Orthodox Christian fasting guidelines from Maslenitsa through Pascha.
Maslenitsa
Date: February 16, 2026
Meals: 🌅☀️🌙
No meat, but dairy products permitted
Maslenitsa
Date: February 17, 2026
Meals: 🌅☀️🌙
No meat, but dairy products permitted
Maslenitsa
Date: February 18, 2026
Meals: 🌅☀️🌙
No meat, but dairy products permitted (exception to usual Wednesday fast)
Maslenitsa
Date: February 19, 2026
Meals: 🌅☀️🌙
No meat, but dairy products permitted
Maslenitsa
Date: February 20, 2026
Meals: 🌅☀️🌙
No meat, but dairy products permitted (exception to usual Friday fast)
Maslenitsa
Date: February 21, 2026
Meals: 🌅☀️🌙
No meat, but dairy products permitted
Maslenitsa
Date: February 22, 2026
Meals: 🌅☀️🌙
Last day before Great Lent begins. Forgiveness Sunday.
Week 1
Date: February 23, 2026
Meals: No meals
First day of Great Lent. Absolute fast encouraged. If not possible, bread and water in evening after Vespers.
Week 1
Date: February 24, 2026
Meals: No meals
Absolute fast encouraged. If not possible, simple food in evening after Vespers.
Week 1
Date: February 25, 2026
Meals: 🌙
One meal after Presanctified Liturgy. Xerophagy (dry eating) - vegetables cooked with water and salt only
Week 1
Date: February 26, 2026
Meals: No meals
Absolute fast encouraged. If not possible, simple food in evening after Vespers.
Week 1
Date: February 27, 2026
Meals: 🌙
One meal after Presanctified Liturgy. Xerophagy (dry eating) - vegetables cooked with water and salt only
Week 1
Date: February 28, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Saturdays
Week 1
Date: March 01, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Sundays
Week 2
Date: March 02, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 2
Date: March 03, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 2
Date: March 04, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 2
Date: March 05, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 2
Date: March 06, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 2
Date: March 07, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Saturdays
Week 2
Date: March 08, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Sundays
Week 3
Date: March 09, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 3
Date: March 10, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 3
Date: March 11, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 3
Date: March 12, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 3
Date: March 13, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 3
Date: March 14, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Saturdays
Week 3
Date: March 15, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Sundays
Week 4
Date: March 16, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 4
Date: March 17, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 4
Date: March 18, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 4
Date: March 19, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 4
Date: March 20, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 4
Date: March 21, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Saturdays
Week 4
Date: March 22, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Sundays
Week 5
Date: March 23, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 5
Date: March 24, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 5
Date: March 25, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Major feast day - fish, oil, and wine permitted
Week 5
Date: March 26, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 5
Date: March 27, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 5
Date: March 28, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Saturdays
Week 5
Date: March 29, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Sundays
Week 6
Date: March 30, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 6
Date: March 31, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 6
Date: April 01, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 6
Date: April 02, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 6
Date: April 03, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Strict fast. One meal in afternoon/evening.
Week 6
Date: April 04, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Wine and olive oil permitted on Saturdays
Week 6
Date: April 05, 2026
Meals: ☀️🌙
Major feast day - fish, oil, and wine permitted
Holy Week
Date: April 06, 2026
Meals: No meals
Some keep absolute fast. Simple Lenten meal in evening before church services if needed.
Holy Week
Date: April 07, 2026
Meals: No meals
Some keep absolute fast. Simple Lenten meal in evening before church services if needed.
Holy Week
Date: April 08, 2026
Meals: No meals
Some keep absolute fast. Simple Lenten meal in evening before church services if needed.
Holy Week
Date: April 09, 2026
Meals: 🌙
Wine permitted in remembrance of the Last Supper. This should ideally be the last meal until Pascha.
Holy Week
Date: April 10, 2026
Meals: No meals
Strictest fast day of the year. Even those who haven't kept strict Lent should not eat this day.
Holy Week
Date: April 11, 2026
Meals: No meals
Only Saturday of the year without oil permitted. Fast is broken after Divine Liturgy on Pascha.
Easter
Date: April 12, 2026
Meals: 🌅☀️🌙
Fast is broken! Celebration of the Resurrection. All foods permitted.