Fasting is a means and a spiritual weapon which is not just limited to diet, but the person must be involved in body and mind. It is every Christian's duty to fast during fasting periods.
During these days, Christians are required to abstain from eating:
- · Meat
- · Eggs
- · Animal products
- · Milk and dairy products
- · Fish - except mollusks and shell fish, as well as fish eggs: taramas, roe and caviar
- · Olive oil - excluding olives, which although are oil products, they are consumed during fasting periods.
The main fasting periods are:
1. The fast of Lent, which begins on Ash Monday and ends on Holy Saturday: It means "Great 40 Days" and is the most important period of fasting in the calendar of Orthodox Christians. It finishes on the day of Easter and prepares the faithful for the Divine Drama.
2. The fast of Wednesday and Friday of each week, because on Wednesday the trial of Christ began and on Friday he was crucified.
3. The fast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or the 15th of August, which begins on the 1st of August and ends on the 15th of the same month.
4. The fast before Christmas, which lasts 40 days and begins on November 15 and ends on December 25.
