor or priest. They will help you fast correctly. In most cases, a modern person should not stick to the traditional monastic menu. To do this you need to have a prepared body. The nutrition calendar will also help you withstand a difficult fast in 2020; it contains many useful and most importantly delicious dishes. They are close to the daily diet of an ordinary person, not a monk, and will help brighten up difficult days of abstinence.
Going through the difficult path of great purification is a true example of a strong inner will. We hope that in this difficult test the Lent 2020 nutrition calendar will serve as your faithful companion. During its creation, the best Lenten recipes were selected and selected to help brighten up the long days of deprivation.
Believers are preparing for the onset of the strictest Lent, which ends with a major church holiday - Easter. When does Lent begin and how long does it last, what is its essence, what can you eat at this time and what not?
In 2017, Lent begins on February 27, the day after the final day of Maslenitsa. The end of Lent falls on April 15th.
History of Lent
The main purpose of Lent is preparation for the main Christian holiday - the Holy Resurrection of Christ or Easter. Therefore, Lent is considered the most important in Christianity and has beautiful traditions.
According to ancient legends, one day Jesus Christ was led by a spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. And all this time Christ did not eat anything. And during last week Lent, Holy Week, believers remember the last days of earthly life, the torment endured, suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
During the observance of Lent, thanks to prayers, food restrictions, visiting temples and church services, the destructive manifestations of the human soul are completely eradicated.
Lent is divided into several parts. Lent is the name given to the first 40 days of Lent. Lazarev Saturday - one day - Saturday before Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday - the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem - one day a week before Easter. Holy Week is six days (from Monday to Saturday) of the strictest fasting before the holiday of Easter.
Nutrition calendar during Lent 2017
During Lent, believers must follow several basic dietary rules. Thus, all meat products (of animal origin) are prohibited - meat, butter, milk, eggs and so on.
By tradition, the strictest weeks of fasting are the first and last. And these days you need to follow your diet with special care.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week of Lent, only raw food is allowed, that is, eating food only cold and without oil. In addition, these days it is allowed to eat only in the evening - once a day.
On Tuesday and Thursday of each week of fasting, it is also allowed to eat food once a day in the evening, but already hot, although without oil.
On certain days of Lent you are allowed to eat fish.
On Saturday and Sunday, small relaxations were allowed: according to the established rules, it was possible to eat dishes prepared with the addition of vegetable oil and even drink a little red wine twice a day.
A special nutrition calendar is in effect during Holy Week, which ends Lent. For example, on Saturday of Holy Week, fasting Christians do not eat at all. On the Feast of the Annunciation Holy Mother of God If it does not fall during Holy Week, believers can eat fish. In addition, fish is allowed on Palm Sunday.
What is allowed to eat during Lent?
The Church allows sick people, children and the elderly not to fast. For those who decide to fast, doctors advise to carefully consider their diet, paying attention to not very popular, but very healthy foods.
In addition to traditional vegetable crops– potatoes, white cabbage, beets and carrots – it is necessary to include Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage. Fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, celery, as well as all kinds of greens rich in vitamins diversify the diet.
Dishes made from various cereals are also good during fasting - they are rich in nutrients and give a long feeling of fullness. Nutritionists advise not to settle on two or three popular types of cereals, but to take a closer look at types that are new to you. Also during Lent, dishes made from legumes are recommended. Peas, beans and beans are sources of vegetable protein. Mushrooms can also be an excellent substitute for meat and fish, from which you can prepare sauces, first and second courses.
During Lent, almost all types of fruits and those sweets that are prepared without the use of fasting products are allowed.
Many Orthodox Christians look forward to Lent with great impatience. Fasting is not only physical fasting, but also spiritual cleansing. Lent in 2017, what date is a popular question. The post date is floating each year. Fasting begins after the end of the oil week, that is, on Forgiveness Sunday. Lent 2017 begins on February 27 and will last until April 15.
Lent lasts 47 days. It is divided into several stages. Fasting requires preparation of the body and psychological attitude. During fasting, they not only do not eat many types of food, but also give up lavish celebrations, alcohol and bad thoughts. The purpose of observing Lent is considered to be repentance. During this period, a person must realize all his sins and repent of them. According to Orthodox canons, the duration of fasting symbolizes the forty-day fast of Jesus Christ during his wanderings in the desert. When Lent begins, prayers should be read, a person’s thoughts should be pure, and bad thoughts should leave the head.
Lent and its stages:
forty days of fasting begin on Monday, February 27 and last 40 days until April 6;
Annunciation occurs on April 7;
Palm Saturday and Sunday April 8 and 9;
A particularly strict fast begins on April 10 and is called Passionate. It will last until April 15, 2017.
The Annunciation is one of the most revered Christian holidays. Spring forces winter to leave the earth on this day. On this day, all earthly creatures leave their burrows and wake up after hibernation. According to popular beliefs, the Annunciation is a greater holiday than Easter. On this day it is strictly forbidden to work; even sinners in hell are not subject to torment.
Based on the day of the Annunciation, they estimate what Easter will be like, the coming week, and even whole year life.
What to eat during fasting
Choosing dishes for Lent is a difficult task for a modern person. The modern rhythm of life involves eating high-calorie foods, which you will have to give up during this period.
A raw food diet or a dry diet is acceptable and desirable during the days of Lent, as well as the next Holy Week. On weekends you can eat hot food, and even drink wine on Sunday.
During fasting days, it is customary to eat once a day. The time to eat is evening. You can violate this order on April 7, 8, 9. It is allowed to eat fish on Annunciation Day. Such a table will be considered festive. You can serve the fish with potatoes, buckwheat or rice. All these side dishes can be fried with butter and onions. Vegetable salads are also appropriate on the holiday table. They can be seasoned with vegetable oil or lean mayonnaise. This can often be found on store shelves during Lent. Baking can also be lean, without the use of butter and eggs. Do not forget that on the Feast of the Annunciation it is undesirable to load the body with heavy foods and large amounts of food eaten. The body is already accustomed to eating once a day, so a large load can only harm your health.
Superstitions of the holiday
The holiday, especially in the old days, was filled with a large number of signs:
On the day of the Annunciation you should not wear new clothes. The holiday is considered spiritual. Clothes on this day should be worn that have already been worn. He's worth giving up a new outfit;
in order not to spoil your destiny, you should not comb your hair;
in order not to give away your happiness and not to accept someone else’s grief on this day, refuse financial transactions, that is, you should not borrow and pay off your debts;
work is also considered a sin. A person on this day should think about the spiritual beginning.
Signs and superstitions are good, and the modern rhythm of life forces you to borrow and repay debts, as well as look neat and combed, so if you want to break these superstitions, pray before committing the actions described above.
Fasting calendar
On Sunday before Lent it is allowed to eat meat. Monday and Tuesday are the first days of fasting on which people do not eat. The first week is considered especially strict not only in terms of food intake, but also in terms of thoughts. On certain days of Lent, deceased relatives are remembered, and saints are also remembered.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday you can eat raw food: nuts, vegetables, fruits, compotes. On Tuesday and Thursday it is allowed to eat warm food, but not containing oil.
On Annunciation, Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday you can eat fish products.
On Good Friday they do not eat anything until the removal of the shroud.
On days when you are allowed to eat hot food, you can be content with soups and borscht, cereals, and vegetables. You need to cook without oil. Nuts and dried fruits provide a lot of energy, so they are considered indispensable on fasting days.
Alcoholic drinks are allowed only on Sunday and Annunciation Day. Wine is considered an allowed drink.
In addition to food, you should refrain from attending festive events, concerts, shows, and parties. Going to the cinema or theater is also not encouraged by the church. Marital duty also requires abstinence.
At this time, a person’s soul must free itself from bad thoughts and malicious thoughts. This is a time for reading spiritual literature and enlightenment. It is worth doing more good deeds, trying to free yourself from tension and negative energy. People who have endured 47 days of abstinence become more sacred, spiritual and open.
Modern man can use fasting as a diet. This is not always recognized and supported by the church. Spirituality is a significant role.
Who is allowed not to fast
Orthodox church calendar fasts and meals for 2020 indicating and brief description multi-day and one-day fasts and continuous weeks.
Church Orthodox calendar of fasts and meals for 2020
Fasting is not in the belly, but in the spirit
Popular proverb
Nothing in life comes without difficulty. And in order to celebrate the holiday, you need to prepare for it.
In Russian Orthodox Church There are four multi-day fasts, a fast on Wednesday and Friday throughout the year (except for a few weeks), and three one-day fasts.
In the first four days of the first week of Great Lent (from Monday to Thursday), the Great (Repentant) Canon, the work of the brilliant Byzantine hymnographer St. Andrew of Crete (8th century), is read during the evening service.
ATTENTION! Below you will find information about dry eating, food without oil and days of complete abstinence from food. All this is a long-standing monastic tradition, which even in monasteries cannot always be observed in our time. Such strictness of fasting is not for the laity, and the usual practice is abstaining from eggs, dairy and meat foods during fasting and during strict fasting also abstaining from fish. For all possible questions and about your individual measure of fasting, you need to consult your confessor.
Dates are indicated according to the new style.
Calendar of fasts and meals for 2020
| Periods | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|
from March 2 to April 18 |
xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter | |
| Spring meat eater | fish | fish | ||||||
|
from June 15 to July 11 |
hot without oil | fish | xerophagy | fish | xerophagy | fish | fish | |
| Summer meat eater | xerophagy | xerophagy | ||||||
|
from 14 to 27 August |
xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter | |
| Autumn meat eater | xerophagy | xerophagy | ||||||
| from November 28, 2020 to January 6, 2021 | until December 19 | hot without oil | fish | xerophagy | fish | xerophagy | fish | fish |
| December 20 - January 1 | hot without oil | hot with butter | xerophagy | hot with butter | xerophagy | fish | fish | |
| January 2-6 | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot without oil | xerophagy | hot with butter | hot with butter | |
| Winter meat eater | fish | fish | ||||||
in 2020
The Savior himself was led by spirit into the desert, was tempted by the devil for forty days and did not eat anything during these days. The Savior began the work of our salvation with fasting. Great Lent is a fast in honor of the Savior Himself, and the last, Holy Week of this forty-eight-day fast was established in honor of the memory of last days earthly life, suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Fasting is observed with particular strictness during the first and Holy weeks.
On Clean Monday, complete abstinence from food is customary. The rest of the time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry food (water, bread, fruits, vegetables, compotes); Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil; Saturday, Sunday – food with vegetable oil.
Fish is allowed on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on Palm Sunday. Fish caviar is allowed on Lazarus Saturday. On Good Friday you cannot eat food until the Shroud is taken out.
in 2020
On Monday of the Week of All Saints, the Fast of the Holy Apostles begins, established before the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. This post is called summer. The continuation of fasting varies depending on how early or late Easter occurs.
It always starts on All Saints Monday and ends on July 12th. The longest Petrov fast consists of six weeks, and the shortest one is a week and a day. This fast was established in honor of the Holy Apostles, who, through fasting and prayer, prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel and prepared their successors in the work of saving service.
Strict fasting (dry eating) on Wednesday and Friday. On Monday you can have hot food without oil. On other days - fish, mushrooms, cereals with vegetable oil.
in 2020
From August 14 to August 27, 2020.
A month after the Apostolic Fast, the multi-day Dormition Fast begins. It lasts two weeks - from August 14 to 27. With this post the Church calls us to imitate Mother of God, who, before Her relocation to heaven, incessantly remained in fasting and prayer.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – dry eating. Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil. On Saturday and Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.
On the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), fish is allowed. Fish day in Assumption, if it falls on Wednesday or Friday.
in 2020
Christmas (Filippov) fast. At the end of autumn, 40 days before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church calls us to winter fasting. It is called both Filippov, because it begins after the day dedicated to the memory of the Apostle Philip, and Rozhdestvensky, because it occurs before the feast of the Nativity of Christ.
This fast was established in order for us to offer a grateful sacrifice to the Lord for the collected earthly fruits and to prepare for a gracious union with the born Savior.
The charter about food coincides with the charter of Peter's Fast, until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19).
If the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. After the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas and before the forefeast of Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. On the eve of the feast, you cannot eat fish on all days; on Saturday and Sunday - food with oil.
On Christmas Eve you cannot eat food until the first star appears, after which it is customary to eat sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.
Solid weeks in 2020
Week– week from Monday to Sunday. These days there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday.
There are five continuous weeks:
Christmastide– from January 7 to January 17,
Publican and Pharisee– 2 weeks before
Cheese (Maslenitsa)– week before (no meat)
Easter (Light)– week after Easter
- week after Trinity.
Fasting on Wednesday and Friday
Weekly fast days are Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday, fasting was established in memory of the betrayal of Christ by Judas, on Friday - in memory of the suffering on the cross and death of the Savior. On these days of the week, the Holy Church prohibits the consumption of meat and dairy foods, and during the week of All Saints before the Nativity of Christ, one should also abstain from fish and vegetable oil. Only when the days of celebrated saints fall on Wednesday and Friday is it permitted vegetable oil, and on the biggest holidays, such as Intercession, fish.
Those who are sick and engaged in hard work are allowed some relief, so that Christians have the strength to pray and do the necessary work, but eating fish on the wrong days, and especially the full permission of fasting, is rejected by the charter.
One-day posts
Epiphany Christmas Eve– January 18, on the eve of the Epiphany. On this day, Christians prepare for cleansing and consecration with holy water on the feast of Epiphany.
Beheading of John the Baptist- 11 September. This is the day of remembrance and death of the great prophet John.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross- September 27. The memory of the Savior's suffering on the cross for the salvation of the human race. This day is spent in prayer, fasting, and contrition for sins.
One-day posts– days of strict fasting (except Wednesday and Friday). Fish is prohibited, but food with vegetable oil is allowed.
Orthodox holidays. About meals on holidays
According to the Church Charter, there is no fasting on the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany, which happened on Wednesday and Friday. On Rozhdestvensky and Epiphany Christmas Eve and on the holidays of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the Beheading of John the Baptist, food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the feasts of the Presentation, Transfiguration of the Lord, Dormition, Nativity and Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, Her Entry into the Temple, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which occurred on Wednesday and Friday, as well as in the period from Easter to Trinity on Wednesday and Friday Fish allowed.
When marriage is not performed
On the eve of Wednesday and Friday of the whole year (Tuesday and Thursday), Sundays (Saturday), twelve days, temple and great holidays; in continuation of the posts: Veliky, Petrov, Uspensky, Rozhdestvensky; in continuation of Christmastide, on Meat Week, during Cheese Week (Maslenitsa) and on Cheese Week; during Easter (Bright) week and on the days of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27.
- You just read the article Church orthodox calendar for 2019. If you want to know more about Orthodox posts , then pay attention to the article.
Fast- a religiously determined tradition of temporary abstinence from eating and drinking (completely or a certain type), associated with other spiritual and ascetic practices. In Christianity, fasting is best time and a means for preparing for the highest union with God in the sacrament of Holy Communion - a form of religious asceticism, the exercise of spirit, soul and body on the path to salvation within the framework of a religious view; voluntary self-restraint in food, entertainment, communication with the world. Bodily fasting is food restriction; spiritual fasting - limitation of external impressions and pleasures (solitude, silence, prayerful concentration); spiritual fasting is a struggle with one’s “bodily lusts”, a period of especially intense prayer.
The most important thing is to realize that physical fasting without spiritual fasting brings nothing to the salvation of the soul. On the contrary, it can be spiritually harmful if a person, abstaining from food, becomes imbued with the consciousness of his own superiority and righteousness. “He who believes that fasting only means abstaining from food is mistaken. True fasting, teaches St. John Chrysostom, is withdrawal from evil, curbing the tongue, putting aside anger, taming lusts, stopping slander, lies and perjury.” Fasting is not a goal, but a means to distract yourself from enjoying your body, concentrate and think about your soul; without all this, it becomes just a diet.
Lent 2017
The Savior himself was led by spirit into the desert, was tempted by the devil for forty days and did not eat anything during these days. The Savior began the work of our salvation with fasting. Great Lent is a fast in honor of the Savior Himself, and the last passionate week of this forty-eight-day fast is established in honor of the memory of the last days of earthly life, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Fasting is observed with particular strictness during the first and passionate weeks.
On Clean Monday, complete abstinence from food is accepted. The rest of the time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry food (water, bread, fruits, vegetables, compotes); Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil; Saturday, Sunday – food with vegetable oil.
Fish is allowed in Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in Palm Sunday. Fish caviar is allowed on Lazarus Saturday. On Good Friday you cannot eat food until the shroud is taken out.
Petrov post 2017
On Monday of the Week of All Saints, the Fast of the Holy Apostles begins, established before the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. This post is called summer. The continuation of fasting varies depending on how early or late Easter occurs.
It always starts on All Saints Monday and ends on July 12th. The longest Petrov fast consists of six weeks, and the shortest one is a week and a day. This fast was established in honor of the Holy Apostles, who, through fasting and prayer, prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel and prepared their successors in the work of saving service.
Strict fasting (dry eating) on Wednesday and Friday. On Monday you can have hot food without oil. On other days - fish, mushrooms, cereals with vegetable oil.
Dormition Fast 2017
A month after the Apostolic Fast, the multi-day Dormition Fast begins. It lasts two weeks - from August 14 to 27. With this fast, the Church calls us to imitate the Mother of God, who, before her resettlement to heaven, constantly remained in fasting and prayer.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – dry eating. Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil. On Saturday and Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.
On the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), fish is allowed. Fish day in Assumption, if it falls on Wednesday or Friday.
Christmas post 2017
Christmas (Filippov) post. At the end of autumn, 40 days before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church calls us to winter fasting. It is called both Filippov, because it begins after the day dedicated to the memory of the Apostle Philip, and Rozhdestvensky, because it occurs before the feast of the Nativity of Christ.
This fast was established in order for us to offer a grateful sacrifice to the Lord for the collected earthly fruits and to prepare for a gracious union with the born Savior.
The charter about food coincides with the charter of Peter's Fast, until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19).
If the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. After the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas and before the forefeast of Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. On the eve of the feast, you cannot eat fish on all days; on Saturday and Sunday - food with oil.
On Christmas Eve you cannot eat food until the first star appears, after which it is customary to eat sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.
Fasting on Wednesday and Friday
Weekly fast days are Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday, fasting was established in memory of the betrayal of Christ by Judas, on Friday - in memory of the suffering on the cross and death of the Savior. On these days of the week, the Holy Church prohibits the consumption of meat and dairy foods, and during the week of All Saints before the Nativity of Christ, one should also abstain from fish and vegetable oil. Only when the days of celebrated saints fall on Wednesday and Friday is vegetable oil allowed, and on the biggest holidays, such as Intercession, fish.
Those who are sick and engaged in hard work are allowed some relief, so that Christians have the strength to pray and do the necessary work, but eating fish on the wrong days, and especially the full permission of fasting, is rejected by the charter.
One-day posts
Epiphany Christmas Eve – January 18, on the eve of Epiphany. On this day, Christians prepare for cleansing and consecration with holy water on the feast of Epiphany.
Beheading of John the Baptist– 11 September. This is the day of remembrance and death of the great prophet John.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross – September 27. The memory of the Savior's suffering on the cross for the salvation of the human race. This day is spent in prayer, fasting, and contrition for sins.
One-day fasts are days of strict fasting (except Wednesday and Friday). Fish is prohibited, but food with vegetable oil is allowed.
