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===Lenten periods===
There are four main periods of fasting (lenten periods):
:1 . [[Great Lent]] is the period of six weeks before following the [[Palm SundayLenten Triodion]] as well as and preceding [[Holy Week]] in anticipation of that greatest of [[Great Feasts|feasts]], [[Pascha]].:2 . Advent, or the [[Nativity]] fast(also called St. [[Apostle Philip|Philip]]'s Fast, coming immediately after his feast on [[November 14]]), is the period from [[November 15]] to [[December 24]] (forty days) in anticipation of [[Christmas]].:3 . The [[Apostles]]' fast is the period from the week following [[Pentecost]] (a variable feast) to the [[feast day]] of Sts. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] on [[June 29]].:4 . The [[Dormition]] fast is the period of the first two weeks of August in anticipation of the feast of the [[Dormition]] of the [[Theotokos]]. ===Fasting days===:Eve of [[Theophany]] ([[January 5]]):Beheading of St. [[John the Forerunner|John the Baptist]] ([[August 29]]):[[Elevation of the Cross]] ([[September 14]])
===Regular fasting===
===Exceptions===
When travelling or ill, Orthodox are not obliged to fast. Additionally, exceptions are made for hospitality, because the focus should not be on outward shows of piety, but rather accepting the love and generosity of others. Orthodox Christians should not fast to the detriment of their health. ''If you are new to fasting, ask your [[priest]] for guidance before you begin.''
===Fast-free weeks===
After certain feasts, Orthodox Christians do not fast, in order to show their joy for the feast.
:[[Afterfeast]] of the [[Nativity]] of [[Christ]] to [[Theophany]] Eve ([[December 25]] through [[January 4]])
:Week following the Sunday of the [[Publican and Pharisee]] (second week of the [[Lenten Triodion]])
:[[Bright Week]] (week after [[Pascha]])
:[[Trinity Week]] (week after [[Pentecost]])
==Foods==
:wine.
Additionally, during Great Lent, the size and number of meals, as well as the selection, are also smaller. On many other feasts[[feast day|feast]] or fast days, particular foods are avoidedor permitted, in lesser degrees of fasting.
==Spiritual meaning==
Fasting also partners with [[prayer]], [[almsgiving]] and [[almsgivingconfession]], readying the whole person like an athlete, body, mind, and soul, for an upcoming [[feast]], similar to the way in which Orthodox Christians would hope to be properly prepared for the [[Second Coming]]. For this reason, during fasting seasons, no [[marriage]]s should take place. (Cf. [[Pastoral Guidelines]].) Another important part of any fasting period is going to [[Confession]].
==History and Tradition==
The Christians inherited the tradition of fasting from the [[Judaism|Jews]]. Jesus, too, gave examples of fasting to his [[disciple]]s, most notably preceding his forty days in the desert when he was tempted by the [[devil]] ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matt]] 4:1-11).
==See also==
*[[Almsgiving]]*[[Confession]]*[[Prayer]]* [[Xerophagy]](or ''dry-eating'')
==External Links==
*[http://xcthesavior.org/content/view/35/ "The Discipline of Fasting"] by Bishop Kallistos Ware
*[http://www.christianforums.com/t95160&goto=nextnewest "On Fasting at Great Lent"] by Fr. [[Alexander Schmemann]] (scroll down to comment 5)
==Sources==
*[http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/calendar/liturgicalcalendar.html Liturgical Calendar] on the [[Orthodox Church in America]] site
*[http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/advfood.html "What Should We Make to Eat?"] by Mary Ann Castronovo Fusco