Lent begins on March 18: rules and prohibitions

On Monday, March 18, Orthodox and Greek Catholics begin the main period of abstinence, Lent, which will last until Easter.

UNN has collected the main information about this period for you.

How long will Lent last

Lent lasts 7 weeks and ends on Easter. In total, Lent lasts 48 days. Lent was established by the Church in memory of the Son of God's wanderings in the desert. For 40 days, He denied himself temptation, did not eat meat, did not have fun, and did not entertain himself.

Stages of Lent

- The first day of Easter Lent is called Clean Monday, and the entire first week is called Clean Week.

- The second week of fasting is called the Second Week.

- The third and fourth weeks in the Church are called Holy Week.

- The fifth week is called the Week of Praise.

- The sixth week ends with Palm Sunday.

- The seventh week, which ends with Easter, is called Holy Week.

Spiritual traditions

The Church emphasizes that the main thing during the Lenten season is spiritual purification:

- We should pray more and read the Holy Scriptures;

- Attend church more often;

- Repent;

- Clear your thoughts;

- Do good and spend time with your loved ones.

What to eat during Lent

As a general rule, it is allowed to eat plant foods and sometimes fish. But each day of the fast has its own peculiarities.

It is believed that on the first day of the fast, you should give up all food. Then, from Tuesday to Friday, only food that has not been heat-treated is allowed; oil and fats are excluded. On the first Saturday and Sunday, hot food seasoned with oil is allowed.

Then, during the second to sixth weeks, the diet is based on the following principle:

- Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry fasting;

- Tuesday, Thursday - hot food without oil (dishes made with water, without adding oil and other fats);

- Saturday and Sunday - hot food with oil.

The seventh week is the most severe - from Monday to Thursday, dry fasting is required, and on Friday, complete food refusal is required.

However, such strict restrictions are primarily for the monastic brotherhood. It is important for the laity to take into account their health status and to observe the spiritual requirements of fasting in the first place.

Who can not observe food restrictions during Lent

It is allowed not to observe the fast:

• children under the age of 14;
• pregnant and breastfeeding women;
  
• elderly people;
  
• people suffering from chronic diseases and requiring special nutrition or drug therapy;
  
• people engaged in hard physical labor.
  

Travelers may also not observe the fast.

Remember that any drastic dietary restriction or abrupt change in eating habits can be harmful to the body, so be sure to approach the issue of fasting carefully.

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