Orthodox fasting calendar 2027: Old and New Calendar
Orthodox Pascha falls on Sunday, May 2, 2027. Here is every fasting period and fast-free week of 2027 on both calendars, as PrayerRule prints them in its prayer books, with the reason the Apostles' Fast is so short this year.
The fasting periods of 2027
Pascha is on Sunday, May 2, 2027 on both calendars, because both reckon it by the Julian Paschalion. So Great Lent and Holy Week fall on the same days. The fixed fasts are 13 days later on the Old Calendar. All dates below are ordinary civil dates, the ones on your wall calendar.
| Fast | New Calendar (Revised Julian) | Old Calendar (Julian) |
|---|---|---|
| Nativity Fast (from last year) | Not in 2027 | Nov 28, 2026 – Jan 6, 2027 (40 days) |
| Eve of Theophany | Jan 5 (1 day) | Jan 18 (1 day) |
| Great Lent and Holy Week | Mar 15 – May 1 (48 days) | Mar 15 – May 1 (48 days) |
| Apostles' Fast | Jun 28 (1 day) | Jun 28 – Jul 11 (14 days) |
| Dormition Fast | Aug 1 – Aug 14 (14 days) | Aug 14 – Aug 27 (14 days) |
| Beheading of St John the Baptist | Aug 29 (1 day) | Sep 11 (1 day) |
| Exaltation of the Cross | Sep 14 (1 day) | Sep 27 (1 day) |
| Nativity Fast | Nov 15 – Dec 24 (40 days) | Nov 28, 2027 – Jan 6, 2028 (40 days) |
| Wednesdays and Fridays | All year, except the fast-free weeks (63 days) | All year, except the fast-free weeks (60 days) |
The Wednesday and Friday count leaves out the fasting periods, the fast-free weeks and the feast of Theophany.
Why the Apostles' Fast is one day on the New Calendar
The Apostles' Fast begins on the Monday after All Saints Sunday, eight weeks after Pascha, and ends on the eve of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29). Its start moves with Pascha; its end is fixed. In 2027 Pascha is late, so the fast begins on Monday, June 28. On the New Calendar that is already the eve of the feast: the fast is 1 day. On the Old Calendar the eve falls on July 11 (June 28 on the Julian calendar), so the fast lasts 14 days.
Fast-free weeks in 2027
In these weeks there is no fast on Wednesday and Friday. Cheesefare Week is different: no meat, but dairy, eggs and fish every day.
| Week | New Calendar | Old Calendar | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmastide | Dec 25, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 7 – Jan 17 | No fasting on Wednesday and Friday |
| After the Publican and the Pharisee | Feb 22 – Feb 27 | Feb 22 – Feb 27 | No fasting on Wednesday and Friday |
| Cheesefare Week | Mar 8 – Mar 13 | Mar 8 – Mar 13 | No meat; dairy and fish every day |
| Bright Week | May 3 – May 8 | May 3 – May 8 | No fasting on Wednesday and Friday |
| Trinity Week | Jun 21 – Jun 26 | Jun 21 – Jun 26 | No fasting on Wednesday and Friday |
| Christmastide | Dec 25, 2027 – Jan 4, 2028 | Begins Jan 7, 2028 | No fasting on Wednesday and Friday |
How many fast days
Counting every day of the fasting periods, the strict fast days and the ordinary Wednesdays and Fridays, 2027 has 169 fast days on the New Calendar (63 of them Wednesdays and Fridays) and 179 on the Old Calendar (60 Wednesdays and Fridays). The Old Calendar count is higher mainly because its Apostles' Fast is 13 days longer this year.
How strictly to fast
A fasting calendar tells you which days are fast days. It does not tell you what to eat on each: whether fish, wine and oil are allowed depends on the day, on the custom of your parish and on your health. Ask your priest, and follow him where he differs from any printed calendar, this one included.
PrayerRule prints this calendar for 2026 or 2027, on your parish's calendar, at the back of a daily prayer book made for you. The fasting periods of your year are in the free preview.
Your fasts, in a prayer book made for you
Questions
When is Orthodox Pascha in 2027?
Sunday, May 2, 2027, on both the New and the Old Calendar.
When does Great Lent begin in 2027?
On Clean Monday, March 15, 2027. Great Lent and Holy Week run to Holy Saturday, May 1: 48 days.
Is there an Apostles' Fast in 2027?
Yes, but on the New Calendar it is a single day, June 28. On the Old Calendar it runs from June 28 to July 11 (14 days).
When is the Dormition Fast in 2027?
August 1 to 14 on the New Calendar, August 14 to 27 on the Old Calendar.
When does the Nativity Fast begin in 2027?
November 15 on the New Calendar, ending on December 24. On the Old Calendar it begins on November 28 and ends on January 6, 2028.