Christmas Fast

Orthodox Nativity Fast begins on 15 November, with 14 days when fish is permitted

The Nativity Fast will begin this year on Sunday, 15 November. During the 40 days of preparation for Christmas, Orthodox Christians will have 14 days when fish is permitted, according to the Church calendar. Throughout this period, the Church encourages the faithful to intensify their prayers, attend religious services and perform acts of charity, combining…

Nov 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Nativity Fast to span 41 days with weekend fish allowances

The Orthodox Nativity Fast in 2025 will run for 41 days — from November 14 to December 24 — during which believers observe dietary discipline, with fish permitted on Saturdays and Sundays except in the first and final week. By contrast, in Orthodox communities that follow the unrevised Julian (Old) Calendar, the Nativity Fast starts…

Nov 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Let us bring the sighs of the publican as an offering to God: On fasting with the abbess of Bistrița – Vâlcea Monastery

Stavrophore Anastasia Honcioiu, Abbess of Bistrița – Vâlcea Monastery, urges everyone “to bring to God the sighs of the publican” and to avoid despair by putting our trust in God. The abbess agreed to answer a few questions about fasting and preparing for the feast of the Lord’s Nativity. Basilica.ro: How should we fast? Stavrophore…

Dec 3, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Nativity Fast: Let Christ show us how He sees the world, Metropolitan Iosif urges

‘Let Christ show us how He sees the world, how He sees our neighbour and each of us, and let Him look through our eyes,’ urged Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe in a message at the beginning of the Nativity Fast 2020. The Romanian Metropolitan stressed that the effort during the fasting period…

Nov 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Calinic points to 3 conditions for Nativity Fast to achieve its intended purpose

Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Radauti sent a message at the beginning of the Nativity Fast reminding that ‘fasting is an opportunity to free the body from the bondage of matter, which tends to manifest itself on the soul as well.’ ‘There are three inseparable conditions for fasting to achieve its intended purpose: forgiveness, almsgiving…

Nov 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu