Lent is an important spiritual period for Christians who prepares them for Easter celebration. In 2025, the Lent for believers of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (PCU) will continue from March 3 to April 19 . It is a time of prayer, purification of the soul and abstaining from certain types of food.
Lent is of great spiritual importance in Christianity. Restriction in food promotes spiritual purification and internal development. This is a time for prayer, repentance and strengthening of faith. The rejection of certain products symbolizes the reduction of material dependence and helps to focus on spiritual purposes.
Restrictions on food during Lent
The most severe restrictions relate to animal products. During fasting it is forbidden to use:
- Meat and meat products: all kinds of meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, game), as well as sausages, sausages and meat delicacies. It is not possible to use tar and fat of animal origin.
- Dairy products: all kinds of milk (cow, goat, etc.), cheeses, dairy products, sour cream, cream, butter and ice cream.
- Eggs: all eggs, including chicken, quail and goose, as well as dishes with their use.
- Fish: Although fish is considered a lean food, its consumption is allowed only on certain days - the Annunciation (April 7) and Palm Sunday (April 13). In Lazarev Saturday (April 12) caviar is allowed.
- Alcohol: strong alcoholic beverages. In moderation, red wine is allowed for holidays.
Products allowed in the Great Lent
- Vegetables: the basis of the lean diet, including fresh (cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage) and cooked (potatoes, beets, carrots). You can eat stewed, baked and fried vegetables on allowed days.
- Fruits and berries: allowed to eat fresh fruits (apples, pears, citrus) and berries, as well as frozen and dried fruits.
- Cells and legumes: various porridge (buckwheat, rice, oat), pasta without eggs, lean bread and legumes (peas, beans, lentils).
- Mushrooms: fresh, dried and pickled mushrooms can enter the diet.
- Nuts and seeds: Use in moderation.
- Drinks: water, herbal teas, sugar -free compotes and fresh juices.
Food traditions in great fast
Week of 1st Lent (March 3-March 9)
- Monday, March 3 (Clean Monday): Drying. Complete abstinence from boiled food and oil. Only bread, water, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts are allowed. It is advisable to refrain from eating until the evening.
- Tuesday, March 4: dry. Similarly pure Monday.
- Wednesday, March 5: dry.
- Thursday, March 6: Drying.
- Friday, March 7: dry.
- Saturday, March 8: hot food with oil. Boiled vegetable food (cereals, soups, stewed vegetables, mushrooms, stew, lean borsch) with the addition of vegetable oil. Wine (moderately) is allowed.
- Sunday, March 9 (Orthodoxy Choice): Hot food with oil. Similarly Saturday.
Week of 2nd Lent (March 10-March 16)
• Monday, March 10: dry.
• Tuesday, March 11: hot food without oil. Boiled vegetable food (cereals, soups, stewed vegetables, mushrooms) is allowed without the addition of oil.
• Wednesday, March 12: dry.
• Thursday, March 13: hot food without oil.
• Friday, March 14: dry.
• Saturday, March 15: hot food with oil. Wine (moderately) is allowed.
• Sunday, March 16 (St. Gregory Palma): hot food with oil. Similarly Saturday.
Week of 3rd Lent (March 17-March 23)
• Monday, March 17: Drying.
• Tuesday, March 18: hot food without oil.
• Wednesday, March 19: dry.
• Thursday, March 20: hot food without oil.
• Friday, March 21: Drying.
• Saturday, March 22: hot food with oil. Wine (moderately) is allowed.
• Sunday, March 23 (cross -country): hot food with oil. Similarly Saturday.
Week 4th Lent (March 24-March 30)
• Monday, March 24: dry.
• Tuesday, March 25: hot food without oil.
• Wednesday, March 26: dry.
• Thursday, March 27: hot food without oil.
• Friday, March 28: Drying.
• Saturday, March 29 (St. John): hot food with oil. Wine (moderately) is allowed.
• Sunday, March 30 (John's lady): hot food with oil. Similarly Saturday.
Week of 5th Lent (March 31-April 6)
• Monday, March 31: dry.
• Tuesday, April 1: hot food without oil.
• Wednesday, April 2: dry.
• Thursday, April 3: hot food without oil.
• Friday, April 4 (Praise of the Blessed Virgin (Saturday Akathist)): hot food without oil. Usually, on Saturday, the Akathist is allowed oil, but since it is 5th Friday Lent, then dry.
• Saturday, April 5 (praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Akathist Saturday)): hot food with oil. Wine (moderately) is allowed.
• Sunday, April 6 (Maria Egyptian): hot food with oil. Similarly Saturday.
Week 6th Lent (April 7-April 13)
• Monday, April 7: hot food without oil. Usually, fasting in the Annunciation is weakened for fish, but if the Annunciation falls on Monday, then hot food without oil is allowed, and the fish - for the Annunciation.
• Tuesday, April 8: hot food without oil.
• Wednesday, April 9: dry.
• Thursday, April 10: hot food without oil.
• Friday, April 11: dry.
• Saturday, April 12 (Lazarev Saturday): hot food with oil. Fish caviar is allowed. Wine (moderately) is allowed. Fish - not allowed, only caviar.
• Sunday, April 13 (Palm Sunday - the entrance of the Lord to Jerusalem): fish (baked, ear, fish pies, etc.). Hot food with oil and wine (moderately) are allowed.
Holy Week (April 14 - April 19) is the strictest fast
• Monday, April 14 (Great Monday): Drying.
• Tuesday, April 15 (Great Tuesday): Drying.
• Wednesday, April 16 (Great Wednesday): Drying.
• Thursday, April 17 (Great Thursday - Clean Thursday): Hot food with oil. Wine (moderately) is allowed.
• Friday, April 18 (Great Friday - Holy Friday): complete retention from food (or dryness for infirm). For those who cannot completely refrain from food, drying is allowed. It is advisable to refrain from eating to removal of the shroud (usually after the evening).
• Saturday, April 19 (Great Saturday): Drying. If there is strength, it is advisable to refrain from eating to the start of Easter service. If not - dry.
• Easter, April 20: Expandage. The end of Lent. All food is allowed.
