2023 Duration: June 12-29th
On Monday, June 12, we begin the Apostles’ Fast, one of the four canonical fasting periods of the Orthodox Church year. The Apostles’ Fast always begins the Monday following All Saints Sunday and ends on June 29, the feastday of Ss. Peter and Paul, Chiefs of the Apostles. *For those following the Old Calendar, this fast will end on July 12th. The duration of this fast varies each year depending on the date of Pascha (which determines the date of All Saints). This year the fast is 17 days long (or one month long for those on the Old Calendar).
The guidelines in this meal plan are general. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that should be practiced with the oversight and direction of your spiritual father. If you have any specific questions about how the fasting discipline applies to you, you should consult your spiritual father. In general, the fasting rules during the Apostles' Fast are as follows:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are observed as Strict Fast Days. On these days we abstain from meat, dairy, fish with backbones, wine, and olive oil.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are observed as Wine and Oil Days. On these days the fast is relaxed to permit wine and olive oil.
Saturdays and Sundays are Fish, Wine, and Oil Days. On these days the fast is further relaxed to permit fish with backbones in addition to wine and oil, but we still abstain from meat and dairy
Do you struggle with what fast-friendly meals to make for breakfast, lunch and snacks? I created a cheat sheet and meal planner to help lighten the mental load of thinking of easy and diverse fasting options. This freebie is a companion to the Apostles’ Fast Plan (available in the shop) but can also be used on its own. My hope is to lighten the load this Apostles’ fast, so you can spend less time thinking about what you are going to cook, and spend more time in prayer and participating in the divine services and fasting.