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The Orthodox Christians start keeping The Great Lent today

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The Orthodox Christians start keeping The Great Lent today


19.02.2018



pravmir.ru

The Orthodox Christians have entered into the Great Lent today – the longest and the strictest fast of all. This church custom dates back the second century. Initially it lasted for 40 hours and a century later, it was prolonged until 6 days. To keep the lent was a free willed initiative, later in the 4th – 5th centuries the church obliged all believers to join fasting. The Great Lent consists of The Holy Lent itself and The Passion Week. This Lent honors 40-day fasting of Jesus Christ who departed to the desert for that right after Baptism.

This year, the Lent will finish on 8 April to be followed by the Easter. Before the Easter, the believers will hold the Passion Week. The main condition of the fast is restraint from food and entertainment. According to Professor of Moscow Theological Academy Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, the aim of the fasting is waiting for the Easter with the strained soul.

The Archpriest calls for limiting Internet communications and spending time on real-life communication. The priest reminds that there is another way for self-checking in this period, which is observing all traffic rules, even if there are no police officers or video cameras around. In his words, this is a useful form of self-restrictions during fasting, RIA Novosti informs.

The most important restriction to be observed by the Orthodox Christians concerns food. Everybody is aware that the believers should stop eating meat, dairy food, eggs and fish. The strictest week is the first week of the Lent. However, the Church reminds that there is a relaxation of the food restrictions for elderly people, children and pregnant women at that period.

Traditionally, the churches will hold divine services on a daily basis for the whole first week of the Great Lent.

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