Lent continued
The Western Church
Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the days of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching), has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
The Eastern Church
The Eastern Church does not skip over Sundays when calculating the length of the Great Lent. Therefore, the Great Lent always begins on Clean Monday, the seventh Monday before Easter, and ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday, using, of course, the Eastern date for Easter. The Lenten fast is relaxed on the weekends in honor of the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Resurrection (Sunday). Yes, the early churches believed that Saturday, the seventh day of the week, was the Sabbath. We still believe!
The Great Lent is followed by Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, which are considered feast days, then the Lenten fast resumes on Monday of Holy Week. Technically, in the Eastern Church, Holy Week is a separate season from the Great Lent. These feast days are not sanctioned by God and do not correlate to the "Feast of the Lord" mentioned in Scripture!
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The Western Church
Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the days of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching), has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
The Eastern Church
The Eastern Church does not skip over Sundays when calculating the length of the Great Lent. Therefore, the Great Lent always begins on Clean Monday, the seventh Monday before Easter, and ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday, using, of course, the Eastern date for Easter. The Lenten fast is relaxed on the weekends in honor of the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Resurrection (Sunday). Yes, the early churches believed that Saturday, the seventh day of the week, was the Sabbath. We still believe!
The Great Lent is followed by Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, which are considered feast days, then the Lenten fast resumes on Monday of Holy Week. Technically, in the Eastern Church, Holy Week is a separate season from the Great Lent. These feast days are not sanctioned by God and do not correlate to the "Feast of the Lord" mentioned in Scripture!
Return to Did you know | Previous Page