The Dormition Fast is one of the strictest fasts in the Church calendar. It’s comparable to Great Lent in its rules, just shorter.
From August 1st through August 14th, we abstain from meat, dairy, fish, wine, and oil. That means no eggs, no cheese, no butter, no milk. No chicken or beef or shrimp. It’s a vegan fast, basically, though we don’t use that word because the point isn’t dietary preference but spiritual discipline.
But there are exceptions. On Saturdays and Sundays during the fast, wine and oil are permitted. And on August 6th, the Transfiguration, we can have fish along with wine and oil. That feast falls right in the middle of the fast, and it’s no accident. The Church gives us that brightness, that glimpse of Christ’s glory on the mountain, right when we need it most.
Some traditions emphasize “dry eating” on weekdays. Uncooked fruits and vegetables, nuts, bread, honey, water. Hot food without oil on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That’s the strictest observance, and honestly, most laypeople in American parishes don’t follow it that rigorously. Your priest can guide you on what’s expected in your parish.
How It Compares to Other Fasts
Great Lent lasts seven weeks. The Dormition Fast lasts two. But the rules are nearly identical. Same restrictions, same Saturday and Sunday allowances. The Nativity Fast, by contrast, allows wine and oil more frequently and doesn’t press as hard. The Apostles’ Fast varies in length and tends to be lighter still.
So yes, this is a serious fast. It’s not Lent, but it’s Lent-adjacent in its intensity.
The Whole Point
We’re fasting in honor of the Theotokos as she prepared for her dormition, her falling asleep. The tradition holds that she knew her death was coming. She prayed. She prepared herself. She gave herself entirely to God, as she’d done her whole life since the Annunciation.
We’re trying to imitate that. Not the dying part, obviously, but the complete offering of ourselves. Fasting from food teaches us to fast from our own will, our own desires, our own insistence on comfort and control. It’s not about the food. It’s never about the food.
During these two weeks, we also serve the Paraklesis, a service of supplication to the Mother of God. If you’ve never been to one, go. They’re usually served in the evening, and they’re some of the most beautiful services we have. The melodies are different from what you hear the rest of the year. There’s a tenderness to them.
Economia Matters
Here’s what you need to know if you’re new to this. The Church isn’t trying to hurt you. If you’re pregnant, nursing, elderly, sick, or dealing with a medical condition that makes fasting dangerous, talk to your priest. If you’re on a work rotation at the refinery and fasting will make you unsafe on the job, talk to your priest. If you’re traveling and staying with non-Orthodox family who’d be hurt or confused by your refusal to eat what they offer, talk to your priest.
Economia means the Church can apply the rules with pastoral discretion. It’s not a loophole. It’s the Church acting as a hospital, not a courtroom. Fasting should heal you, not harm you.
That said, don’t let economia become an excuse. Most of us can fast more than we think we can. We’re just not used to being hungry, and we’ve been taught by our culture that even mild discomfort is an emergency. It’s not. A little hunger won’t kill you. It might actually teach you something.
What This Looks Like Practically
You’ll eat a lot of beans. Peanut butter sandwiches. Pasta with tomato sauce (check the ingredients, some have cheese). Hummus. Fruit. Vegetables roasted without oil or boiled. Rice. Potatoes. It’s not fancy, but it’s enough.
Some people do one meal a day during the fast. Most of us eat normally, just without the restricted foods. Again, ask your priest what’s expected. Parishes differ, and your own situation matters.
And here’s the thing nobody tells inquirers: you’ll probably mess up. You’ll forget and put cream in your coffee, or you’ll eat something with butter baked into it before you realize. That’s not the end of the world. Confess it if it bothers you, but don’t spiral into guilt. The fast is a tool, not a test you pass or fail.
The Dormition Fast ends on August 14th. On the 15th, we celebrate the Dormition itself, the falling asleep of the Theotokos. After two weeks of fasting, that feast tastes different. Feels different. You’ll understand why we did it.
