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 particular 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. Updated 26 December 2024: Dates for the Sundays and Fridays available for weddings during 2025, 2026 and 2027 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.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Monday 6 January, Sunday 5 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), Sunday 8 January and Sunday 15 January are unavailable.
In view of the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ, the availability of Sunday 19 January should be checked with the officiating clergyman.
26 January
2 February
9 February
16 February
23 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 24 February, Sunday 2 March is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 3 March, the remaining Sundays in March are unavailable.
As Pascha falls on Sunday 20 April, the first two Sundays in April are unavailable.
27 April
4 May
11 May
18 May
25 May
1 June
As Pentecost falls on Sunday 8 June, that Sunday is unavailable. As Sunday 15 June is the Eve of the Apostles' Fast, that Sunday is unavailable. As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 16 June and continues until Friday 11 July, the remaining Sundays in June and the first Sunday in July are unavailable.
13 July
20 July
27 July
3 August
10 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Thursday 14 August and continues until Wednesday 27 August, Sunday 17 August and Sunday 24 August unavailable.
31 August
7 September
14 September Note: This will be the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, patron saints of family, love and faithfulness. In recent years, it has become a pious custom in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus for weddings to be celebrated on this day.
21 September
28 September
5 October
12 October
19 October
26 October
2 November
9 November
16 November
23 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Friday 28 November and continues until Tuesday 6 January, Sunday 30 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
14 February
21 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 24 February, Friday 28 February is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 3 March, all the Fridays in March are unavailable.
As Pascha falls on Sunday 20 April, the first three Fridays in April are unavailable. As Bright Week continues until Saturday 26 April, Friday 25 April is unavailable.
2 May
9 May
16 May
23 May
30 May
6 June
13 June
As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 16 June and continues until Friday 11 July, the remaining Fridays in June and the first two Fridays in July are unavailable.
18 July
25 July
1 August
8 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Thursday 14 August and continues until Wednesday 27 August, Friday 15 August and Friday 22 August are unavailable.
29 August
5 September
12 September
19 September
As Friday 26 September is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, that day is unavailable.
3 October
10 October
17 October
24 October
31 October
7 November
14 November
21 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Friday 28 November and continues until Tuesday 6 January, Friday 28 November and all the Fridays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Tuesday 6 January, Sunday 4 January is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Wednesday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Monday 19 January), Sunday 11 January and Sunday 18 January are unavailable.
25 January
1 February
8 February
15 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 16 February, Sunday 22 February is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 23 February, all the Sundays in March are unavailable.
As Great Lent continues until Pascha (Orthodox Easter) on Sunday 12 April, the first two Sundays in April are unavailable.
19 April
26 April
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 May
As Pentecost falls on Sunday 31 May, that Sunday is unavailable. As Sunday 7 June is the Eve of the Apostles' Fast, that Sunday is unavailable. As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 8 June and continues until Saturday 11 July, the remaining Sundays in June and the first Sunday in July are unavailable.
12 July Note: In view of the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul on this day, the availability of Sunday 12 January should be checked with the officiating clergyman.
19 July
26 July
2 August
9 August Note: As Sunday 9 August is the day of commemoration of Great-martyr Panteleimon, this date is unavailable in the Gosford parish.
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
14 September Note: This will be the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, patron saints of family, love and faithfulness. In recent years, it has become a pious custom in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus for weddings to be celebrated on this day.
As Sunday 20 September is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Mother of God, that Sunday is unavailable.
As Sunday 27 September is the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, that 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 and continues until Wednesday 6 January, Sunday 29 November and all the Sundays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Tuesday 6 January, Friday 2 January is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Wednesday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Monday 19 January), Friday 9 January and Friday 16 January are unavailable.
23 January
30 January
6 February
13 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 16 February, Friday 20 February is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 23 February, Friday 27 February and all the Fridays in March are unavailable.
As Great Lent continues until Pascha (Orthodox Easter) on Sunday 12 April, the first two Fridays in April are unavailable. As Bright Week continues until Saturday 18 April, Friday 17 April is unavailable.
24 April
1 May
8 May
15 May
22 May
29 May
5 June
As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 8 June and continues until Saturday 11 July, the remaining Fridays in June and the first two Fridays in July are unavailable.
17 July
24 July
31 July
7 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Friday 14 August and continues until Thursday 27 August, Friday 14 August and Friday 21 August are unavailable.
28 August Note: In view of the Great Feast of the Dormition on this day, the availability of Friday 28 August should be checked with the officiating clergyman.
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 Friday 27 November is the Eve of the Nativity Fast, this date is unavailable. As the Nativity Fast begins on Saturday 28 November and continues until Wednesday 6 January, 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
21 February
As Sunday 14 February is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, that Sunday is unavailable.
28 February
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 Great Lent continues until Pascha (Orthodox Easter) on Sunday 2 May, all the Sundays in April are 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 Note: As Sunday 9 August will be the day of commemoration of Great-martyr Panteleimon, this date is unavailable in the Gosford parish.
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 Note: This will be the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, patron saints of family, love and faithfulness. In recent years, it has become a pious custom in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus for weddings to be celebrated on this day.
19 September
As Sunday 26 September is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, that 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 and continues until Thursday 6 January, Sunday 28 November 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 (Wednesday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Monday 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 (Orthodox Easter) falls on Sunday 2 May. As Bright Week continues until Saturday 8 May, Friday 7 May is unavailable.
4 June
11 June
18 June
25 June
As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 28 June and continues until Sunday 11 July, the first two Fridays in July are unavailable.
16 July
23 July
30 July
6 August
As Friday 13 August is the Eve of the Dormition Fast, that day is unavailable. As the Dormition Fast begins on Saturday 14 August and 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 Sunday 28 November and continues until Thursday 6 January, all the Fridays in December are unavailable.
