Lent: the first day. How to fast in Lent?

Lent is one of the most important periods in the calendar of the Orthodox believer. Great deity allows you to prepare for a great holiday - the Holy Pascha, to be cleansed spiritually and physically, and also to become close to God. That is why the post before Christ's Resurrection is given increased attention on the part of believers.

The History of Lent

The correct Lent has a long history. According to scientists, the first mention of the Great Bird was prescribed by St. Athanasius the Great in his Easter epistle. According to the Scriptures, fasting begins for 6 weeks before the holiday of life, hope and joy. The period lasts for 40 days, without taking into account Saturday and Sunday, and also the Holy Week before the coming of Easter.

In modern representations the Great Fast corresponds with the period of the wanderings of Christ in the desert. However, in the Epistle of Athanasius the Great there is no such mention. But, despite this, the post of the Holy Pentecostal is characterized by ascetic preparation for this grand religious holiday.

The final establishment of the Great Lent occurred only at the end of the IV - the beginning of the V century. Great post by day in different localities was not respected by a single canon. The rules of spiritual purification differed, as well as the food that was permissible for the Christians in the specified period.

Parts of Lent

If you cover the Lent by days, then the entire period can be divided into 4 important stages. The fourth month is the period of fasting, which lasts for 40 days. This stage is a symbol of Christ's life in the desert before preaching. At this time, we must fight with all sins through prayer, appeals to the Lord, ascetic way of life. It is very important to know what to eat in Lent, what prayers to say, at what time to go to worship.

The second important stage of Velikogivenya is Lazarev's Saturday. In the Christian calendar on this day remember the miracle that Christ performed, the resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus raised the dead Lazarus, while forcing him to rise from the grave on the 4th day after his death. Such a phenomenon gave the Jews a faith in God, in Jesus Christ. Therefore, at the entrance of the Son of the Lord to Jerusalem, local Jews met him as King, laying palm branches and their clothes at their feet.

The entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem, or Palm Sunday, symbolizes the Second Coming of Christ. These were the last days when Jesus Christ was an earthly inhabitant. The time was approaching when the Son of God would be betrayed by a painful execution on the cross.

The final stage of Lent is Holy Week lasting 6 days. During this period, you should know for certain that Lent for every day has its own definite canons. As there was a time of mourning, when believers remember all the torments of the Son of the Lord, about his death and burial.

Preparation for the Great Post

To prepare for the Great Bird, one should not only learn how to fast in Lent, but also realize the very fact of this asceticism. To get closer to God, it's not enough just to give up fast food. It is necessary to cleanse oneself spiritually, forgive all your enemies, get rid of anger and anger. Prayers should contain words-appeals to God for help, healing and purification. The grace of the Lord will descend on all those who ask in this period.

Conversations with the priest

As soon as you understand that soon the first week of the Great Lent, you should go to church, talk with a clergyman. Why is this necessary? This is necessary in order for the minister of religion to explain what to eat in Lent in accordance with his age, health status. Each post should be on forces. Therefore, the Church permits to abstain from fasting, women, pregnant and lactating women, travelers and children.

The Saving Week

Lent (the first day and the whole of the following week), in accordance with the Orthodox canons, is considered a period of purification of believers from sins. What happens at this time? In the first days of Lent all priests persuade their parishioners to take the way of the Lord, to get rid of all the vices and sins they received during their earthly life. To get rid of this spiritual burden is possible only by means of fasting, humility and prayer.

The first days of Lent, as well as the last week, in the church are conducted with the greatest zeal both of the clergy themselves and of the parishioners. It is at this time that spiritual and physical feats are realized. Food in Lent (the first day) is a forbidden fruit for all believers. In accordance with Orthodox customs, in the first two days of the fourth month (and for physically able - in the first four days), food is not supplied. This cleanses the body of the vices of earthly life.

The first week of Lent is marked by lengthy sermons. Divine services begin with the canon of St. Andrew of Crete during the Compline. Scripture awakens in the soul of believers a special repentance, humility and increases the mood for observance of fasting. Other writings during the first week are the hymns of Joseph and Theodore the Studites, which are obligatory for preaching in the church.

How to fast?

The question of how to fast in Lent is the most important among believers. During the Great Depression it is recommended to completely exclude from food all foods and dishes that contain meat and offal. Milk, cheese, vegetable oil, fish, eggs and other fast food are banned. Do not forget about alcohol, which is taboo on the time of Lent.

However, there are some indulgences that become possible during the holidays. So, fish and all derived products can be consumed for food on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on Palm Sunday. Fish caviar becomes available on Lazarev Saturday.

What can you eat on the first week of fasting?

As noted above, the first week of Lent is strict enough. It is recommended to completely refrain from food. However, those who decided to enter the fast for the first time, you can not completely deprive yourself of a meal. Entry into the post should be gradual, without a sharp rejection of meat and fish.

The great fast (the first day) is associated with Orthodox believers with purification and repentance before God, which comes after the Forgiveness Sunday. On the first day it is customary to clean up the house, wash and put on clean clothes. It requires cleansing and intestines, so strict requirements are imposed on the meal.

In the monastery, according to the statute, all professors must completely give up food on the first day. To maintain strength, only holy water is offered. Lay people on the first day of fasting are allowed to eat raw food of non-animal origin. In other words, in this period of time there is a lot of rawness. Fruits, vegetables, bread and water are allowed. Great post, the first day and the second in particular, is held under a single scenario.

On the third, fourth and fifth day, according to church canons, it is recommended to eat hot food, but without the addition of oils. As the main ingredients can be mushrooms, vegetables, baked in the oven, lean soups, honey and fruits.

On Saturday and Sunday, laymen are allowed to eat meals with a little oil. In addition, on Saturday, you can drink light grape wine. Food should be hot, contain vitamins.

What can you eat on the second week of fasting?

The second week of Lent is quite strict. Out of seven days there are three for dryness: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These days, you should adhere to a strict menu, which can only contain raw vegetables, fruits, bread and water. On Tuesday, Thursday, laymen are allowed to taste cooked for a couple of meals, but without adding any type of vegetable oil. The meal can be varied with lean porridges, vegetable soup, baked mushrooms in the oven. On Saturday and Sunday the post softens. In these days, laymen can be traced with food with vegetable oil and drink a glass of wine.

What can you eat on the third week of fasting?

The third week of Lent in the church vocabulary is listed as the Crusader. During this period, parishioners should reflect on what it means to "bear their cross." Fasting is still strict. On Monday, it is recommended that the cheese should be damp. It is better to give preference to nuts, figs, raisins, fruits and vegetables. On Tuesday, you can include in the meal cooked or baked food in the amount of 200 grams. On the Crumbling Wednesday it is allowed to eat two dishes with a little oil, and also to drink a glass of grape wine. Saturday comes the Parent Universe Saturday.

What can you eat in the fourth, fifth and sixth weeks of fasting?

The submitted weeks of fasting do not differ from the first three. However, on some days, allowances for fasting are permitted. On the Feast of the Annunciation, confessors are allowed to take fish food 1 time per day. In addition, you can taste dishes with butter, as well as drink a glass of wine. In Lazarev's Saturday, when Christians remember the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus, fish eggs of up to 100 grams are allowed. You can use oil and grape wine.

Holy Week

Passionate week begins with Palm Sunday, when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem. What do they eat in Lent on Holy Week? On Sunday, laymen are allowed to eat hot food that has been cooked without oil. Then the post becomes tougher:

• Great Monday is the day when the professors remember the prototype of Jesus Christ - Patriarch Joseph. On this day, dry drinking is recommended 1 time per day. Portion should not exceed 200 grams. The food should be moist, without adding oil. As a drink, you can choose a decoction of berries with honey.
• Great Tuesday is commemorated by the preaching of the son of God, which was read in Jerusalem. The high priests asked Jesus compromising questions about the second coming, but did not dare to arrest him because of the loyal people. On Tuesday, laity eat raw food: vegetables, fruits, nuts, bread.
• The great environment in the Christian Scripture is marred by the betrayal of Judah. In addition, on that day an anointing of Jesus Christ took place. On this day, dry-eating should be preferred. From drinking to choose water or a decoction (tincture) of berries on honey.
• Maundy Thursday. On this day, one of the most important events occurred - the Last Supper. On Thursday, Jesus Christ washed his disciples feet. It was a gesture of brotherly love, as well as divine humility. At the Last Supper a rite was instituted, called Holy Communion (according to the Gospel). On this day the confessors take bread and wine, thereby implying the body and blood of the Son of God, remembering the sufferings of Christ.
• Good Friday. Good Friday is marked by the arrest of Jesus Christ, his trial, the way of the cross, the crucifixion and death on the cross. On this day the laity do not eat anything. Elderly people are allowed to take bread and water after sunset.
• The great Sabbath is dedicated to the memories of how Christ came to the grave and descended to hell for the salvation of the eternal torments of the souls of the dead. On this day it is recommended to abstain from food until the onset of Easter.

How to leave the post?

What is eaten in Lent is not the only question requiring clarification. In order to avoid complications, special attention should be given to loosening. The process of getting out of the post should be gradual. This is due to the fact that over the past seven weeks the body has adapted to plant light foods. Therefore, in the Easter week, you should gradually dilute the menu with food of animal origin. This will allow the development of enzymes that promote the processing of heavy meals.

Lent is a time of hope and humility, which is achieved through spiritual rapprochement with God and physical purification. But you should not resort to repentance if there are problems with your health.