Orthodox Fasting Calendar 2025
In 2025 Great Lent runs from 3 March 2025 to 19 April 2025 (Easter 20 April), the Apostles’ Fast 16 June – 28 June, the Dormition Fast 1–14 August and the Nativity Fast 15 November – 24 December — 177 fast days in all.
| Fast | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
| ✝️ Great Lent | 3 March – 19 April | 48 |
| ⛵ The Apostles' (Peter and Paul) Fast | 16 June – 28 June | 13 |
| 🌸 The Dormition Fast | 1 August – 14 August | 14 |
| ⭐ The Nativity (Christmas) Fast | 15 November – 24 December | 40 |
- Meatfare Memorial Saturday22 February
- Meatfare Sunday (last day for meat)23 February
- Cheesefare (Forgiveness) Sunday2 March
- Clean Monday — Great Lent begins3 March
- Palm Sunday13 April
- Orthodox Easter20 April
- Cherry Memorial Saturday7 June
- Pentecost8 June
- All Saints' Sunday15 June
- Archangel's Memorial Saturday1 November
2025 fast days by month
Legend
- No fast
No fasting — all foods are allowed.
- No meat
Cheesefare week before Lent: no meat, but fish, eggs, cheese and milk are allowed.
- Fish
No meat, dairy or eggs; fish, oil and wine are allowed.
- Oil
Plant food cooked with oil, and wine; no fish.
- Strict
Plant food without oil (and no wine).
- No food
Nothing is eaten; the infirm and elderly may have bread and water.
An outlined day is a memorial Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Orthodox fasts in 2025?
Great Lent: 3 March 2025 – 19 April 2025. The Apostles' (Peter and Paul) Fast: 16 June – 28 June. The Dormition Fast: 1–14 August. The Nativity (Christmas) Fast: 15 November – 24 December. Wednesdays and Fridays and 5 January, 29 August and 14 September are fast days too.
How many fast days are there in 2025?
177 in the Bulgarian Orthodox calendar — most of them in the months of Great Lent and the Nativity Fast.
When is Orthodox Easter 2025?
Orthodox Easter 2025 is on 20 April 2025. Great Lent begins 48 days earlier, on Clean Monday, 3 March 2025.
When are the memorial Saturdays in 2025?
Meatfare Memorial Saturday — 22 February 2025; Cherry Memorial Saturday — 7 June 2025; Archangel's Memorial Saturday — 1 November 2025.