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on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year
from Cheese - Fare Sunday until St.Thomas Sunday
during Christmas Lent and from Christmas until Theophany
during Sts. Peter and Paul Lent (Holy Apostles Lent)
during the Virgin Mary Lent
on the day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
on the day of the Elevation of the Holy Cross

We fast on Wednesdays, because Christ was betrayed on that day and Fridays, because He was crucified then. It is the best Christian discipline.

We abstain from sin, meats, and dairy products. We increase good deeds.

Free of Fast Weeks
Week after the Nativity - January 7 - 17, 2010
Week after Sunday of the Publican & Pharisee - January 24 - February 31, 2010
Week following Meat-Fare Sunday - February 7 - 14, 2010
Week after Pascha (Bright Week) - April 4 - 11, 2010
Week after Pentecost - May 23 - 30, 2010

Days of Fasting
Every Wednesday and Friday (Except for Free of Fast Weeks)
Epiphany Eve - January 18
Beheading of John the Baptist- September 11
Elevation of the Precious Cross - September 27

Fasting Seasons
Great Lent and Holy Week - February 15 - April 3, 2010
Apostles' Fast - May 31 - July 11, 2010
Dormition Fast - August 14 - 28
Nativity Fast (Advent) - November 28 - January 6

from Christmas to Epiphany
the first week of Great Lent
during the Holy and Bright Week (prior and after Easter)
on the Feasts of Christ (Christmas, Circumcision, Theophany, Palm Sunday, Easter), Ascension, Pentecost, and Transfiguration

Pomens may be held, except from Holy Thursday until St. Thomas Sunday.

People light candles for others. The higher stands of candles are for the living. The lower stands of candles are for the deceased.

Cross yourself when passing through both sets of doors, before you kiss the icon(s) in the middle of the church, whenever you hear the priest say "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit", and whenever the priest censes you.