Today, February 27, Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the beginning of the Grand Lent, RIA Novosti reports. This Lent is the longest and the strictest fast out of all other fasts. In honor of this religious event, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will lead the church service in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Traditionally the last day before great fast is called Forgiveness Sunday, so Patriarch of Moscow asked everybody to forgive him. He reminded that the Lent is an attempt to change one’s soul, heart and mind. This act of body and soul requires looking inside yourself and discovering all your sins, Patriarch Kirill emphasized.
The spiritual part and the main purpose of Lent is repentance, first of all. At this, in opinion of the rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Khokhly, archpriest Alexey Uminsky, the food restrictions remain fundamental.
During this Lent lasting for forty days believers can eat fish only at special holidays, the Annunciation of Our Lady and Entry of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. Priests remark that the Lenten fare should be simple but diverse at this time of year.
The Grand Lent ends up with the Easter holiday, the most important celebration in the Eastern Orthodox Christians tradition. It will be celebrated April 16, 2017 and will coincide with Catholic Easter Day this year.
Russkiy Mir
