Next: 15 Mar to 1 May 2027
Orthodox Great Lent
From Clean Monday to Holy Saturday: the Orthodox Church does not marry couples during Great Lent.
When is Orthodox Great Lent in 2027?
Orthodox Great Lent 2027 runs from 15 March to 1 May 2027. Other years: 2026, 23 February to 11 April 2026; 2028, 28 February to 15 April 2028.
About Orthodox Great Lent
The Orthodox churches do not celebrate weddings in Great Lent, from Clean Monday to Holy Saturday, nor in Holy Week and Bright Week, because marriage is a feast and the season is one of fasting. Weddings in Greece, Russia, Romania and Serbia are therefore crowded into the weeks after Easter. In 2027 and 2028 the dates follow the Orthodox Easter, which differs from the Western one in many years. A couple may ask the bishop for an exception, though it is rarely given.
Orthodox Great Lent dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Orthodox Great Lent date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 23 February to 11 April 2026 |
| 2027 | 15 March to 1 May 2027 |
| 2028 | 28 February to 15 April 2028 |
What is served
- halva
- bean soup
- olives
Also part of it, and being written: Great Lent (The fast before Orthodox Easter.), Clean Monday (The day the fast begins.), Eastern Orthodox Church (The church whose rule this is.).
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background: "Great Lent" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.