What is the difference between first-class and second-class fasts in the Coptic Orthodox Church?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, fasts are categorized into two degrees (or classes) based on their level of ascetic intensity and the types of food permitted. This classification helps the faithful navigate the liturgical year and understand the spiritual significance of each period.

First-Class Fasts (First Degree)

These are the most solemn fasts of the Church, focused intensely on repentance, mourning for sin, and preparation for major feasts.

• Permitted Foods: Only plant-based foods (vegan). No animal products (meat, poultry, eggs, milk, cheese) and no fish.
• Abstinence: These fasts typically involve a period of total abstinence from food and water from midnight until a late hour, often 3:00 PM or sunset, depending on the day and the individual's strength under the guidance of a father of confession.
• The Fasts Include:

1. Great Lent: The 40 days our Lord fasted + Holy Week.
2. The Fast of Nineveh: The three-day fast preceding Lent.
3. Wednesdays and Fridays: Observed throughout the year (except during the Fifty Holy Days) in memory of Christ’s betrayal and crucifixion.
4. The Paramoun: The preparation days before the Feasts of Nativity and Epiphany.

Second-Class Fasts (Second Degree)

These fasts are considered slightly less rigorous in terms of dietary restrictions to provide relief to the faithful during longer fasting periods.

• Permitted Foods: All plant-based foods are allowed, and fish is permitted (except on Wednesdays and Fridays).
• Abstinence: While abstinence is still practiced, the hours of fasting are often more manageable (typically until 3:00 PM) compared to the stricter requirements of Great Lent.
• The Fasts Include:

1. The Nativity Fast: The 43-day fast preceding Christmas.
2. The Apostles' Fast: Commemorating the service and martyrdom of the Apostles.
3. The Fast of the Holy Virgin Mary: The 15-day fast in August.

Summary of Differences

| Feature | First-Class Fast | Second-Class Fast |

|:--- |:--- |:--- |

| Fish | Strictly forbidden | Permitted (except Wed./Fri.) |

| Spiritual Theme | Repentance, preparation, passion | Service, joyful expectation, honor |

| Abstinence | Often longer (until 5 PM or sunset) | Generally until 3 PM |

The Church, in her wisdom, allows fish in the second-class fasts as a concession to the physical weakness of people, especially during longer periods of fasting, while still maintaining the spiritual discipline of refraining from meat and dairy products. However, the essence of any fast is not merely about the type of food, but about the "calming of respiration" and the control of passions to provide clarity for the soul.