When the beginning and end of Lent 2020

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

According to the church canons, which determine the main events of Orthodox life, all believers are obliged to observe fasts, of which there are only four per year. The most severe of them is considered the Great Lent, which takes place on the eve of the Resurrection of Christ.

According to the church calendar, in 2020, the beginning of fasting falls on March 2, it lasts 7 weeks (until Easter) and, accordingly, the end of fasting occurs on April 18. Lent is not only the strictest, but also quite long, therefore, weak and sick people, as well as women during the period of bearing a child, are made some indulgences.

When it will be

Since Great Lent does not have a specific date and is strictly tied to Bright Sunday, believers need to calculate the exact day of the beginning and end of fasting, as well as how many days to observe the fast.

To determine the exact number, you need to count back 7 weeks from the date of the celebration of Easter in 2020. The most severe and longest period of abstinence begins after Forgiveness Sunday, that is, immediately after the end of Shrovetide.

It takes place in three stages:

1. 40-day fasting - March 2-April 10. In the church way, this period of time is called the Holy Forty Day and is dedicated to the 40-day abstinence of Jesus Christ from food.
2. Lazarev Saturday and Palm Sunday - April 11-12. During this period, believers are given some indulgences.
3. Holy Week - April 13-18. This is the last week before the Easter of Christ. The Orthodox remember the last sufferings of the Son of God Jesus on earth, they honor Him.
4. The first and last weeks of Lent are considered the most stringent. During such periods, Orthodox Christians hardly eat and spend most of their time in repentance, prayers, and pacification of emotions.

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Meal calendar

At the beginning of Lent (March 2, 2020) believers are not allowed to eat any food. In the period from March 3 to March 6, Orthodox Christians can eat only vegetable food - bread, fruits and vegetables in their raw form, without the addition of vegetable oil, herbal infusions and juices are acceptable from drinks.

At the end of the first week (March 7, 8) it is allowed to eat baked and boiled plant foods with vegetable oil.

In the following weeks, the Orthodox can fast with some indulgences. But 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) you still have to follow the principles of dry eating.

Tuesday and Thursday you can eat vegetables and fruits in any form, as well as bread and cereals.

On the last two days of the week Orthodox Christians are allowed to eat all the same food, but with the addition of vegetable oil, and you can drink it with red wine.

At the beginning of Holy Week (April 13-15) you will also have to adhere to the principles of dry eating - eat exclusively plant foods without any additives.

On Thursday, Orthodox Christians can pamper themselves with lenten dishes with olive or sunflower oil.

On Friday - complete starvation until the removal of the Shroud, that is, until the third hour of the day, when Jesus Christ supposedly died.

On Holy Saturday, almost everything is prohibited except lean bread and water.

The daily menu can be composed of the following products:

• mushrooms (any kind);
• green pea;
• nuts;
• pickled berries;
• lentils;
• any varieties of cabbage;
• dried fruits;
• citrus fruits;
• vegetables - greens, beets, spinach, onions, potatoes, celery, carrots;
• honey, sweet canned foods - jam, jam and others.

On some days, you can eat pasta, but they should not contain eggs.

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Other restrictions

During fasting, not only the body is cleansed, but also the soul of a person. Therefore, in addition to restrictions on food, there are other prohibitions. They must be observed from the beginning to the end of Great Lent, which, according to the 2020 church calendar, will cover the period from March 2 to April 18 inclusive.

1. Orthodox Christians should abandon intimacy and love pleasures even between lawful spouses.
2. You cannot watch TV shows, films, listen to the radio, take part in various shows, games.
3. It is also necessary to give up the use of alcoholic beverages, smoking and other bad habits. By the way, Lent is a good time to give them up forever.

Believers read the Holy Scriptures every day, and for the entire period while Great Lent continues, each parishioner must read all 4 Gospels.

It is supposed to attend a church service every day, to help the poor and the weak, not to conflict with other people and to forgive those who have once offended.

Bonus

1. In 2020, according to the Orthodox calendar, the beginning of Lent falls on March 2, and its end will be in 7 weeks, on Saturday, on the eve of Easter.
2. This is the longest and strictest of all four posts.
3. Christians for 48 days are obliged to limit themselves not only in food, but also in behavior - it is forbidden to watch TV, read books (except for Orthodox Christians). You should also give up all bad habits and foul language.
4. Strict adherence to all church canons will help prepare the body and soul for the meeting of Christ's Sunday.