About

The Apostles' Fast (also known as Peter's Fast) is unique in the Orthodox calendar because its length is not fixed. It always ends on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29th), but its start date depends on Pascha (Easter). specifically, it begins on the Monday following the Sunday of All Saints.

Because Pascha is a movable feast, the Apostles' Fast can vary drastically in length—from as short as 8 days to as long as 42 days. In some rare instances (on the Old Calendar), it can even disappear completely if Pascha falls very late. This tool calculates the specific duration for the selected year based on the New Calendar (Gregorian) fixed feast date.

Formulas

To calculate the duration (D) in days:

Start = Pascha + 57 days

End = June 29

D = End − Start

Reference Data

Event	Timing Logic
Pascha (Easter)	Base Date (Movable)
Pentecost	Pascha + 49 Days
Sunday of All Saints	Pentecost + 7 Days (Pascha + 56)
Fast Start	Monday after All Saints (Pascha + 57)
Fast End	June 29 (Fixed Feast of Peter & Paul)

Frequently Asked Questions

The end date is fixed to the solar calendar (June 29), but the start date is tied to the lunar cycle of Easter. If Easter is early, the gap between the start and end is wide (long fast). If Easter is late, the gap shrinks (short fast).

The Apostles' Fast is generally less strict than Great Lent. Typically, fish, wine, and oil are allowed on all days except Wednesdays and Fridays, though traditions vary by jurisdiction.

This tool uses the New Calendar fixed date (June 29). For Old Calendar observers, the feast falls on July 12 (Gregorian), extending the fast by 13 days.

In years where Orthodox Easter falls in early May, the Apostles' Fast can be extremely short—sometimes just over a week long.