Among the four many-day fasts in the Russian Church, the holy Forty-day (Great Lent) is the longest and most severe. If we touch upon the bodily side of fasting in abstaining from food, then Great Lent also provides for abstaining from fish, with the exception of a few days.
Unlike other fasts of many days (Petrov and Rozhdestvensky), Great Lent provides for stricter abstinence in food. Not only animal products are prohibited for consumption, but also fish (on most days). On Wednesdays and Fridays, the charter prohibits even the eating of oil (vegetable oil). However, the duration of the holy Forty-days determines the presence in the church calendar of several great holidays, on the days of which a relaxation in the severity of food fasting is prescribed.
The main holidays of Great Lent, which in most cases fall on this period of abstinence. are the days when the Holy Church celebrates the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. These dates are marked in the Orthodox calendar in red bold type, which indicates the naming of these celebrations twelve (that is, one of the twelve great Orthodox holidays). On these days, the church charter allows the eating of fish during Great Lent.
The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated on April 7th. This feast of the Theotokos reveals to mankind the good news of the conception and birth of the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary. Since ancient times in Russia this day has been marked by great celebrations. True, it is worth considering that the day of the Annunciation may coincide with Wednesday or Friday. In this case, eating fish is not provided for by the charter (boiled food with vegetable oil is allowed). It is extremely rare that the day of the Annunciation may fall in the post-Easter period. For example, on Bright Week. Then, on this day, any fast is completely abolished, because the Holy Forty Day ended with the holiday of Easter.
The Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, popularly called Palm Sunday, falls on the last Sunday before the feast of Holy Easter. Therefore, it is always allowed to eat fish on this holiday, even though Lent continues. In 2016, the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem falls on April 24th.
The church charter presupposes permission for the use of fish caviar on the Saturday before Palm Sunday (Lazarev Saturday). On this day, the Church commemorates the great miracle of Christ's resurrection of the four-day Lazarus. In the absence of real fish caviar for eating, some priests bless to eat fish on this day.
It is especially worth noting about the practice of blessing the relaxation of fasting in food. This applies to sick people or children and adolescents, as well as other persons, for one reason or another, who cannot keep the entire Great Lent in strict strictness. With the blessing of the confessor (priest), you can eat fish on Sundays and Saturdays of Great Lent (except for the first, third and last week).
