Page "Wednesday" Paragraph 14

The Eastern Orthodox Church observes Wednesday ( as well as Friday ) as a fast day throughout the year ( with the exception of several fast-free periods during the year ).

Fasting on Wednesday and Fridays entails abstinence from meat or meat products ( i. e., four-footed animals ), poultry and dairy products.

Unless a feast day occurs on a Friday, the Orthodox also abstain from fish, from using oil in their cooking and from alcoholic beverages ( there is some debate over whether abstention from oil involves all cooking oil or only olive oil ).

For the Orthodox, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year commemorate the betrayal of Jesus ( Wednesday ) and the Crucifixion of Christ ( Friday ).

There are hymns in the Octoekhos which reflect this liturgically.

These include special Theotokia ( hymns to the Mother of God ) called Stavrotheotokia (" Cross-Theotokia ").

The dismissal at the end of services on Wednesday begins with these words: " May Christ our true God, through the power of the precious and life-giving cross ...."