For people who are going to observe the strictest Easter fast (lasts from March 11 to April 27, 2019), it is of course important to know all its rules. The most important thing is what to eat and when. One of the frequently asked questions is when can you eat fish during Lent before Easter?

The Easter fast is rightfully considered the strictest - this especially applies to its first and last weeks. During these weeks there are days when eating food is completely prohibited, as well as those when you should eat food only in their in kind without undergoing any processing.

In addition, according to the church charter, on weekdays you can eat only once a day - in the evening. On Saturday and Sunday, the rules are not so strict - you can eat food twice during the day, you are allowed to cook it and add vegetable oil.

When can you eat fish during Lent before Easter in 2019?

To the question whether it is possible to eat fish during the fast before Easter, the answer is simple - this is allowed only in certain days. These days are church holidays, which are celebrated during the specified period.

The first of them, the date of which is constant and does not depend on the day of Easter, is the Annunciation. It is celebrated on April 7, 2019, and, despite fasting, on this day Christians can treat themselves to delicious fish dishes.

But it should be noted that if the feast of the Annunciation falls on the last Holy Week, then on this day the fast is observed according to the usual rules. In addition to the Annunciation, fish is allowed to be eaten on Palm Sunday(April 21, 2019) – the last one before Easter Sunday.

It is also interesting that on the eve of this holiday, on the so-called “Lazarus Saturday”, April 20, 2019, fasting people are allowed to eat fish caviar. This makes this day one of the most long-awaited for the entire period of the seven-week fast.

Knowing which days of Easter Lent you can eat fish, housewives, as a rule, think in advance about how they will pamper their household.

Dishes can be fried, boiled, stewed or baked. The fish can be served separately, or in combination with a side dish of porridge or potatoes. The best combination is fish with rice, as well as stewed vegetables.

Believers who always observe church fasts know many tasty and high-calorie fish dishes that are allowed for consumption during these two days. holidays Easter Lent.

It can be either a baked fish carcass or individual stewed pieces of it. Often fish meat is made into minced meat, after which it is used to make delicious meatballs or cutlets.

Fish soup - also great option enjoy the taste, which seems richer and more pleasant during Easter Lent than at any other time.

Orthodox church calendar fasts and meals for 2019 indicating and brief description multi-day and one-day fasts and continuous weeks.

Church Orthodox calendar of fasts and meals for 2019

Fasting is not in the belly, but in the spirit
Popular proverb

Nothing in life comes without difficulty. And in order to celebrate the holiday, you need to prepare for it.
In the Russian Orthodox Church there are four multi-day fasts, fasting on Wednesday and Friday throughout the year (except for a few weeks), and three one-day fasts.

In the first four days of the first week of Great Lent (from Monday to Thursday), the Great (Repentant) Canon, the work of the brilliant Byzantine hymnographer St. Andrew of Crete (8th century), is read during the evening service.

ATTENTION! Below you will find information about dry eating, food without oil and days of complete abstinence from food. All this is a long-standing monastic tradition, which even in monasteries cannot always be observed in our time. Such strictness of fasting is not for the laity, and the usual practice is abstaining from eggs, dairy and meat foods during fasting and during strict fasting also abstaining from fish. For all possible questions and about your individual measure of fasting, you need to consult your confessor.

Dates are indicated according to the new style.

Calendar of fasts and meals for 2019

Periods Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

from March 11 to April 27		 xerophagy hot without oil xerophagy hot without oil xerophagy hot with butter hot with butter
Spring meat eater fish fish

from June 24 to July 11		 hot without oil fish xerophagy fish xerophagy fish fish
Summer carnivore xerophagy xerophagy

from 14 to 27 August		 xerophagy hot without oil xerophagy hot without oil xerophagy hot with butter hot with butter
Autumn meat eater xerophagy xerophagy
from November 28, 2019 to January 6, 2020 until December 19 hot without oil fish xerophagy fish xerophagy fish fish
December 20 – January 1 hot without oil hot with butter xerophagy hot with butter xerophagy fish fish
January 2-6 xerophagy hot without oil xerophagy hot without oil xerophagy hot with butter hot with butter
Winter meat eater fish fish

in 2019

The Savior himself was led by spirit into the desert, was tempted by the devil for forty days and did not eat anything during these days. The Savior began the work of our salvation by fasting. Great Lent is a fast in honor of the Savior Himself, and the last Holy Week this forty-eight-day fast was established in honor of the memory of last days earthly life, suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
Fasting is observed with particular strictness during the first and Holy weeks.
On Clean Monday, complete abstinence from food is customary. The rest of the time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry food (water, bread, fruits, vegetables, compotes); Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil; Saturday, Sunday - food with vegetable oil.
Fish is allowed on Annunciation Day Holy Mother of God and on Palm Sunday. Fish caviar is allowed on Lazarus Saturday. IN Good Friday You cannot eat food before the Shroud is taken out.

in 2019

On Monday of the Week of All Saints, the Fast of the Holy Apostles begins, established before the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. This post is called summer. The continuation of fasting varies depending on how early or late Easter occurs.
It always starts on All Saints Monday and ends on July 12th. The longest Petrov fast consists of six weeks, and the shortest one is a week and a day. This fast was established in honor of the Holy Apostles, who, through fasting and prayer, prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel and prepared their successors in the work of saving service.
Strict fasting (dry eating) on ​​Wednesday and Friday. On Monday you can have hot food without oil. On other days - fish, mushrooms, cereals with vegetable oil.

in 2019

From August 14 to August 27, 2019.
A month after the Apostolic Fast, the multi-day Dormition Fast begins. It lasts two weeks - from August 14 to 27. With this post the Church calls us to imitate Mother of God, who, before Her relocation to heaven, incessantly remained in fasting and prayer.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – dry eating. Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil. On Saturday and Sunday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.
On the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19), fish is allowed. Fish day in Assumption, if it falls on Wednesday or Friday.

in 2019

Christmas (Filippov) fast. At the end of autumn, 40 days before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, the Church calls us to winter fasting. It is called both Filippov, because it begins after the day dedicated to the memory of the Apostle Philip, and Rozhdestvensky, because it occurs before the feast of the Nativity of Christ.
This fast was established in order for us to offer a grateful sacrifice to the Lord for the collected earthly fruits and to prepare for a gracious union with the born Savior.
The charter about food coincides with the charter of Peter's Fast, until the day of St. Nicholas (December 19).
If the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on Wednesday or Friday, then fish is allowed. After the feast day of St. Nicholas and before the forefeast of Christmas, fish is allowed on Saturday and Sunday. On the eve of the feast, you cannot eat fish on all days; on Saturday and Sunday - food with oil.
On Christmas Eve you cannot eat food until the first star appears, after which it is customary to eat sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins.

Solid weeks in 2019

Week– week from Monday to Sunday. These days there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday.
There are five continuous weeks:
Christmastide– from January 7 to January 17,
Publican and Pharisee– 2 weeks before
Cheese (Maslenitsa)– week before (no meat)
Easter (Light)– week after Easter
- week after Trinity.

Fasting on Wednesday and Friday

Weekly fast days are Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday, fasting was established in memory of the betrayal of Christ by Judas, on Friday - in memory of the suffering on the cross and death of the Savior. On these days of the week, the Holy Church prohibits the consumption of meat and dairy foods, and during the week of All Saints before the Nativity of Christ, one should also abstain from fish and vegetable oil. Only when the days of celebrated saints fall on Wednesday and Friday is vegetable oil allowed, and on the biggest holidays, such as Intercession, fish.
Those who are sick and engaged in hard work are allowed some relief, so that Christians have the strength to pray and do the necessary work, but eating fish on the wrong days, and especially the full permission of fasting, is rejected by the charter.

One-day posts

Epiphany Christmas Eve– January 18, on the eve of the Epiphany. On this day, Christians prepare for cleansing and consecration with holy water on the feast of Epiphany.
Beheading of John the Baptist- 11 September. This is the day of remembrance and death of the great prophet John.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross- September 27. The memory of the Savior's suffering on the cross for the salvation of the human race. This day is spent in prayer, fasting, and contrition for sins.
One-day posts– days of strict fasting (except Wednesday and Friday). Fish is prohibited, but food with vegetable oil is allowed.

Orthodox holidays. About meals on holidays

According to the Church Charter, there is no fasting on the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany, which happened on Wednesday and Friday. On Rozhdestvensky and Epiphany Christmas Eve and on the holidays of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the Beheading of John the Baptist, food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the feasts of the Presentation, Transfiguration of the Lord, Dormition, Nativity and Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, Her Entry into the Temple, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which occurred on Wednesday and Friday, as well as in the period from Easter to Trinity on Wednesday and Friday Fish allowed.

When marriage is not performed

On the eve of Wednesday and Friday of the whole year (Tuesday and Thursday), Sundays (Saturday), twelve days, temple and great holidays; in continuation of the posts: Veliky, Petrov, Uspensky, Rozhdestvensky; in continuation of Christmastide, on Meat Week, during Cheese Week (Maslenitsa) and on Cheese Week; during Easter (Bright) week and on the days of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27.

Many people who decide to observe Lent are interested in whether it is possible to eat fish at this time, and if so, on what days? The strictest restriction for the 49-day period between the burning of Maslenitsa and the celebration of Christ's Bright Day - Resurrection is imposed on meat and meat products. Animal products are rightly referred to as the types of food that are most saturated with energy. But these calories are “animal”, and in significant quantities they can have Negative influence on the physical and spiritual health of a person. The violent death of a living creature, whose body subsequently decorates people’s tables and satiates their stomachs, also leaves a bad imprint.

One of the explanations for this limitation can be found on the pages of the Bible, which says that initially, living in paradise, people ate only plant foods. In addition, animals can be possessed by evil spirits. An unclean essence, having entered the body of a living being, lives in it and defiles its flesh. Since a person cannot guess which animal has evil spirit, and in which case it’s not, it’s better not to eat meat at all for a while in order to cleanse yourself of all the bad things.

IN Holy Scripture We are also talking about the fact that all living creatures created by the Almighty are needed by man. Our attitude towards our “lesser brothers” must be appropriate. Therefore, during the flood, all types of animals were saved.

But fish is a product that is not included in the “Meat” category, since the Bible does not mention it as “Adam’s helper.” Therefore, on days of fasting that fall on weekdays, it is not allowed to be eaten, but on holidays this product is not subject to strict ban. And during the global flood, Noah did not need to save the fish, because they were not in danger.

In addition, fish are among those creatures whose minds are most different from human ones. Therefore, it can be considered fair that when killed by humans, fish are not able to experience those negative emotions that are common to other animals.

On what days of Lent can you eat fish without fear of breaking the rules?

The Church provides two days on which the fasting person can slightly diversify his menu. The first day is the Annunciation, celebrated annually on April 7 and in most cases falling during the period of Lent. The second day when it is permissible to eat fish is Palm Sunday. Its date is different every year, since this holiday always falls on the Sunday that precedes the Bright Day of Christ. To put it simply, during the 49-day Easter Lent, the church allows eating fish any year on April 7 and on the Sunday preceding Holy Week.


Church law advises people suffering from diseases that do not allow them to severely limit themselves in food to replace their usual meat meals with fish. After all, fish is a lighter food, and its composition is ideal for feeding people whose bodies urgently need a wide range of macro- and microelements. This diet is also recommended for pregnant women and the younger generation.

How to cook fish during Lent?

When preparing fish, you should take into account the requirements for other lean dishes: no seasonings, sauces or dressings. It is also not recommended to fry this product (only salt, boil or stew). The taste of the fish should be as natural as possible so as not to “irritate” the taste buds, which dulls the spirit of abstinence. Basic fish dishes during Lent it’s fish soup, steamed fish and vegetable cutlets, and fish stewed with vegetables. Lightly salted fish (not subjected to heat treatment) is primarily recommended to be consumed by those people who include this product in the menu in order to gain valuable substances.

Is it possible to include seafood in the menu on fasting days that allow you to eat fish?

If we consider this issue from the point of view of the Church Charter, we should remember that the main criterion for fasting is the consumption of exclusively plant foods. And squid, shrimp, mussels and others Marine life- These are representatives of the animal kingdom. Fish, the consumption of which is allowed by statute only on holidays, is recognized as semi-lenten food. This includes seafood.

If a person fasting on the permissible days wants to include seafood in his diet in order to replenish the balance of nutrients, then this is allowed. Welcomes the Church Charter and the initiative of those people who, due to health restrictions, are trying to replace the “meat” food they need so much with seafood (meat, eggs, cottage cheese, butter). The fact is that seafood is rich in essential fatty acids, iodine and other substances that are so necessary for the human body (especially a sick or growing one).

People who are extremely serious about observing the 49-day fast, but are unable to strictly follow it due to work related to difficult physical activity, eating seafood can help out. But they will need to approach the priest in advance to receive a blessing to relax the fast.

If a person simply wants to fast without depriving himself of his usual pleasures, then this can be called a regular diet. It will undoubtedly bring results. But only if the fasting person did not set for himself such a high goal as spiritual cleansing.

Conclusion.

For people who observe Lent not only in body but also in soul, consumption of fish and seafood is permissible only on holidays and if there is a good reason. And those who do not have any restrictions in terms of health, but want to eat delicacies during Lent, should remember that such “fasting” is nothing more than self-soothing and ordinary weight loss, which has nothing to do with the holiday of Great Easter.

The essence of the post

Orthodox people prepare for the event thoroughly. They know that prayers will help them cleanse themselves of sinful thoughts and begin new life. All free time should be held in church and prove your faith to God.

The purpose of fasting is to cleanse the soul and body of sins, and to celebrate the Nativity of Christ with a light heart. Each person decides for himself whether he should abstain from human pleasures for 40 days. This choice must be conscious. If you have decided to fast, you must do so according to the rules. You will have to give up your favorite delicacies, holidays and fun for a while. All free time should be devoted to prayers, visiting temple, leading a calm and measured life.

Food prohibitions before Communion

Is it possible for the laity to eat fish before communion? This is a fairly popular question. If Orthodox man I decided to fast; giving up meat products for 40 days will not be difficult. Is fish a prohibited food? There is no clear answer to the question. It all depends on the circumstances. Fish can be eaten on permitted days. During strict fasting, you will have to give up fish delicacies.


Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children can eat fish during the preparation for the ceremony. Other Orthodox Christians will have to exclude the product from the menu for 3 days.

Nutrition calendar: for a week

A nutrition calendar was developed especially for the laity. It allows you to create a daily menu and prepare healthy and tasty dishes.

  1. Monday. It is advisable to eat hot food without oil. Porridges, soups, herbs, and jam will be an excellent choice.
  2. Tuesday and Thursday. Soup, pilaf, salad, cutlets must be present at dining table. You can add oil to your dishes.
  3. Wednesday and Friday. They are considered the strictest days of the week. At this time, dry eating is allowed. Vegetables, fruits, raw food, nuts are allowed foods. You cannot drink tea or compote.
  4. Saturday and Sunday. good time to make the menu more varied. You can prepare fish delicacies using vegetable oil.

Note!

Wine is allowed on weekends.

Read also

When can you eat fish?

On what days are fish dishes allowed to be eaten is of interest to many lay people. During fasting, some indulgences are allowed. Fish is allowed to be consumed on any days except Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

End of post

The period from January 2 to January 6 will be quite strict. At this time, you will have to change your usual diet; fish must be excluded from it.

On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, dry eating is allowed. On Tuesday and Thursday, hot food without oil is served.

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Is it possible to eat fish during Lent?

The Church Charter clearly states the time of consumption of Lenten food and its quality. There are very strict rules for meals, which are followed in monasteries and by some believers with the blessing of their confessor. For the laity, certain degrees of relaxation of fasting are provided depending on the state of health, age, and type of occupation. When can you eat fish during Lent and what types of fish are there? we're talking about in this article.

You are allowed to eat fish twice - on holidays, and fish caviar - only on Lazarus Saturday of Great Lent.

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem on the last Sunday before Happy Easter. On Palm Sunday, a festive All-Night Vigil is held in churches, after which the priests read prayers and sprinkle the willow branches with holy water. Worshipers come to Church with willows, meeting the coming God at the service with bouquets of willows and burning candles.

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a great Christian celebration during Lent, glorifying the announcement to the Virgin Mary of the news of the conception and birth of the infant Christ. The celebration of the Annunciation is not postponed on Easter day, even if the holidays coincide. At the Annunciation, the Church Charter blesses the eating of oil and fish.

When can you eat fish during Lent?

What fish can you eat during Lent?

Fish dishes from any types of fish are not prohibited: herring, pike perch, perch, salmon, pink salmon. Best to eat boiled fish, fish pie or , fish roll with vegetables, cooked in butter. Fish can be cooked over a fire, baked, fried, boiled. A good option– cook lean with the addition of fish or fish.

Is it possible to eat seafood during Lent?

In Orthodox monasteries in Greece, monks are not prohibited from eating seafood during Lent, although they fast strictly and do not eat fish. The Greek statute equates squid, shrimp and crabs with sea plants and gives permission to eat them on Sunday and Saturday along with butter. In Russia there is no strict ban on the consumption of seafood during Lent, but Orthodox Church puts forward a clear criterion: lean food is plant-based. Taxonomy classifies shrimp, squid and crabs as part of the animal kingdom, so seafood is considered a semi-lenten food. Some priests believe that it is permissible for the laity to diversify the table with “sea reptiles” on church holidays, others believe that seafood should be consumed twice throughout Lent. It is advisable for believers to clarify this issue in a personal conversation with their confessor.

Is it possible to eat fish during Lent?

So, when can you eat fish during Lent? On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7) and Palm Sunday. Fasting is softened for nursing mothers, pregnant women, children, the sick, and the elderly. It is necessary to fast as long as you are healthy, trying to preserve love, mercy, and patience, which are the purpose of physical fasting. The main meaning of fasting is abstinence and maintaining spiritual purity, which is impossible without attending divine services, prayer, confession, repentance, and communion with the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

Fish for Lent, video recipe