In practice, octopus and shell-fish are also allowed on days of xerophagy; likewise vegetable margarine and corn or other vegetable oil, not made from olives. Nevertheless, any deviation from the norm is permitted only following consultation with one's spiritual father or with the prior approval of the local hierarchy. The other difference in the determination of Easter between the Orthodox and other Christian Churches concerns the date of Passover. 14:17).. Nuts and fresh dried fruits. January 22nd is in the USA only an obligatory day of penance . In the following weekthe usual fast is kept on Wednesday and Friday. * Holy days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. And it is this joy that transforms days and seasons of fasting and, in fact, every season of our lives into times of rejoicing. The Plant-Based Diet 101: What It Is and What to Eat, Slovak Machanka (Sour Mushroom Soup) Recipe. Easter, the feast of feasts, continues to be calculated by all Orthodox Churches to the dates of the Old Calendar. Beginning of Great Lent - 07.03.2022, Pascha - 24.04.2022, Pentecost - 12.06.2022. Address: 6430 Bose Lane, San Jose, CA 95120 | Phone: (408) 268-3214 | Email: office@ stbasil.com. Works offline. From the second until the sixth week, many Orthodox use wine, and perhaps oil also, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and less commonly on Mondays as well. Available also in downloadable PDF format. 9), Forefeast of the Annunciation (Mar. In the dystopian film,Children of Mendirected by Alfonso Cuarn, a world is imagined in the future where no more children are born, and, as the decades pass, humanity is plunged into despair. In view of their refusal to submit to the authority of the Church of Greece, the official Church excommunicated them. The determination of the date of Easter is governed by a computation based on the vernal equinox and the phase of the moon. x}[{0~-Q 9,^sI:'83_R,$V=Eb=TO_OO~o?|~?go/mx[?/?}?/fbtr6kso_Ou:>m7_8/zjaykY4s_cg$_~xo_w~g>j0eVzymqgf|ihOgay m\NkQkP3ge[_65od2[)(}-G]VWp*cW0\+pLm`-o\1oFGwIb^j oEdS CEx&vh{LZMl|}'V_|}o?E|oCcop]lbrx&4?cM/|L?~~VV ? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The Lenten liturgical program was synthesized throughout time. August 7th. Pascha, 23.04.2023 - Sunday of St. Thomas. Outlines for Liturgical Services /, Nativity (St. Philips Fast) - Nov. 15 through Dec. 24 Read more: 5 Health Benefits of Fasting >>, Your email address will not be published. Lent will officially end on the day before Easter, Saturday, April 8th, 2023.The week leading up to Easter Sunday is called Holy Week or Passion Week. Home Spiritual Life Fasting in the Orthodox Church. Fixed feasts occur on the same calendar day every year, whereas movable feasts change each year. 3 0 obj Orthodox Good Friday - also known as Great Friday and in Greek as Megli Paraskev - is not a bank holiday in the UK. In 2100, the difference will increase to 14 days. Concerning the rules of fasting during the Great Lent, we quote the article, The Rules of Fasting, contained in The Lenten Triodion, translated by Mother Mary and Archimandrite Kallistos (Ware), Faber & Faber, London, 1978, pp. St Mary's Fast. During the Apostles Fast and the Nativity Fast, the general rules are as follows (from Chapter 33 of the Typikon): It should be noted that in the Fast of the Holy Apostles and of the Nativity of Christ, on Tuesday and Thursday we do not eat fish, but only oil or wine. The Orthodox call this day Pascha. Sign up to receive a regular email newsletter from Fr. The former celebrates Epiphany on January 6 and by the latter on January 19. Pascha falls on different calendar dates from year to year, calculated according to a strict set of rules (see Computus for details). 1 0 obj This is evidenced by the separate words pronounced by Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople, "two words: December 25, 380 - for Nativity and January 6, 381 - for Epiphany." On weekdays-except, perhaps, during the first week or Holy Week-it is now common to eat two cooked meals daily instead of one. It is the most joyous celebration of the entire year, as the community gathers together to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah tells us fasting will loose the bonds of wickedness. It helps free us from sin and from the clutches of other gods. According to pious tradition for Nativity Fast in Russian Orthodox Church on this day they do not eat until the first star, which marks the star of Bethlehem, which led the tree Wise Men to the Infant Christ. The result of this situation is unfortunate indeed. Within the community, each person fasts differently, according to his or her personal capability, spiritual insight . He prepared Himself for doing His Fathers work by fasting forty days and forty nights. Unless a fast-free period has been declared, Orthodox Christians are to keep a strict fast every Wednesday and Friday. It tells us that if we only fast from food and not from our passions/vices, we fast in vain. - The Holy, Glorious and All-Praised Leaders of the Apostles: Peter and Paul. Easter time, from the carnivals that come before the Lenten fast through Holy Week. Eudoxia Ven. Personal factors need to be taken into account, as for example, the situation of an isolated Orthodox living in the same household as non-Orthodox, or obliged to take meals in a factory or school [lunchroom]. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 35-37: What precisely do the rules of fasting demand? There are three main ways to connect to our faith during Great Lent. These are: - Twelvetide, December 26 to January 6: We eat everything every day, with the exception of January 5 (strict fast, see above). Permission is often given to eat fish in these weeks. This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor. (Matthew 26: 89). Twitter | Like the feast of the Nativity of Christ, it appeared earlier in the West, and then was adopted by the Eastern Churches. The rules for fasting prescribed by the holy canons are quite rigid; and, although they are still observed in the monasteries and by the very devout, most Orthodox Christians today find it difficult to uphold the traditional practice for the length of time prescribed. Contact | Inasmuch as the Julian Calendar had been in continuous use in the Christian East and West throughout the centuries, the subsequent introduction of the Gregorian Calendar in the West created yet another anomaly in the deteriorating relations between the two Churches. Within the Orthodox Church feast days and fast days are reckoned according to two distinct calendars, the Julian Calendar and the Gregorian Calendar. Lent is 40 days (46 days for Orthodox Christians) of prayer, fasting, and abstinence in preparation for the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. The Orthodox Russian Church observes the Nativity Fast in 2022 from 28 November 2022 to 6 January 2023. Orthodox Saints Calendar = March 2023 => 1 STRICT FAST. These Serbian Lent recipes show how much variety there is and that there needn't be any feelings of deprivation. After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the other tragic events, which gave rise to the dispersal of the Jews, Passover sometimes preceded the vernal equinox. The following list of dates links only to fixed feasts of the Orthodox Church. In 2023, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours. London,1928. February 14th. 24), Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel (Mar. There are so many ways you can grow spiritually through this practice. Tags: 2022, calendar, fasting. God, who gives the sinners and the righteous their dues, is not someone who lies in waiting to punish a wrongdoer after the fact. Athos. Foods That Are Okay for Serbian Orthodox Lent and Other Fasting Times, Serbian / Balkan Lenten Bread (Posna Pogaa) Recipe. The Orthodox Church continues to base its calculations for the date of Easter on the Julian Calendar, which was in use at the time of the First Ecumenical Synod. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we eat neither oil nor wine. The moveable feasts are generally relative to Pascha (Easter), and so the cycle of moveable feasts is referred to as the Paschal cycle. The true fast, it says, rejects evil, silences the tongue, lays aside anger, and cuts off lust, lying, and cursing. Fr. Clean Monday is celebrated with Greeks eating seafood, octopus, and dishes containing fish roe. In the bible, it is the day when Mary Magdalene found that an empty tomb in the cave in which Jesus had been placed following his death by crucifixion on the Friday before. But from the 20th of December until the 25th, even if it be Saturday or Sunday, we do not allow fish.. Neither in ancient nor in modern times has there ever been exact uniformity, but most Orthodox authorities agree on the following rules: The rule of xerophagy is relaxed on the following days: It has always been held that these rules of fasting should be relaxed in the case of anyone elderly or in poor health. Palm Sunday (Floats) Resurrection (Easter - Floats) Ascension (40 days after resurrection) Pentecost (50 days after Resurrection) The Seven Minor Feasts of the Lord: Circumcision (Tobi 6/January 14) Entering the Temple (Meshir 8) Visit to Egypt (Pashons 24) The Wedding at Canna of Galilee (Tobi 13) Transfiguration (Mesori 13) Beginning of Great Lent - 27.02.2023, Pascha - 16.04.2023, Pentecost - 04.06.2023. As is always the case with reform movements, there was strong opposition to the adoption of the New Calendar, especially in Greece. For Lent only abstinence refers to all animal products (e.g. Work of the Church / Though food is one of the key things people think of when they think of fasting, one does not always fast from food alone. Isaiah likens fasting in the Orthodox Church to sharing with the hungry and caring for others, homeless, poor, naked, imprisoned, and thirsty. For example, to eat dairy products, eggs. - Easter week, from Pascha Sunday to Thomas . If the means turns into an end, then the true goal will not be achieved. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Until then, all Orthodox Churches had strictly abided by the Old (Julian) Calendar, which at present is 13 days behind the New Calendar long since adopted by the rest of Christendom. No unanimous agreement was reached on any of the issues discussed. It's more important to think about the heart, not the stomach. In cases of uncertainty each should seek the advice of his or her spiritual father [emphasis mine]., The following statement is extremely important to consider when we speak of fasting and fasting rules in the Church. When a person fasting finds himself not in a temple, but in a hospital with an exacerbation of an ulcer this is an incorrect observance of fasting. YouTube | When Does Lent End? English. Home / You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Sts. The Date of Orthodox Easter in 2023. Fish (meaning fish with backbones; shellfish are permitted). Seraphim of Sarovski 15 3 Sun BEFORE EPIPHANY Prophet Malachi, Gordius Martyr 16 4 Mon Synaxis of the Holy 70 Apostles, Righteous Theoctistos 17 <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Where there is no indication of a fast given, this means that all foods may be eaten (except during Cheesefare Week, when meat is forbidden for every day). At all times it is essential to bear in mind that you are not under the law but under grace (Rom. Set a schedule for which days you will fast (Fridays are usually are great starting point, to commemorate our Lords crucifixion). At the meals on Wednesday and Friday xerophagy is prescribed. And teach yourself, your spouse, and your children about the spiritual benefit of what youre doing. Required fields are marked *. The day after Holy Wednesday is Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper between Jesus and his disciples. Ven. In the Church of Constantinople, the feast of Nativity was established in the late 370s. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. endobj An exception to this general rule is the Orthodox Church of Finland. The fast of the Apostles begins on the 26th of June and ends on the 29th of June, the feast day of Sts. Easter Sunday: May 2nd: Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after his death by crucifixion: Pentecost Monday: June 21st These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If the full moon happens to fall on a Sunday, Easter is observed the following Sunday. 6/2 - Ascension Day: A day celebrated in Coptic Orthodox Christianity that marks Jesus's ascension into heaven. The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In other words, a difference of 13 days exists between the accepted date for the vernal equinox then and now. His disciples were unnerved: Why this waste? they asked. There are Twelve Great Feasts throughout the church yearnot counting Pascha, which is above and beyond all other feast days. St. Basil the faithful remained in church for the reading of the Acts of the Apostles, and for their sustenance were given a little bread and dried fruit, with a cup of wine. June 2022 Religious Holidays. And so it is with all the great feasts of the Christian Calendar but one. During the week between the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and that of the Prodigal Son, there is a general dispensation from all fasting. Groups of "Old Calendarists" or Palaioemerologitai, refused to abide by the Church's decision and continued to follow the Old Calendar for both movable and immovable feast days. Official Documents | Terms of Use | Copyright Sources. The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland. On the contrary! And nor is Orthodox Easter Monday, also known as . July 12. Otherwise there is no special fasting. PATRIARCHATE OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST. Learn about the work and efforts of the Department of Music and Translations and offer your support! endobj This wonderworking icon is one of the most venerated in Russia and, according to tradition, dates from the dawn of Christianity. Ethiopia's calendar differs from both the Coptic and Julian calendars; the difference between the Coptic and the Ethiopian calendar is 276 years. Crucifixion of Christ, 15.04.2023 - Holy Saturday. Fast of the Apostles--varying in length from 1 to 6 weeks; it begins on a Monday, 8 days after Pentecost, and ends on June 28--the eve of the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Vegetables and herbs such as potatoes, peas, and garlic. - Protection of Our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary. To recap: This year, Lent takes place. Telegram | The Nativity Fast sanctifies the last part of the year and is established so that by the day of the Nativity of Christ we will purify ourselves by repentance, prayer and abstinence. 140 Fri Apr 14 Christian Fashion International Orthodox Good Friday - April 14, 2023 International History Timeline FAQs Importance Observe Related Orthodox Good Friday is celebrated Friday before Easter according to the Julian calendar and falls on April 14 this year. ):lB(@'/dYL+@@2TT#dF\`YYWYK_]Y"8PbD8K2rQp.d3-G5e4;q|.[w d)R]cjVB4qT~L0%/MyKsM1Q: IdctA,DFXQSpA}L=S3Y%zH3GLE3PIBi-qd_H('D"\BtZnE'E"?L Great Lent & Holy Week - 1st Monday of Great Lent through Great and Holy Saturday Orthodox calendar (Russian Orthodox Church) with feasts and fasts for years from 1900 to 2099 (perpetual calendar). Several issues were under discussion at the congress, one of which was the adoption of the New Calendar. As we can see, the Roman tradition prevailed everywhere. It was also the official calendar of the Byzantine Empire from 988 to 1453, and of Kievan Rus' and Russia from c. 988 to 1700. 23), Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (Apr. The Office of the Provost maintains a calendar of religious holidays along with guidance to students regarding conflicts between the University academic calendar and religious observances. . If you arent sure what to fast from on which days, check this fasting calendar! The first is attributed to the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, whose name it bears. The strictest abstinence is on January 6 (December 24), on Nativity Eve - Nativity Eve. %PDF-1.7 Many countries around the world celebrate Orthodox Easter like Romania, Republic of Macedonia, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Russia. ", The fact is that the date of the Nativity of Christ is not exactly known. On the one hand, the necessary revisions were made to correct the Old Calendar; on the other hand, the calculation of Easter was retained as before so as not to violate the holy canons. Christmas Fast--lasting 40 days, from November 15 to December 24. Not only that, but fasting redirects our lives toward God and reminds us of our dependence on Him. Slow-cooked kidney beans with potatoes, garlic, and seasoning. Trinity Week - The week after Pentecost until the Saturday before All Saints Sunday, The Wednesdays and Fridays of the Year, except for Fast-Free Weeks Thus, those of the Orthodox faith will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on April 16th, in 2023 . The ecclesiastical year, which according to Byzantine practice begins on the first of September, is divided between movable and immovable or fixed holy days. 21 Christ the King - Christian. RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE CALENDAR July 2021 - June 2022 . The following is a list of Coptic Feasts, Fasts and other special occasions during the year of 2022. . The Apostle Luke is mostly known as one of the four Evangelists. Each year the Secretariat of Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops publishes the Liturgical Calendar for the Dioceses of the United States of America. In the Church of Alexandria it was April 18, the African tradition adhered to March 28, the Eastern one January 6, and Rome - December 25. These rules are dependent on the Churchs cycle of feasts and fasts, and are contained in the Typikon, mainly in Chapters 32 and 33, repeated in appropriate places of the Menaion and Triodion. Mushroom soup. In Antioch, Chrysostom introduces the celebration of Nativity separately from Epiphany, and it is on December 25 in 386 or 387. There is no fasting, however, between Christmas and Epiphany, during the tenth week before Easter, the week after Easter and the week after Pentecost. Maundy Thursday is the last day of Lent. St. If there occur on Tuesday or Thursday a Saint who has a [Great] Doxology, we eat fish; if on Monday, the same; but if on Wednesday or Friday, we allow only oil and wine. This is where the matter stood until the end of World War I. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Owing to the fact that it makes up less than 2 per cent of the population of a predominantly Lutheran country, it observes Easter according to the New Calendar for practical reasons. The Sunday holiday dedicated to Easter celebrations can take place any time between March 22 and April 25 in. Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus, Basilicus, Righteous Zeno & Zoilus. 19.01.2023. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Receive updates and latest service times from our parish. 07.01 - Nativity of Christ (12 great feasts), 14.01 - Circumcision of Christ (great feast), 19.01 - Theophany. Easter 2022. Share on Facebook; Share on Twitter; . On the Calendar will be found notations concerning Fasting days and seasons. March 7 - April 23, 2022 Great Lent (or the Great Fast) is the Orthodox Lenten season. The week following the Sunday of the Publican & Pharisee - 2nd Week of the Lenten Triodion "Automating the Liturgical Calendar of the Syrian Orthodox Church," Paper presented at the IVth Syriac Computing Forum, Princeton Theological Seminary, on Jul 11, 2003. Sdn Tim Grace unveils the surprising message of Christmas. Holidays before and after Orthodox Easter Day 2023 Ethiopia. October 14. 3:6). Geoff Harvey12 Sep 2022 - 9:00am. Not all Orthodox Churches were in attendance. Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, is celebrated at a later date than that observed by western Christianity. In order not to feel hungry, it is advisable to eat 4-5 times a day. Observe the balance: during fasting, the consumption of carbohydrates increases, the excess of which increases the body's sensitivity to allergens and susceptibility to infectious diseases. Na di Gregorian calendar pipo dey officially recognise pass, but Orthodox churches, primarily for Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria and odas,. What differed in this situation, however, was that reform was initiated by the established Church together with the total backing of the state. Hot and cold cereals like corn flakes, puffed wheat, and rice, shredded wheat, oatmeal, farina, etc. Sundays are days only of abstinence. The Lenten fast is likened to a spiritual journey of the soul through the wilderness of the world. M5c8[Oc&>25^eknV[o`*QSpQ}J)*S&RLN(SG. Meatfast - Monday after the Sunday of Last Judgment through Cheesefare Sunday Works offline. It may be easier to say what fasting in the Orthodox Church is not, rather than what it is. Martyrius Zelenetsk Martyrs Nestor & Tribimius. The Great and Holy week came, and the Royal Family followed Christ to Golgotha. Geoff. Calendar of Saints, Feasts, and Readings in the Orthodox Church February 2023 Grid View Saints View Readings Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Trypho the Martyr Romans 8:28-39 Luke 10:19-21 2 The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple Luke 2:25-32 Hebrews 7:7-17 Luke 2:22-40 3 The Orthodox Nativity Fast 2022 begins by our calendar on November 28 and lasts for forty days, until January 7 (December 25), The beginning of fasting takes place on the feast day of the Apostle Philip on November 14/27, therefore it is sometimes called Phillips Fast. Varying dates for the vernal equinox increased these differences. The majority of Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar or the Revised Julian calendar for calculating movable feasts. When we fast, we regain balance in our lives. The church's longest, strictest and most important fasting time, it leads up to Pascha, Orthodox Easter Sunday. 2. The exception is the Armenian Church, where Nativity is celebrated in accordance with the ancient Eastern tradition on January 6/19. Lent is 40 days (46 days for Orthodox Christians) of prayer, fasting, and abstinence in preparation for the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. Quantserve sets the mc cookie to anonymously track user behaviour on the website. Information about Pascha. If it be a Saint who has a Vigil on Wednesday or Friday, or the Saint whose temple it is, we allow oil and wine and fish. Easter is preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting and penance that starts on Ash Wednesday . There are some guidelines to help us to stick to the Nativity Fast meal plan: Frequent meals calm the body when changing the diet. ", The establishment of the Nativity Fast has a long history and begins in early Christian times. Consequently, all Orthodox Churches observe the event of Christ's Resurrection on the same day, regardless of when the rest of Christendom does. When is Easter 2022? On weekdays (Monday to Friday inclusive) during the seven weeks of Lent, there are restrictions both on the number of meals taken daily and on the types of food permitted; but when a meal is allowed, there is no fixed limitation on the quantity of food to be eaten. 1 TnMekBl}Mup,kk1 Cb9"j E}%hasLd92@I-)CGYRFp ,Vk>u?s=B+E#9@I)WSbAUf!N9~oldN$DOWQYbt~JST'cq@:7XVqZ{,Lf&I& 25), as well as the Patronal Feast of the church or monastery]. We focus again on our ultimate goal: becoming closer to God. Orthodox communities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East - which make up more than 12% of all Christians - celebrate the . Great and Holy . Fast of the Repose of the Virgin Mary--August 1 to 14. Theophan the Recluse on Spiritual Practice, Abstain from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, alcohol, oil. Measure the result that you undertake with your own strength. Site Map | [Q+y 6eD]Yh\Cn:7|#8e?;iuv&LqLpd^AQwRa9"xLKNNE#&?n,RInnk0p\g(GWH_:wa;lyq_j;v?HJp6r;5s'r"IC[IlG:bEbO,PHx"$(uq}YWh}ppdeNq%)SRws*mr#+nQ Apart from fasting periods, the Orthodox Church has also determined absolute non-fasting periods in which we don't fast, even on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. Athos, all continue to adhere to the Old Calendar. Strictly interpreted, it signifies that we may eat only vegetables cooked with water and salt, and also such things as fruit, nuts, bread and honey. The Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar describes and dictates the rhythm of the life of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The information contained on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is for informational purposes only. Orthodox calendar (Russian Orthodox Church) with feasts and fasts for years from 1900 to 2099 (perpetual calendar). This makes the experience all the more edifying, because you are growing spiritually together. 31 Days. Nevertheless, the Julian Calendar remained in use throughout the Byzantine period and beyond. Pascha (Easter) is, by far, the most important day in the ecclesiastical year, and all other days, in one way or another, are dependent upon it. Although the term denotes total abstinence from food or drink, fasting as practiced in the Orthodox Church means abstinence from meat, fish, dairy products, olive oil, and wine. "Orthodox year" redirects here. Orthodox Easter Day. This was occasioned by the dependence of the dispersed Jews upon local pagan calendars for the calculation of Passover. To help with fasting we have once again provided you with a free, downloadable meal plan to take you all the way from Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) to Pascha (Orthodox . Certain individuals and institutions are presented for reference purposes only and may not be under the supervision or jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Throughout the year there are seven. Under current Roman Catholic church law, the faithful are required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. This site has been made possible by a grant from Leadership 100. Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) The Ascension (40 days after Easter) Pentecost (50 days after Easter) The Transfiguration (August 6) The Repose of the Virgin Mary (August 15) Fast Days and Fast Periods Four main fast periods are included in the ecclesiastical year. On Saturdays and Sundays in Lent, with the exception of Holy Saturday, two main meals may be taken in the usual way, around mid-day and in the evening, with wine and olive oil; but meat, animal products and fish are not allowed.