St. Athanasios Church School Fasting Guidelines
2011-2012
Protopresbyter Anargyros Stavropoulos, Ieratikos Proestamneos
Athena Georgotas, Director
Thea Portelos, Advisor
Wednesdays & Fridays
All are observed with fasting unless a feast takes precedence over the fast. Wednesdays are in remembrance of Judas’s betrayal of Christ, and Fridays of Jesus Christ’s Passion and Death upon the Cross.
Great Lent
This forty-day fast begins on the Monday after the Cheesefare Sunday and lasts until the Saturday of Lazarus
Holy Week
This is a special fast in honor of our Lord’s Passion that begins on the evening of Palm Sunday and is held through Holt Saturday evening.
Holy Apostles Fast
The length of this fasting period varies, as it is dependent upon the date of Pascha. It begins on the Monday after the Feast of All Saints (the Sunday following Pentecost), lasts through the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and ends on June 30th.
Dormition Fast
This fast begins august 1st and is held through August 15th.
Nativity (Christmas) Fast
This forty-day fast begins November 15 and is held through December 24th.
Strict Fast Days
- August 29th, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
- September 14th, The Elevation of the Holy Cross
- January 5th, The Forefeast (Eve) of the Epiphany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Fast-Free Periods
- December 25 through January 4, following the Holy Nativity
- The first week of the Triodion, after the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
- The week following Judgment (Meatfare) Sunday, during which dairy is still permitted
- Bright (Renewal) Week, following Pascha
- Holy Spirit Week, following Pentecost