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 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.  Dates for the Sundays and Fridays available for weddings during 2023 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 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.