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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-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 in 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 21 May or 22 May, the Eve and the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas of Myra in Lycia, the patronal feast of our parish.

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.

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