Day Nativity of Christ (December 25/January 7).

The day of the Baptism of the Lord and together – the Epiphany of the Most Holy Trinity (January 6/19).

The day of the meeting (meeting) of the Lord in the temple by Simeon (2/15 of the Hebrew al).

The Day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6/19).

The day of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem (seven days before Easter, on Sunday).

The feast of the Resurrection of Christ, Pascha, the feast of feasts, the beginning of the eternal feast, eternal bliss.

The Day of the Lord's Ascension into Heaven (on the 40th day of Easter, on Thursday).

The feast of the Most Holy Trinity, and then the feast in memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit (on the 50th day of Pascha, on Sunday).

Day of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos (August 15/28).

The day of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, found by Tsarina Elena (September 14/27).

539. WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FAST IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH?

The most important fast is Great Lent, or the Holy Forty Days.

540. WHY IS GREAT LENT CALLED THE FORTY DAYS?

Great Lent is called the Forty Days because it lasts forty days, excluding the week of Christ's suffering (Passion Week).

541. WHY DOES GREAT LENT LAST FORTY DAYS?

Great Lent lasts forty days, since the Lord Jesus Christ Himself fasted for forty days (see Matt. 4:2).

542. WHY IS IT PROPER TO FAST ON WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY?

Fasting is prescribed on Wednesday – in remembrance of the betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ to suffering, and on Friday – in memory of His sufferings and death themselves.

543. WHY ARE THERE OTHER FASTS IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH?

The Nativity and Dormition fasts were instituted in order to honor the feasts of the Nativity of Christ and the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos that follow these fasts by a preliminary feat of abstinence; and fasting in memory of the holy apostles is to imitate the apostles, who fasted, preparing themselves for the work of preaching the Gospel (Acts 13:3).

544. HOW SHOULD FEAST DAYS BE SPENT?