Orthodox believers begin Lent

On February 27, Orthodox believers begin Lent - a time of prayer, services, spiritual and bodily deeds, which ends with the celebration of the Holy Resurrection - Easter, BelTA informs.

Lent is the most rigorous and longest of the multi-day fasts of the Orthodox Church. It lasts seven weeks and consists of the actual forty-day fast (Quadragesima), which embodies the forty-day fast of Jesus Christ in the desert, and the fast of the Holy Week. This year, the Lent lasts from February 27 to April 15. Palm Sunday opens the Holy Week, the last week of Lent, during which the memory of the suffering of Jesus Christ.

During Lent, the church regulations do not allow eating animal products - meat, milk, eggs and fish. From Monday to Friday, unless there is a holiday on these days, it is also necessary to refuse vegetable oil. Wednesdays and Fridays are days of fasting. Only boiled vegetables may be eaten. On Sundays small amounts of light wine are allowed. Fish may be eaten only twice: on Annunciation and Palm Sunday.

There may also be some excuses for fasting, depending on the health of the person and his occupation. Fasting is facilitated for the sick, the elderly, pregnant women and people engaged in heavy work. Many believers do not eat food during the first three days.

Speaking of Lent, Orthodox theologians emphasize that it should be expressed not so much in a proper diet (as many mistakenly believe), but rather in spiritual concentration.