In the Russian Orthodox Church, weddings are not celebrated on certain days or during certain seasons. This is not out of disdain for marriage, but so as to ensure that days and seasons of spiritual rejoicing or of fasting and repentance are not overshadowed by the joy of a wedding. As a general rule, the days on which weddings are not permitted by the Russian Orthodox Church are:
- Tuesdays
- Thursdays
- Saturdays
- the days of Great Lent (seven weeks before Pascha, or Easter)
- the days of the Apostles’ Fast (beginning on the second Sunday after Pentecost)
- the days of the Dormition Fast (14-27 August)
- the days of the Nativity Fast (28 November-7 January)
- The period between Christmas and Theophany (7-19 January)
- the days of Cheesefare Week (the week before the beginning of Great Lent)
- the days of Paschal (or Easter) Week (Bright Week)
- 14 February (the Eve of the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord)
- The Eve of the Great Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
- The Great Feast of Pentecost
- 10-11 September (the Eve and the Feast of the Beheading of St John the Baptist)
- 20 September (the Eve of the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God)
- 26-27 September (the Eve of the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, and the day of the Great Feast itself)
- 13 October (the Eve of the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God)
The dates of some feast-days and fasting periods vary from one year to another. The parish rector will be able to provide precise dates for a particular year.
In our Australian and New Zealand Diocese, weddings are most commonly celebrated on Sundays and Fridays. Dates for the Sundays and Fridays available for weddings during 2018 and 2019 are given below.
Readers should note that the availability of a date will also depend on local custom and observances. In this parish, for example, a wedding would not be possible on 8 August or 9 August, the Eve and the Feast of the Great-Martyr Panteleimon.
Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Tuesday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Sunday 19 January), Sunday 12 January is unavailable.
19 January
26 January
2 February
9 February
16 February
23 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 24 February, Sunday 1 March is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 2 March, the remaining Sundays in March are unavailable. As Pascha falls on Sunday 19 April, the first three Sundays in April are unavailable.
26 April
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 May
31 May
As Pentecost falls on Sunday 7 June, that Sunday is unavailable. As Sunday 14 June is the Eve of the Apostles' Fast, that Sunday is unavailable. As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 15 June and continues until Saturday 11 July, the remaining Sundays in June are unavailable, as is Sunday 5 July.
12 July
19 July
26 July
2 August
9 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Friday 14 August and continues until Thursday 27 August, Sunday 16 August and Sunday 23 August are unavailable.
30 August
6 September
13 September NOTE: - This will be the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, patron saints of family, love and faithfulness.
As Sunday 21 September is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, this Sunday is unavailable. As Sunday 27 September is the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and a strict fast day, this Sunday is unavailable.
4 October
11 October
18 October
25 October
1 November
8 November
15 November
22 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Saturday 28 November, Sunday 29 November and all the Sundays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Monday 6 January, Friday 3 January is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Tuesday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Sunday 19 January), Friday 10 January and Friday 17 January are unavailable.
24 January
31 January
7 February
As Friday 14 February is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, this day is unavailable.
21 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 24 February, Friday 28 February is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 2 March, all the Fridays in March are unavailable. As Pascha falls on Sunday 19 April the first three Fridays in April are unavailable. As Bright Week continues until Saturday 25 April, Friday 24 April is unavailable.
1 May
8 May
15 May
22 May
29 May
5 June
12 June
As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 15 June and continues until Saturday 11 July, the remaining Fridays in June are unavailable, as are Friday 3 July and Friday 10 July.
17 July
24 July
31 July
7 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Friday 14 August that day is unavailable. As the Dormition Fast continues until Thursday 27 August, Friday 21 August is unavailable.
28 August
4 September
11 September
18 September
25 September
2 October
9 October
16 October
23 October
30 October
6 November
13 November
20 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Saturday 28 November, Friday 27 November and all the Fridays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Wednesday 6 January, Sunday 3 January is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Thursday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Tuesday 19 January), Sunday 10 January and Sunday 17 January are unavailable.
24 January
31 January
7 February
As Sunday 14 February is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, that Sunday is unavailable.
21 February
28 February
7 March
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 8 March, Sunday 14 March is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 15 March, the remaining Sundays in March are unavailable. As Pascha falls on Sunday 2 May, all four Sundays in April and the first Sunday in May are unavailable.
9 May
16 May
23 May
30 May
6 June
13 June
As Pentecost falls on Sunday 20 June, that Sunday is unavailable. As Sunday 27 June is the Eve of the Apostles' Fast, that Sunday is unavailable. As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 28 June and continues until Sunday 11 July, the first two Sundays in July are unavailable.
18 July
25 July
1 August
8 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Saturday 14 August and continues until Friday 27 August, Sunday 15 August and Sunday 22 August are unavailable.
29 August
5 September
12 September
19 September NOTE: This will be the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, patron saints of family, love and faithfulness.
As Sunday 26 September is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, this Sunday is unavailable.
3 October
10 October
17 October
24 October
31 October
7 November
14 November
21 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Sunday 28 November, that Sunday and all the Sundays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Wednesday 6 January, Friday 1 January is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Thursday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Tuesday 19 January), Friday 8 January and Friday 15 January are unavailable.
22 January
29 January
5 February
12 February
19 February
26 February
5 March
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 8 March, Friday 12 March is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 15 March, the remaining Fridays in March and all the Fridays in April are unavailable.
Pascha falls on Sunday 2 May. As Bright Week continues until Saturday 8 May, Friday 7 May is unavailable.
14 May
21 May
28 May
4 June
11 June
18 June
25 June
As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 28 June and continues until Sunday 11 July, Friday 2 July and Friday 9 July are unavailable.
16 July
23 July
30 July
6 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Saturday 14 August, Friday 13 August is unavailable. As the Dormition Fast continues until Friday 27 August, Friday 20 August and Friday 27 August are unavailable.
3 September
10 September
17 September
24 September
1 October
8 October
15 October
22 October
29 October
5 November
12 November
19 November
26 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Saturday 28 November, all the Fridays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Thursday 6 January, Sunday 2 January is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Friday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Wednesday 19 January), Sunday 9 January and Sunday 16 January are unavailable.
23 January
30 January
6 February
13 February
20 February
27 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 28 February, Sunday 6 March is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 7 March, the remaining Sundays in March are unavailable.
As Pascha falls on Sunday 24 April, all four Sundays in April are unavailable.
1 May
8 May
15 May
22 May
29 May
5 June
As Pentecost falls on Sunday 12 June, that Sunday is unavailable. As Sunday 19 June is the Eve of the Apostles' Fast, that Sunday is unavailable. As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 20 June and continues until Monday 11 July, Sunday 26 June and the first two Sundays in July are unavailable.
17 July
24 July
31 July
7 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Sunday 14 August and continues until Friday 27 August, Sunday 14 August and Sunday 21 August are unavailable.
28 August
4 September
11 September
18 September NOTE: - This will be the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, patron saints of family, love and faithfulness.
25 September
2 October
9 October
16 October
23 October
30 October
6 November
13 November
20 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Monday 28 November, Sunday 27 November and all the Sundays in December are unavailable.
As Friday 7 January is the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ, that day is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Friday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Wednesday 19 January), Friday 14 January is unavailable.
21 January
28 January
4 February
11 February
18 February
25 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 28 February, Friday 4 March is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 7 March, the remaining Fridays in March and the first four Fridays in April are unavailable.
Pascha falls on Sunday 24 April. As Bright Week continues until Saturday 30 April, Friday 29 April is unavailable.
6 May
13 May
20 May
27 May
3 June
10 June
17 June
As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 20 June and continues until Monday 11 July, Friday 24 June July and the first two Fridays in July are unavailable.
15 July
22 July
29 July
5 August
12 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Sunday 14 August and continues until Saturday 27 August, Friday 19 August and Friday 26 August are unavailable.
2 September
9 September
16 September
23 September
30 September
7 October
14 October
21 October
28 October
4 November
11 November
18 November
25 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Monday 28 November, all the Fridays in December are unavailable.