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Fish and meat are strictly forbidden: why is the Assumption Fast considered one of the strictest
The Dormition Fast is one of the strictest multi—day fasts in the Orthodox calendar. It is dedicated to spiritual purification and preparation for the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin. For more information on how to eat properly and what to eat at this time, see the Izvestia article.
The history and spiritual meaning of the Dormition Fast
The Dormition Fast begins annually on August 14 and ends on August 27, on the eve of the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is celebrated on August 28.
The history of fasting dates back to the first centuries of Christianity. Initially, believers observed the periods of abstinence before the Dormition in different ways, but over time the Church established a unified order. Finally, the duration and rules of fasting were fixed in the Orthodox tradition in the Middle Ages.
The Dormition fast is considered one of the strictest of the year. According to the degree of restrictions, it is comparable to Lent, but it lasts much less — only two weeks. Vladislav Beregovoy, the priest and head of the missionary department of the Pesochenskaya diocese, noted in a conversation with Izvestia that the meaning of prayer lies not only in food restrictions. According to him, the main goal is to learn to control yourself and work on your inner world.
"The Dormition fast, like any other fast, is necessary in order to become better, cleaner and closer to God. But the most important thing is to learn the skill of abstinence, through which we can restrain our anger, irritation and other unfriendly thoughts and actions towards people. First, a person learns this through food, and then they can learn to control themselves in more complex things. After all, how can you overcome envy if you don't have any self-management skills at all? Fasting is necessary so that a person learns to control himself through spiritual self—discipline," the priest said.
The Dormition Fast is dedicated specifically to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and is not related to other twelve-day feasts. As the priest explained, each multi—day fast has its own spiritual content: Christmas is associated with the expectation of the Nativity of Christ, and Assumption is associated with the preparation for the feast of the Assumption.
Calendar of meals in the Dormition Fast by day
The Dormition Fast in 2026 begins on Friday, August 14, and continues until Thursday, August 27. In the Orthodox tradition, the rules of nutrition during this period depend on the day of the week and the strict observance of church regulations.
On the first day of Lent, August 14, the Origin (wear) of the precious trees of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord is celebrated. In the folk tradition, the holiday is known as Honey Savior. In 2026, it falls on a Friday. According to the charter, dry eating is observed on this day — it is allowed to eat food without heat treatment.
On Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, hot food with vegetable oil is allowed. On Monday, August 17th, dry eating is observed again. Hot food without butter is allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while stricter restrictions apply on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The second week of Lent follows a similar pattern. At the same time, on August 19, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord, or the Apple Savior. During major church holidays, it is traditional to relax in fasting — it is allowed to eat fish. Also on this day, the consecration of the fruits of the new harvest, mainly apples, takes place.
According to Vladislav Beregovoy, for the majority of believers, the Dormition Fast has fairly clear rules. He noted that with strict observance of the charter, various restrictions on days are possible, but in general this post is characterized by simplicity.
"For those who strictly follow the charter, different days may have their own rules. But the Dormition Fast is very simple, all the days there are similar," said the priest.
What not to eat during the Dormition Fast
The main limitation of the Assumption Fast is related to the rejection of animal products. During the entire period, believers are not allowed to eat meat, dairy products and eggs. Dishes containing these ingredients are also prohibited. Fish in the Dormition Fast is allowed only on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 19th.
Alcohol is also traditionally restricted. In Orthodox practice, fasting involves avoiding not only certain foods, but also excesses that can interfere with spiritual concentration.
Vladislav Beregovoy emphasized that the meaning of fasting should not be reduced solely to changes in diet. According to him, a person should pay attention to spiritual life and relationships with others.
"It is worth abstaining from meat and dairy products. But the problem with fasting is not that you just can't eat something. We still need to do something: do more good deeds, go to church, receive communion more often, read the Scriptures, and do something good," the priest said.
What can and cannot be done during the Dormition Fast
During the Dormition Fast, believers are encouraged to attend worship services more often, pray, read spiritual literature, and pay attention to helping others. Lent is considered as a time of inner work and preparation for the church holiday.
During this period, quarrels, irritability, condemnation of others and other actions that contradict the idea of spiritual abstinence are not welcome. The restrictions apply not only to food, but also to human behavior.
Also, during the days of fasting, it is not recommended to arrange noisy entertainment and pay excessive attention to material pleasures. The Church encourages you to use this time to rethink your own actions.
At the same time, the clergy point out that external observance of the rules should not become an end in itself. It is important that restrictions help a person become more attentive to himself and others.
"When the fast starts, you start fasting. When the fast ends, you stop. This is the only rule. If we talk about how to fast, then usually during the fast we do not eat meat and dairy products and do not eat each other," Vladislav Beregovoy joked.
How to observe the Dormition Fast correctly — the priest's opinion
According to representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, the approach to fasting should take into account a person's state of health, his life circumstances and spiritual experience. For some believers, strict restrictions can be adjusted after a conversation with a priest.
Participation in church life remains an important part of fasting. Believers are advised to attend services, confess and receive communion, if possible. In addition, morning and evening prayers can be read at home, as well as prayer texts related to holidays.
Vladislav Beregovoy explained that the main prayer on the days of the Savior and church holidays remains participation in worship. According to him, additional actions are not mandatory if a person retains attention to the spiritual side of the holiday.
"The main prayer of our Savior is the liturgy. On this day, you need to come to the service, pray, receive communion and go home quietly. It is absolutely not necessary to consecrate something," the priest said.
He also added that believers can read the usual prayer rules at home. If you have a prayer book with the texts of the holidays, you can refer to the troparion of the corresponding day.
"If there is a large enough prayer book with holiday troparia, you can read the holiday troparion from it," Beregovoy said.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
