Search, Learn more about the Orthodox Church in America. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that should be practiced with the oversight and direction of your spiritual father. The Church eases us into the fasting discipline during these weeks of preparation as follows: February 13 is the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee and the week that follows (February 13 - 20) is fast-free. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, a total fast is kept. On these dayswe abstain from meat, dairy, fish with backbones, fowl, alcoholic beverages, and oil. A good starting place to work towards the strict observance is to keep the first day of Great Lent, Clean Monday, as an absolute fast and to limit meals on the other days. On Saturdays it is the normal Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, usually with prayers for the dead. We thought it would be helpful to have them all listed on this page, together with some of our favorite external resources. Therefore, these rules are intended for all Orthodox Christians, not just monks and nuns. It is a time during which we take stock of our hearts, discard the unnecessary things of this world, refocus our spiritual vision, and bring our pains and griefs before Gods healing presence. Level six -- Level four and eliminate dairy products on Wednesday and Fridays and during Holy Week. The experience provides the faithful significant content to listen to, watch, and read; in order to lead, grow, and inspire. All rights reserved. Great Lent is the longest and strictest of the four fasting periods of the Orthodox Church. A special word must be said about fasting during lent. The lenten services also make the undeniable point that we should not pride ourselves with external fasting since the devil also never eats! We can choose to remain on the shores of the Babylon, lamenting our loss and resigning ourselves to this present state of life or we can get up and begin the journey that leads us home. This year, our journey through the Lenten fast to Pascha begins at Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday, March 6. During Saracosti, no meat or dairy foods are eaten. Blessed fasting is done in secret, without ostentation or accusation of others (Mt 6.16; Rom 14). The guidelines in this post are general. the full armor of self-control the angels' dignity, the confidence before God. Great Lent begins on Monday, March 7, 2022. If one does not have the strength to do this, it is good to abstain from food until after venerating the epitaphios (winding sheet) during Vespers on this day. 2023Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Lives of the Saints /. It is significant that Lent begins after the Sunday of the Casting Out of Adam from Paradise. During this week, the Fifth Week of Great Lent, we celebrate additional church services that are a little longer. Metropolitan of All America and Canada, The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. the Syriac Orthodox calendar was based entirely on the Julian calendar. In our time, there are many bonds of wickedness and cords of the yoke which Lent urges us to loosebut above all, the sins which bind our souls. Great Lent begins on Monday, March 7, 2022. as You love humanity. This fast helps us prepare to properly celebrate our Lords nativity in the flesh and it is to our benefit to observe it as fully Read more, On Monday, August 15, we will celebrate the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary. As part of the Triodion, Lent is dedicated to spiritual uplift and liberation of passions. If a believer is accustomed to attending only the Sunday Liturgy during Great Lent, then the opportunity for a . Find out the dates, history and traditions of National Awkward Moments Day. Even during Great Lent, Saturday (the Sabbath Day) and Sunday (the Lord's Day) remain eucharistic days, and the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. The Church spares no effort in warning us against a hypocritical and pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere external obligations. In preparation for this great feast of the Mother of God, we observe a two-week period Read more. It mourns all that the Israelites had lost in the Babylonian captivity and shows their longing to return home. The Orthodox rules for lenten fasting are the monastic rules. The Orthodox Church in America. Great Lent Begins Pascha (Easter) Ascension Pentecost; 2021: Feb. 17: April 4: May 13: May 23: 2022: March 2: April 17: May 26: June 5: 2023: Feb. 22: April 9: May 18: May 28: 2024: Feb. 14: March 31: May 9: May 19: 2025: March 5: . For example, in Greece, Clean Monday (Ash Monday) is taken to be the first day of spring. Give some thought to your fasting plan for Lent today! The rite of forgiveness is so important precisely because it makes us realizebe it only for one minutethat our entire relationship to other men is wrong, makes us experience that encounter of one child of God with another, of one person created by God with another, makes us feel that mutual recognition which is so terribly lacking in our cold and dehumanized world. However, for other faiths such as Roman Catholicism, Lent ends at sundown on Thursday, April 6, which is the day known as Holy Thursday. In the Orthodox world, we use the word "passions" to describe tendencies that each person has that lead us to sin. These transgressions, however, do not have to define us. Now, forgiveness stands at the very center of Christian faith and of Christian life because Christianity itself is, above all, the religion of forgiveness. Fish is not allowed with the exception on two days: on the 25th of March (Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) and on Palm Sunday. Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after his death by crucifixion. Stavros Akrotirianakis is the Proistamenos (Presiding Priest) atSt. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, FL. The information contained on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is for informational purposes only. The Orthodox Christian Faith proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the teachings of the Apostles, and the tradition and life of the living Church worldwide through worship, communion, witness, and service. Ever since, this Sunday has been commemorated as the "Triumph of Orthodoxy. Biodiesel reduces emissions by more than 50 percent compared to petroleum. Fasting is an aid to help us in this. Telegram | Eastern churches begin Lent on the Monday of the 7th week before Easter and end on the Friday nine days preceding Easter. It has as its goal the purification of our lives, the liberation of our souls and bodies from sin, the strengthening of our human powers of love for God and man, the enlightening of our entire being for communion with the Blessed Trinity. This preparation is for both our body and soul. We hear this through the Prophet Isaiah, where the Lord tells us what distinguishes our true fast: Is not this the fast that I choose: The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843 has been that of the victory of the icons. The Orthodox Observer places the Church in the context of the current world we live in through a diverse and informative experience offering participants meaningful exchange with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, her ministries, and affiliates. When does Lent start in 2023? to loose the bonds of wickedness, [2] Official Documents | Terms of Use | Copyright Sources. Site Map | In the case of All Saints parishioners, your spiritual father is Fr. Also called Quadragesima or Tessaracoste, Great Lent is a 40-day season of spiritual preparation that comes before the Feast of Holy Pascha or the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which falls on April 24. The road home, however, begins with us. Find out the dates, history and traditions of Equal Pay Day. During these days, the Church announces to us the arrival of Lent as being the dawn of day that dissipates the darkness: "Shining upon us as the dawn, the grace-giving Fast provides us now with a time for repentance, dispersing the darkness of our sins.". My beloved Faithful Clergy and Laity of our God-Protected Diocese: As we begin Holy and Great Lent this year on March 14 th, I want to share with you a few thoughts so that we may journey through this reflective period and arrive at the Great Feast of Feasts, Pascha to receive the Resurrected Christ. 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved. Level seven -- Level four plus eliminate dairy products during all of Lent and Holy Week, Level eight -- Level seven plus eliminate oil and wine during Holy Week, Level nine -- The strict fast - no meat, fish, dairy products, wine or oil during the entirety of Great Lent. Twitter | The following is an overview of the events. Meat, animal products (cheese, milk, butter, eggs, lard), fish (meaning fish with backbones), olive oil, and wine (all alcoholic drinks) are not consumed during the weekdays of Great Lent. link to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese website for the liturgics of the day, if available. And it is primarily the renewal of that love, a growth in it, that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire spirit and the entire effort of that season. Telegram | If the fasting "rules" were ever to be reviewed and updated, the prohibition on oil and wine would have to be examined.) There is a 19 Sunday (18 week) period of time each year in the Orthodox Christian Church that surrounds the Feast of Pascha (Easter). Seraphim Dedes). The most basic "passion" is hunger. About the OCA / In the first four days of Lent, the Church officiates the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete, a liturgical hymn of repentance, remembering the history of salvation. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. YouTube | Even though, the Syriac Orthodox . There is a forty day fast that precedes the Feast of the Nativity (November 15-December 24), a fourteen day fast that precedes the Feast of the Dormition (August 1-14), and the Holy Apostles Fast (which begins the day after All Saints Day and lasts through June 28). Contact | These are indifference, selfishness, lack of interest in other people, of any real concern for themin short, that wall which we usually erect around ourselves, thinking that by being polite and friendly we fulfill Gods commandments. Instagram | During these days, the Church announces to us the arrival of Lent as being the dawn of day that dissipates the darkness: Shining upon us as the dawn, the grace-giving Fast provides us now with a time for repentance, dispersing the darkness of our sins., And she urges us to approach it with a humble heart, The holy season ofabstinenceshines upon us all with the light of repentance, driving away the darkness of sin. The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to "Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" YouTube | Aris Metrakos to Protopresbyter, The Patriarch of Jerusalem for the railway fatality in Tempi. The day commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the Apostles, as recorded in the New Testament in Acts, 2. Over the next forty days we break the chains of sin and evil by controlling the things which control usand so become free people. 2023Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Fasting is a tool that is used to assist in spiritual growth. With the bestowal of our blessings and prayers for all of you, we remain, Metropolitan and First Hierarch of the Russian True Orthodox Church-MM. Twitter | Holy Week follows, along with the Great and Holy Week. What is Orthodox Christianity? Even during Great Lent, Saturday (the Sabbath Day) and Sunday (the Lords Day) remain eucharistic days, and the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Christ fasted and taught men to fast. Then after Vespersafter hearing the announcement of Lent in the Great Prokeimenon: Turn not away Thy face from Thy child, for I am afflicted! Fasting on the weekdays of the first week of Great Lent is especially severe. Click the name of a holiday to read more about an individual event. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. We are assured in the Letter to the Galatians that For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1). We have a choice. These rules exist not as a Pharisaic burden too hard to bear (Lk 11.46), but as an ideal to be striven for; not as an end in themselves, but as a means to spiritual perfection crowned in love. Feasts & Saints /, The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of America was born in 1967 in Bakirky, Istanbul. ". The ascetic fast of Great Lent continues from Meatfare Sunday to Easter Sunday, and is broken only after the Paschal Divine Liturgy. All rights reserved. Also called Quadragesima or Tessaracoste, Great Lent is a 40-day season of spiritual preparation that comes before the Feast of Holy Pascha or the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which falls on April 24. This is the true fast: the casting off of evil, the bridling of the tongue, the cutting off of anger, the cessation of lusts, evil talking, lies and cursing. Titus 3:9). When we each ask God to open to me the gates of repentance this Lent, remember that we do not fast to earn Gods love or to impress others around us. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Fasting is about getting control of our passions, maintaining control over them, and ultimately giving control of ourselves to God. Receive small business resources and advice about entrepreneurial info, home based business, business franchises and startup opportunities for entrepreneurs. With faith and vigilance let us enter on the Fast, and receive remission of our sins., relying upon the Mother of God to strengthen us throughout its course, Thou art the cause of all good things, O Lady. So, we fast from meat, fish, dairy products, oil, and wine. Metropolitans messages on war in Ukraine, Christmas Archpastoral Letter December 25, 2022/January 7, 2023. to undo the cords of the yoke, This Sunday was originally dedicated to Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (February 23). From the second through the sixth weeks of Lent, the general rules for fasting are practiced. Categorized as orthodox Tagged lazarus, . Copyright 19962023. The next forty days, which includes nearly six weeks and five Sundays, is called Great Lent. The Holy Metropolis of Belgium and Exarchate of Low Countries and Luxembourg will honor the memory of Metropolitan Panteleimon On Wednesday, March 1, while visiting Northern California, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America attended a Luncheon and Meeting hosted by Patriarch Theofilos III of Jerusalem expressed his deep sorrow and extended his condolences to the families of the railway Sign up for our weekly newsletter (function() {
window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || {
listeners: [],
forms: {
on: function(evt, cb) {
window.mc4wp.listeners.push(
{
event : evt,
callback: cb
}
);
}
}
}
})();
. Designed to guide its readers through the journey, it will both inspire and reinvigorate your faith through meditation, prayer, and a deeper understanding of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Synod / The fasting is done so that the body and spirit are "cleansed" to prepare for accepting the Resurrection. Fasting 3. Octopus and shell-fish are allowed, as is vegetable oil. Phone: (212) 570-3500Contact, Download VCFJoin our Mailing ListsDonate. We also announce the publication of our monastery November-December bulletin (its English version will be available soon on our website: https://sfdumitru.org/en/icon-from-within/, Feast Day at St. Dimitrie the New Monastery, Visit of the Hawaiian Icon of the Mother of God, Prayers sent to God on the wings of birds, Doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men (Ephesians 6.7). GREAT LENT 2022 - Protocol N. 7/2022. This post will provide you with the fasting guidelines for the pre-Lenten period of preparation, Great Lent, and Holy Week, according to the general practice of All Saints parish and as approved for publication by Fr. they have received their reward. The lenten services themselves continually remind us of this. +TIKHON It is before his own Master that he stands or falls." So as we take up the spiritual disciplines given to us by our Lord, I pray that it is with a spirit of renewed commitment and not with a spirit of gloominess. Indeed, Christianity has no other content but love. We can discover that always and everywhere Christ, the Divine Love Himself, stands in the midst of us, transforming our mutual alienation into brotherhood. After his glorification in 1368, a second commemoration of Saint Gregory Palamas (November 14) was appointed for the Second Sunday of Great Lent as a second "Triumph of Orthodoxy." Stavros in two ways: Purchase the book"The Road Back to Christ: Reflections on Lent, Holy Week and the Resurrection"by Fr. Facebook | Western Rite. After a few years at one level, challenge yourself to go up a level. Whether our sin takes the form of something great or small it remains a way in which we have hurt ourselves, have hurt others, and have damaged our relationship with God. Home / Contact | This fasting does not refer to the normal abstinence in preparation for receiving the holy eucharist; it means fasting from the holy eucharist itself. In the Russian Orthodox Church, fasting always begins on a Monday, whereas in the Roman Catholic Church, on a. Fasting is also mischaracterized as a form of deprivation, rather than a spiritual discipline. Great Lent marks the start of the Easter cycle in the Orthodox Christian Church. In the Orthodox Church, the last Sunday before Great Lentthe day on which, at Vespers, Lent is liturgically announced and inauguratedis called Forgiveness Sunday. If you have any specific questions about how the fasting discipline applies to you, you should consult your spiritual father. The Orthodox Faith / As a Lenten hymn says: In vain do you rejoice in not eating, O soul!For you abstain from food,But from passions you are not purified.If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast!. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis, Join the Prayer Team Daily Devotionemail listand receive a reflection like this in your inbox every morning, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; There is no one among us, try as we might, who is able to make it through the year without sin. Patriarch of Romania extended condolences to Greece over deadly train collision, Diaconia Social Mission takes stock of its good deeds in 2022, Head of Chancellery of Romanias PM met with Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, Bishop of Hui urged to observe digital fast during Lenten season, Patriarch of Romania: Forgiveness is a condition to make a good beginning for Lent, Alba Iulia Archbishop Irineu: Great Lent is a time of purification and illumination, Archbishop of America: In the face of every child we behold the countenance of God, Archbishop Makarios of Australia: As a human race, we have a great obligation to the Virgin Mary, Warm reception of the Archbishop of Cyprus by the Ecumenical Patriarch in the Phanar, Visit of Dr. Nikolaos Lygeros to the Offices of the Archdiocesan District of Melbourne, Commemoration of Metropolitan Panteleimon in Brussels, Archbishop of America elevated parish priest Fr. Meals for the fast should follow the dietary restrictions and be cooked simply. This year, Easter falls on Sunday, April. Thus, truly forgiveness is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for, the Lenten season. Box 495 South Bound Brook, NJ 08880 Offices: Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Metropolia Center We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Instagram | Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These questions are in order because for too many people Lent means primarily, and almost exclusively, a change of diet, the compliance with ecclesiastical regulations concerning fasting. In Greece and Cyprus, Lent is known as Saracosti, which comes from the word forty, which is the forty day period until Palm Sunday and then one more week until Easter Day making a total of 49 days of "fasting". Forgiveness Sunday: the day on which we acquire the power to make our fastingtrue fasting; our efforttrue effort; our reconciliation with Godtrue reconciliation. YouTube | What is Orthodox Christianity? All rights reserved. We are united with one another on this road and we always have a strong hand to grasp for those times when we think we might fall. In 2021, Lent in the Roman Catholic Church takes place from February 17 to April 3. As the Scriptures tell us, Every athlete exercises self-control in all things (1 Cor 9:25). Your support helps us further the vital ministry work. To the Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America. April 5, 2022. I humbly ask your forgiveness. Today, as we begin the time of the Fast, let us all rise up and choose to make the journey home. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Sunday, March 6, 2022 12:30 PM. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with its headquarters located in the City of New York, is an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, The mission of the Archdiocese is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian faith, to energize, cultivate, and guide the life of the Church in the United States of America according to the Orthodox Christian faith and tradition. Remember also those who have been killed in this war. A great saint of our Church, Maximus the Confessor, says that the first man, being deficient in the actual movement of his natural powers toward their goal. It is no wonder that it begins on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, itself a story of loss and exile, with the beautiful image of the return home as its conclusion. The weeks of the Great Lent are: First Sunday (Sunday of Orthodoxy) Second Sunday (St. Gregory Palamas) Third Sunday (Adoration of Cross) Fourth Sunday (St. John of Climax) Fifth Sunday (St. Mary of Egypt) Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday Fasting Please also be of service to them in your charity and almsgiving this Lent. And because we make this discoveryand because this discovery is that of the Kingdom of God itself: the Kingdom of Peace and Love, of reconciliation with God and, in Him, with all that existswe hear the hymns of that Feast, which once a year opens to us the doors of Paradise. We know why we shall fast and pray, what we shall seek during the long Lenten pilgrimage. Certain individuals and institutions are presented for reference purposes only and may not be under the supervision or jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Easter Archpastoral Letter April 24/April 11, 2022, , Archpastoral Letter for the Beginning of Great Lent 2022. Home / There are certain days of the Holy Week cycle that have special fasting rules. Let us run towards this freedom in the coming weeks. For some, it might be a particularly long and arduous one, for others, not so much. Instead the non-eucharistic services are extended with additional scripture readings and hymnology of a lenten character. The cornerstone of Lent is not fasting, but repentance and growing in our faith. This Lent, be especially on guard with social media, which too easily inflames our passions, devours our time, and devolves into the foolish controversies which Saint Paul warns us to avoid, for they are unprofitable and futile and only disturb our brothers and sisters in Christ (cf. The Orthodox Christian holiday explained Cady Stanton USA TODAY 0:00 0:45 Orthodox Christians in Europe, Africa and the Middle East celebrated Orthodox Easter on Sunday. Outside of Lent, it is Tradition to fast every Wednesday (in honor of the betrayal of Christ) and Friday (in honor of His Crucifixion). Psalm 137 is added to the service, which begins, By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. It is a song of exile and return. Again, Lent is not a season of deprivation, nor should we "give up" something only to get it back once Lent is over. In several countries, lent marks the start of spring. So, if we can or tame our passion for eating, we can hopefully tame our other passions. Truly, I say to you, Feasts. On the morning of that Sunday, at the Divine Liturgy, we hear the words of Christ: On these days the fast is relaxed to permit fish with backbones, in addition to alcoholic beverages and oil. Beloved children in the Lord, I conclude by directing you to keep in prayer those suffering in the calamity of war: the wounded, the grieving, and the displaced. Great Lent corresponds to Lent as found in Western Christianity, though the length of the periods are calculated in different ways. This site has been made possible by a grant from Leadership 100. The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843 has been that of the victory of the icons. When people think of the word "Lent," the word "fasting" is one of the first things that comes to mind. Home / On Saturdays it is the normal Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, usually with prayers for the dead. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon /. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meatfare Sunday) , Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheesefare Sunday) , Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross , Palm Sunday: The Entrance of Christ into Jerusalem , Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council , 8 East 79th Street New York, NY 10075 Sunday of Orthodoxy. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In this turbulent moment, the Fast is a call to freedom as children of God through our spiritual discipline. Certain individuals and institutions are presented for reference purposes only and may not be under the supervision or jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. RTOC-MM: Archdiocese of North America and the Diaspora From the Blog March 7/February 22, 2022 To the beloved clergy, religious, and faithful of the Russian True Orthodox Church, Archdiocese of North America & the Diaspora-mercy, peace, and love be yours in ever-greater measure. Why is it that the Church wants us to begin the Lenten season with forgiveness and reconciliation? The Lenten Calendar 2022 issued on February 25, 2022 is now available for viewing and download. In general, the fasting rules during Great Lent and Holy Week are as follows: WEEKDAYS (Monday Friday) are observed as Strict Fast Days. A contemporary father of the Church, Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou, explains beautifully: In the beginning state, before the Fall. The Archdiocese responds to the spiritual needs of the Greek Orthodox Christian Faithful through National Ministries, providing programs and services to your local parishes, Metropolises, and you. On Sundays it is the longer Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. Fr. Volume II - Worship / Telegram | E-mail: diocese@easterndiocese.org. WEEKENDS (Saturday and Sunday) are observed as Wine and Oil Days. Below is a guide of some levels of fasting: **Fish is allowed on March 25 (Annunciation)and Palm Sunday; oil and wine are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, except for Holy Saturday. 2028 - Sunday, April 16. In that year the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged on and off since 726, was finally laid to rest, and icons and their veneration were restored on the first Sunday in Lent. for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. According to what was done in the monasteries, one meal a day is eaten on weekdays and two meals on weekends of Great Lent. Archbishop of Washington It is the Orthodox Tradition to fast from food products that contain blood. On Sundays it is the longer Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. The Church eases us into the fasting discipline during these weeks of preparation as follows: The Lenten fasting discipline commences after Forgiveness Vespers on March 6 and concludes with the breaking of the fast at Pascha on April 24. Facebook | "The holy season of abstinence shines upon us all with the light of . There is a 19 Sunday (18week) period of time each year in the Orthodox Christian Church that surrounds the Feast of Pascha (Easter). to let the oppressed go free, The stopping of these is the fast true and acceptable (Monday Vespers of the First Week). The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great Lent. The Sunday after Pentecost is the Feast of All Saints. Try fasting from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent (and then throughout the year), then next year try fasting Wednesdays and Fridays plus all of the first week of Lent and all of Holy Week. After forty days, the church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension. This day commemorates the Last Supper shared by Jesus and his disciples. The Church, in her wisdom, begins preparing us for this most-holy time in the weeks that precede the fast. The well-known teaching that Saturdays and Sundays are never days of fasting in the Orthodox Church, an issue emphasized centuries ago when controversy arose with the Latin Church, refers only to this eucharistic-liturgical fast.