"For a bird to fly, it depends on two wings. So it is also with prayer and fasting for an Orthodox Christian; one cannot acquire a spiritual life without these two wings."

(Orthodox saying)

What is the purpose of fasting, and why do we fast?

There is not one simple answer to why we fast, but we will try to be as clear as possible. One answer to this question is that we simply follow the example of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

We can also read in the Old Testament that many prophets participated in the practice of fasting long before Christianity.

Think of Moses, David, and Daniel, just to name a few. They fasted for several different reasons, such as out of repentance, sorrow, worship, sacrifice, and many other reasons. They fasted differently from each other, but always with God in their thoughts and hearts. We fast for spiritual growth, disciplinary reasons, to detach from earthly life, and grow nearer to God. Let's not forget that the first commandment of God to Adam and Eve involved a form of fasting - refraining from things they desired. They had permission to eat of all things in the Garden, except the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. By breaking this "fast," they disobeyed God's commandment, allowing sin to enter our lives, leading us into death. The devil and his companions, the demons, will try everything to distress us and make us fall from our fast, as the serpent did with Adam and Eve.

There are two kinds of fasts we practice, and we combine both during fasting periods as one. There is physical fasting, which most people are familiar with - not eating or drinking certain things for a period. Then there is the spiritual side of fasting, the more challenging aspect. It includes spending more time reading Scripture, studying the Church Fathers, praying frequently and passionately, giving alms, spending quality time with family, abstaining from fleshly desires and worldly distractions - all to grow closer to God and detach from temporal life.

Fasting is a tool we use for our benefit; God doesn't need our fast, but we need God, and fasting is one way to draw closer to Him.

Though the Bible speaks positively about fasting and encourages us to fast, it doesn't provide strict instructions on how to fast. For guidance, we follow instructions from the Church, established by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to help us on our spiritual journey. May it be for your benefit.

(First date according to the Church (Julian) calendar, second — according to the Gregorian calendar)

Longer periods of fasting  during the year

• Great Lent 
• The Apostles Fast 
• The Fast of the Nativity 
• Dormition Fast 

One day fast

• Every Wednesday & Friday (with some exceptions)
• The Eve of Theophany - January 18 / 5 
• The beheading of St. John the Baptist - September 11 / August 29
• The Elevation of the Cross - September 27 / 14

Rules of fasting (depending on what the Church ascribes to the specific days of fasting)

• Strict fast - a total fast on all kinds of food and drinks 
• Fast on water - meaning that all kind of food from animal is prohibited, like meat, milk and egg products, but also oil and wine (alcohol) is not allowed to consume.
• Fast on oil & wine - all kind of food coming from animals is prohibited. Oil is allowed to prepare food and wine is allowed to be consumed.
• Fast on fish - see: fast on oil and wine, animal products aren't allowed with the exception of fish.
• Diary fast - meat free week (officially this period which occurs a week before the Great Lent isn't considered fasting, but a preparation of fasting where we refrain from all kind of meat).

Considering the  fasting of Great Lent is depending on the moon cycle, and the other periods of fasting are depended of the Great Lent, we can't give a specific date for these fasting-dates on this website. For the exact dates of fasting and which fasting rules we uphold on certain periods, you can simply search on the internet or visit the website of your local Church.

Additional information; The date of Pascha (Easter) in Orthodox Christianity is determined by the cycle of the moon. Pascha falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. This method of determining the date of Easter is based on the timing of the Jewish Passover festival, as the Last Supper, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are closely linked to the Jewish Passover.