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 June 2023: Dates for the Sundays and Fridays available for weddings during 2023, 2024, and 2025 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 Friday 6 January, Sunday 1 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 (Thursday 19 January), Sunday 8 January and Sunday 15 January are unavailable.
22 January
29 January
5 February
12 February
19 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 20 February, Sunday 26 February is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 27 February, the four Sundays in March are unavailable.
As Pascha falls on Sunday 16 April, the first three Sundays in April are unavailable.
23 April
30 April
7 May
14 May
21 May
28 May
As Pentecost falls on Sunday 4 June, that Sunday is unavailable. As Sunday 11 June is the Eve of the Apostles' Fast, that Sunday is unavailable. As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 12 June and continues until Tuesday 11 July, the remaining Sundays in June and the first two Sundays in July are unavailable.
16 July
23 July
30 July
6 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Monday 14 August and continues until Sunday 27 August, the remaining Sundays in August are unavailable.
3 September
As Sunday 10 September is the Eve of the Feast of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, this day is unavailable.
17 September NOTE: This will be the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, patron saints of family, love and faithfulness.
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 Tuesday 28 November, all the Sundays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Friday 6 January, that day is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Saturday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Thursday 19 January), Friday 13 January is unavailable.
20 January
27 January
3 February
10 February
17 February
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 20 February, Friday 24 February is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 27 February, the five Fridays in March are unavailable.
As Pascha falls on Sunday 16 April, the first two Fridays in April are unavailable. As Bright Week continues until Saturday 22 April, Friday 21 April is unavailable.
28 April
5 May
12 May
19 May
26 May
2 June
9 June
As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 12 June and continues until Tuesday 11 July, the remaining Fridays in June and the first two Fridays in July are unavailable.
21 July
28 July
4 August
11 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Monday 14 August and continues until Sunday 27 August, the remaining Fridays in August are unavailable.
1 September
8 September
15 September
22 September
29 September
6 October
As Friday 13 October is the Eve of the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, this day is unavailable.
20 October
27 October
3 November
10 November
17 November
24 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Tuesday 28 November, all the Fridays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity of Christ will be celebrated on Sunday 7 January, that Sunday is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Friday 19 January), Sunday 14 January is unavailable.
21 January
28 January
4 February
11 February
18 February
25 February
3 March
10 March
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 11 March, Sunday 17 March is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 18 March, the remaining Sundays in March are unavailable.
As Pascha falls on Sunday 5 May, all the Sundays in April are unavailable.
12 May
19 May
26 May
2 June
9 June
16 June
As Pentecost falls on Sunday 23 June, that Sunday is unavailable. As Sunday 30 June is the Eve of the Apostles' Fast, that Sunday is unavailable. As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 1 July and continues until Thursday 11 July, Sunday 7 July is unavailable.
14 July
21 July
28 July
4 August
11 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Wednesday 14 August and continues until Tuesday 27 August, the remaining Sundays in August are unavailable.
1 September
8 September
15 September NOTE: This will be the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom, patron saints of family, love and faithfulness. It is a pious custom in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus for weddings to be celebrated on this day.
22 September
29 September
6 October
As Sunday 13 October is the Eve of the feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, this Sunday is unavailable.
20 October
27 October
3 November
10 November
17 November
24 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Thursday 28 November and continues until Monday 6 January, all the Sundays in December are unavailable.
As the Nativity Fast continues until Saturday 6 January, Friday 5 January is unavailable. Because of the Holy Days from the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Sunday 7 January) until the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ (Friday 19 January), Friday 12 January is unavailable.
In view of the Great Feast of the Baptism of Christ on Friday 19 January, the availability of that day should be checked with the officiating clergyman.
26 January
2 February
9 February
16 February
23 February
1 March
8 March
As Cheesefare Week begins on Monday 11 March, Friday 15 March is unavailable. As Great Lent begins on Monday 18 March February, the remaining Fridays in March are unavailable.
As Pascha falls on Sunday 5 May, all the Fridays in April are unavailable, as is Friday 3 May. As Bright Week continues until Saturday 11 May, Friday 10 May is unavailable.
17 May
24 May
31 May
7 June
14 June
21 June
28 June
As the Apostles' Fast begins on Monday 1 July and continues until Thursday 11 July, Friday 5 July is unavailable.
12 July
19 July
26 July
2 August
9 August
As the Dormition Fast begins on Wednesday 14 August and continues until Tuesday 27 August, Friday 16 August and Friday 23 August are unavailable.
30 August
6 September
13 September
As Friday 20 September is the Eve of the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, this day is unavailable.
As Friday 27 September is the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, this day is unavailable.
4 October
11 October
18 October
25 October
1 November
8 November
15 November
22 November
As the Nativity Fast begins on Thursday 28 November and continues until Monday 6 January, Friday 29 November and all the Fridays in December are unavailable.
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. It is 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 Friday in July are unavailable.
In view of the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul on Saturday 12 July, the availability of Friday 11 July should be checked with the officiating clergyman.
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.