The Great Lent in 2006 will be from March, 6th till April, 22nd.
Great Lent is the most long and strict from all fasts. It demands special preparation to which the week before (the Pancake week) is devoted. It is necessary to refuse meat on this week though the post has not begun yet. But it is possible to eat other products of an animal origin — milk, eggs, fat.
This week comes to the end with Remit Sunday, this day everyone ask each other a pardon, purifying the soul.
In first two days of the Lent the maximum degree of abstention is established, it is necessary to abstain completely from food, especially on Pure Monday.
For the second day they drink water, eat bread and salt. For the third day it is possible to drink some compote, on the fifth — to cook porridge of peas or rice, adding honey or raisin. On Saturday and Sunday it is possible to eat usual lent food with vegetable oil.
Last week of the Lent — Holy Week — differs by special severity.
As the Great Lent is in spring, in is good if you have kept many preserved food.
History of the Great Lent.
As church confirms, the Great Lent has been established by Apostles in imitation Moses and to Jesus Christ, which fasted in desert forty days. From here and the name of the Great Lent — Chetirehdesyatnitsa (forty tens).
According John Zlatoustu, the custom to fast has appeared instead of former custom to receive communion every Sunday. Now there was a usage to eat communion only in especially great days, such, as Easter and Great Thursday. To keep sacrament, they have founded Chetirehdesyatnitsa. In IV century the Lent existed in all Churches, but it began at various times.
In those days on fast days meat and wine were forbidden, and bread and vegetables were resolved. In the East in XII century even fish and some natatorial were considered fast.
In XIV century in the Great Lent charter very strict rules were fixed — first two days it was possible to drink only water, in other days only dried food was supposed, and only in the evening. On Saturday and Sunday boiled vegetables with vegetable oil and some wine were allowed.
Thus, in the Great Lent they practically eat nothing, except for vegetables and bread. Exception was only two days — the Lady Day and the Palm Sunday when the fish was allowed.
