Apostles' Fast by year
| Year | Clean Monday | Apostles' Fast (old calendar) | Apostles' Fast (new calendar) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 3, 2025 | Jun 16, 2025 – Jul 11, 2025 (26 days) | Jun 16, 2025 – Jun 28, 2025 (13 days) |
| 2026 | Feb 23, 2026 | Jun 8, 2026 – Jul 11, 2026 (34 days) | Jun 8, 2026 – Jun 28, 2026 (21 days) |
| 2027 | Mar 15, 2027 | Jun 28, 2027 – Jul 11, 2027 (14 days) | Jun 28, 2027 – Jun 28, 2027 (1 days) |
| 2028 | Feb 28, 2028 | Jun 12, 2028 – Jul 11, 2028 (30 days) | Jun 12, 2028 – Jun 28, 2028 (17 days) |
| 2029 | Feb 19, 2029 | Jun 4, 2029 – Jul 11, 2029 (38 days) | Jun 4, 2029 – Jun 28, 2029 (25 days) |
| 2030 | Mar 11, 2030 | Jun 24, 2030 – Jul 11, 2030 (18 days) | Jun 24, 2030 – Jun 28, 2030 (5 days) |
| 2031 | Feb 24, 2031 | Jun 9, 2031 – Jul 11, 2031 (33 days) | Jun 9, 2031 – Jun 28, 2031 (20 days) |
| 2032 | Mar 15, 2032 | Jun 28, 2032 – Jul 11, 2032 (14 days) | Jun 28, 2032 – Jun 28, 2032 (1 days) |
The fasts of the Orthodox year
- Great Lent from Clean Monday, followed by Holy Week, the strictest week of the year.
- Apostles' Fast (Peter and Paul Fast) from the Monday after All Saints' Sunday to 28 June (church calendar).
- Dormition Fast from 1 to 14 August.
- Nativity Fast (Advent) from 15 November to 24 December, 40 days.
- Single strict fast days: the Eve of Theophany (5 January), the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (29 August) and the Elevation of the Cross (14 September).
- Wednesdays and Fridays all year, except in the fast-free weeks: Christmastide, the week after the Publican and Pharisee, Bright Week and the week after Pentecost. Cheesefare Week before Lent excludes meat only.
On the old calendar every fixed date above falls 13 days later in the civil calendar, for example the Nativity Fast runs from 28 November to 6 January. Pascha itself is calculated by the Easter date calculator; to convert church dates, use the Julian calendar converter.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Apostles' Fast (Peter and Paul Fast) in 2027?
On the old calendar it runs from Monday, June 28, 2027 to Sunday, July 11, 2027 (14 days). On the new calendar it runs from Monday, June 28, 2027 to Monday, June 28, 2027 (1 days).
Why does the length of the Apostles' Fast change every year?
It starts on the Monday after All Saints' Sunday, eight weeks after Pascha, but always ends on the eve of the feast of Sts Peter and Paul (29 June). A late Pascha makes it short. On the new calendar the end date comes 13 days earlier, so after a very late Pascha the fast disappears completely, as in 2040, 2043, 2051, 2054.
When does Great Lent start in 2027?
Great Lent begins on Clean Monday, Monday, March 15, 2027, and Holy Week follows from Palm Sunday. Pascha is on the same day for old- and new-calendar churches.
How many fast days are there in a year?
Counting Wednesdays and Fridays and the four long fasts, about 170 days on the new calendar and 179 days on the old calendar in 2027.
Which churches use the old calendar?
The Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Mount Athos keep the Julian calendar, so their fixed feasts and fasts fall 13 days later. Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, Antiochian and OCA parishes use the new calendar for fixed feasts. All of them (except the Church of Finland) celebrate Pascha on the same day.