Rules for Great Lent Fasting

Rules for Lenten Fasting in the Orthodox Church

In order to help in your Lenten Fasting, the following is a brief description of the Lenten Fast in terms of categories of food and times of abstinence of foods from the various categories. The purpose of this outline of the regulations on fasting is to help educate you on fasting and abstinence in general. This is the "letter of the law" on fasting. It is important for you and your family to participate in the "spirit of the law", working this out with your family and even your priest for your salvation.

Categories of Foods

Category I: Meat and Meat Products (includes beef, pork, chicken, etc., as well as items which have beef gelatin [such as some commercial brands of gelatin], lard [some commercial breads and crackers], etc.)

Category II: Dairy Products (includes butter, eggs, milk, cheese, etc., as well as items containing dairy whey, milk extracts, etc.)

Category III: Fish (includes sardines, tuna, bass, trout, shark, pike, etc. but not shell fish such as lobster, shrimp, crab, oysters, scallops, clams, mussels, etc.)

Category IV: Olive Oil (according to some, this would extend to all oil) and Wine (which includes all alcoholic beverages such as whiskey, beer, etc.)

Foods Permitted throughout Lent: Shellfish (such as lobster, shrimp, crab, oysters, scallops, clams, mussels, etc.)

Vegetables and Vegetable products (including grains [rice, wheat, flour, pasta {non-egg pasta}, etc.] vegetable gelatins, etc.)

Fruit

Regulations on Fasting during Great Lent

Note: These are guidelines to help during the Great Lent. The importance of each fast is to focus on prayer and transformation of our spiritual man. The observance of the physical things without practicing prayer and mercy towards others is a clinging symbol before God.

Weekdays during Lent Abstinence of Categories I, II, III, & IV.

No Abstinence of Shellfish, Fruit, Vegetables and Vegetable products.

During this period, we should regulate both the amount of food we consume as well as the frequency of eating. No food should be eaten between meals, and at meal times smaller quantities than normal should be eaten.

Saturdays and Sundays during Lent (*except Great Saturday on which a strict fast is kept)

Abstinence of Categories I, II & III.

No abstinence of Category IV or of Shellfish, Fruit, Vegetables and Vegetable products. On Saturdays* and Sundays during the Great Fast, the quantity and frequency of meals is not restricted.

Feast of the Annunciation (March 25) and Palm Sunday

Abstinence of Categories I, II.

No abstinence of Category III & IV or of Shellfish, Fruit, Vegetables and Vegetable products. On these Great Feasts of the Church, the quantity and frequency of meals is not restricted.