Fasting

Notes

• These guidelines, where they conflict or ask for more than the current law of the Maronite Church or your local eparchy, are not currently obligatory under pain of sin.

• The traditional fasting praxis is a good to strive towards, but do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Fasting and Abstinence Protocols

• Fasting & Abstinence

  • Wednesdays/Fridays and all days during fasting seasons

  • Relaxed between Christmas-Epiphany, Easter-Pentecost, and on the feasts of Sts. Peter/Paul and the Dormition.

• Fasting: No meals 12am - 3pm

  • Relaxed on Saturdays/Sundays, except for Light Saturday

• Abstinence: No animal products, seafood, wine, or alcohols 

  • Required on Saturdays/Sundays

• Eucharistic Fast: Fast from Midnight until Holy Communion

Fasting Seasons

Fasting & abstinence each day (with exceptions, see above)

• Fast of the Nativity: Nov. 15th - Dec. 24th

• Fast of the Ninevites: 3rd Mon. before Lent - 3rd Wed. before Lent

• Great Fast: Ash Monday - Friday before Hosanna Sunday

• Passion Week: Holy Monday - Saturday of Light

• Fast of the Apostles: Monday after Pentecost - Jun. 28th

• Fast of the Dormition: Aug. 1st - 14th

Fasting and Abstinence Protocols

• Fasting: No meals 12am - 12pm

  • Relaxed on Sundays, Holy Days, and between Nativity - Epiphany, and Easter - Pentecost.

  • Water and medicine do not break fasting

  • Fasting is relaxed for medical patients, the infirm, and those taking medication for chronic diseases and delicate health conditions.

• Abstinence: No meat or dairy products

  • Relaxed on Sundays, Holy Days, and between Nativity - Epiphany, and Easter - Pentecost

• Eucharistic Fast: 1 hour before receving Holy Communion

Fasting Seasons

Fasting & abstinence each day (with exceptions, see above)

• Fridays throughout the year

• Great Fast + Passion Week: Ash Monday - Light Saturday 12pm

• Fast of the Nativity: Dec. 16th - 24th

• Fast of the Apostles: Jun. 17th - 28th

• Fast of the Dormition: Aug. 7st - 14th

Fasting and Abstinence Protocols

• Fasting: No meals 12am - 12pm (Statute 100)

  • Obligatory: Ash Monday and Good Friday

  • Relaxed on Sundays and Holy Days

  • Water and medicine do not break fasting

• Abstinence: No meat (Statute 99)

  • Obligatory: Ash Monday and Fridays of the Great Fast

  • Relaxed for Sundays, Holy Days, between Nativity - Epiphany, and Easter - Pentecost

• Eucharistic Fast: 1 hour before receving Holy Communion (Statute 26)

Fasting Seasons

Fasting & abstinence each day (with exceptions, see above)

• Great Fast + Passion Week: Ash Monday - Light Saturday 12pm (Statute 101)

• [OPTIONAL] Fast of the Nativity: Dec. 16th - 24th (Statute 102)

• [OPTIONAL] Fast of the Apostles: Jun. 17th - 28th (Statute 104)

• [OPTIONAL] Fast of the Dormition: Aug. 7st - 14th (Statute 103)