SSynergyProduct Studio

Orthodox fasting calendar

May 2026 fasting calendar

The Orthodox fasting rule for every day of May 2026, on both the New and the Old Calendar, with the feasts of the month.

Open Prosfora in your browserGet it on Google Play ↗

Fasting seasons and fast days this month

New Calendar

No named fasting season falls in this period — only the ordinary Wednesday and Friday fast.

Old Calendar

No named fasting season falls in this period — only the ordinary Wednesday and Friday fast.

Great feasts

  • The Ascension of the Lord — May 21 (New Calendar)
  • The Ascension of the Lord — May 21 (Old Calendar)
  • Holy Pentecost — the Descent of the Holy Spirit — May 31 (New Calendar)
  • Holy Pentecost — the Descent of the Holy Spirit — May 31 (Old Calendar)

Day by day

Daily fasting rule, May 2026
DateNew CalendarOld CalendarFeast or commemoration
FriStrict fastStrict fastProphet Jeremiah
SatNo fast todayNo fast todaySt. Athanasius the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria
SunNo fast todayNo fast todayMartyrs Timothy and Maura
MonNo fast todayNo fast todayVirgin-martyr Pelagia of Tarsus
TueNo fast todayNo fast todayGreat Martyr Irene of Thessalonica
WedStrict fastStrict fastRighteous Job the Long-suffering
ThuNo fast todayNo fast todayApparition of the Sign of the Cross over Jerusalem
FriStrict fastStrict fastApostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
SatNo fast todayNo fast todayProphet Isaiah
SunNo fast todayNo fast todayApostle Simon the Zealot
MonNo fast todayNo fast todaySts. Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Teachers of the Slavs
TueNo fast todayNo fast todaySt. Epiphanius of Cyprus
WedStrict fastStrict fastVirgin-martyr Glyceria
ThuNo fast todayNo fast todayMartyr Isidore of Chios
FriStrict fastStrict fastSt. Pachomius the Great, founder of cenobitic monasticism
SatNo fast todayNo fast todaySt. Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of Pachomius
SunNo fast todayNo fast todayApostle Andronicus and Junia of the Seventy
MonNo fast todayNo fast todayMartyr Theodotus of Ancyra and seven virgins
TueNo fast todayNo fast todayHieromartyr Patrick of Prusa and companions
WedStrict fastStrict fastMartyr Thalelaeus
ThuNo fast todayNo fast todayThe Ascension of the Lord (New)
FriStrict fastStrict fastMartyr Basiliscus
SatNo fast todayNo fast todaySt. Michael the Confessor of Synnada
SunNo fast todayNo fast todaySt. Symeon the Stylite of the Wonderful Mountain
MonNo fast todayNo fast todayThird Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist
TueNo fast todayNo fast todayApostle Carpus of the Seventy
WedStrict fastStrict fastHieromartyr Therapon
ThuNo fast todayNo fast todaySt. Nicetas of Chalcedon
FriStrict fastStrict fastVirgin-martyr Theodosia of Tyre
SatNo fast todayNo fast todaySt. Isaac, founder of the Dalmatian Monastery
SunNo fast todayNo fast todayHoly Pentecost — the Descent of the Holy Spirit (New)
Strict fastNo meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine or oil — vegetables, grains and fruit. Simplicity as prayer.Wine & oil permittedWine and olive oil are permitted today. No meat, dairy, eggs or fish.Fish permittedFish is allowed today, with wine, oil, shellfish and all foods of the earth. No meat, dairy or eggs.Cheesefare — dairy permittedNo meat this week, but dairy, eggs and fish are welcome every day — even Wednesday and Friday.Fast-freeA fast-free period: the Church is feasting. All foods with gratitude.No fast todayAn ordinary day — eat with thanksgiving.
Follow your parish

These are the general fasting rules of the Orthodox Church, computed for both calendars. Local custom, age, health, pregnancy and your priest’s guidance come first — when in doubt, ask your priest.

Old and New Calendar

New Calendar (Revised Julian) churches — most Greek, Antiochian, OCA, Romanian and Bulgarian parishes — keep fixed feasts on the civil date. Old Calendar (Julian) churches — Russian, Serbian, Georgian and others — keep them 13 days later on the civil calendar. Pascha and the feasts that depend on it fall on the same day for both.