What is the strict fasting service called in the evening? Peculiarities of worship during Lent

20.09.2019

Lent in 2019: which services should you not miss? We will consider this issue in detail in this article and will help you successfully fast.

Lent in 2019

Every day, except Saturdays and Sundays, at all services of the daily cycle the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is read. For the first time during the Lenten Triodion, it is pronounced on Wednesday and Friday of Cheese Week, and on last time- on Holy Wednesday (April 24), after which all bows to the ground, except before the Shroud, cease until the day of Pentecost.

On the first four days of Pentecost, it is read at Great Compline. It is sung in its entirety on Thursday morning of the fifth week, which is usually performed on Wednesday evening, the day before - one of the longest and most complex services is called "". In addition, on Thursday of the fifth week there is a special ancient service, which in origin is Vespers with Communion. This service is also celebrated every week on Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as on the first three days of Holy Week. According to the charter, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts should be celebrated in the evening, but in parish practice this is rare - the service is usually postponed to the morning.

On the first Friday of Great Lent (March 15, 2019), at the end of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, a prayer service is performed with the blessing of koliva (boiled wheat grains or other cereals with honey). Memory of St. Vmch. Theodora - first Saturday (March 16) of Great Lent.

From Wednesday of the Cross (April 3), half of Pentecost, at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts a litany about those preparing for Holy Baptism is added.

The second and third (March 23, 30 in 2019) - commemoration of the deceased. On these days, the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and a memorial service are celebrated. (On April 6, the funeral service is not celebrated in connection with the pre-celebration of the Annunciation.)

The fifth Saturday (April 13) of Great Lent is a celebration; the day before, on Friday evening (April 12), Matins is served with the singing of an akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. Sixth Saturday (April 20) - commemoration of the resurrection of the holy righteous Lazarus of the Four Days (eating fish caviar is allowed at the meal).

On all Sundays of Pentecost, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is performed, and in the first week after the end of the Liturgy, prayer singing in honor is also performed. The second Sunday is dedicated to St. Gregory Palamas, a teacher of the Church who formulated the theology of grace. On the eve of the third Sunday, at Matins, during the Great Doxology, the Honest and Life-giving cross Lord's. On the Fourth Sunday of Pentecost, the Church remembers St. John, abbot of Mount Sinai, author of the famous ascetic work “The Ladder”, and on the fifth (April 14) - the feat of the Venerable Mary of Egypt. Due to the coincidence of the 4th Week of Lent this year with the Feast of the Annunciation Holy Mother of God, service prp. John Climacus (from Triodion) is moved to Great Compline on Friday evening.

On the day of the feast of the Most Holy Theotokos (April 7), the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is served. On holiday, fish is allowed at meals.

The last Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday (April 21). On this day, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is celebrated and willows are consecrated.

On the first four Sundays of Great Lent there is also a special service - Vespers with an akathist to the Passion of Christ (Passion). This service is of Western origin and serves as a constant reminder of the saving feat and suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary.

On the first three days of Holy Week, the last Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of the year is celebrated. At the matins of these days (the first of them takes place on Sunday evening), the troparion is sung, and at dismissal the words “The Lord is Coming to His Free Passion” are pronounced.

Maundy Thursday (April 25) - commemoration of the Last Supper and the establishment of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. On this day, Vespers is celebrated with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and reserve Gifts are prepared for the communion of the sick. At the end of the Liturgy, during the bishop's service, the Rite of Washing the Feet is performed.

On Thursday evening, Good Friday Matins with readings are celebrated, one of the longest and most beautiful services. church year. There is an old Russian custom of bringing home burning candles from this service.

(April 26) is a day of strict fasting. In the morning, the Consequence of the Hours of Great Heel with figurative ones is performed; the Liturgy is not served. After noon - after the dismissal, the canon “Lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos” is sung, during which the kissing of the Shroud takes place.

On Friday evening or Saturday night the Savior is celebrated. In itself Holy Saturday(April 27) the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is served, during which the clergy changes from Lenten purple and black clothes to white. During this service, the Gospel is already read, in which the Resurrection of Christ is remembered (chapter 28 of the Gospel of Matthew). After the Liturgy - the consecration of Easter dishes.

On Easter night, services begin with the Midnight Office with the reading of the canon of Great Saturday before the Shroud. Before this, during non-liturgical times, the Acts of the Holy Apostles are read in the church. After the Midnight Office, Easter Matins is served with the Paschal Canon of St. John of Damascus, and then the Easter Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Fasting was established by the Church as a special time, set apart from everyday life, when a Christian works hard to cleanse his soul and body, praying, confessing his sins, and partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. During fasting, one abstains from fast food - meat, milk, eggs, and sometimes fish.

Post history

Fasting existed during times Old Testament, Christians began to fast from the very foundation of the Church, following the example of the Lord Himself and the apostles. The oldest of church writers claim that the apostles established the first 40-day fast in imitation of the prophet Moses and the Savior, who fasted for 40 days in the desert. Hence the name of Great Lent - Lent.

Some church scholars believe that the fast initially consisted of 40 hours. Ancient Christian books (II, III centuries) tell us about the custom of fasting for two days. The fast before Easter was 6 days, as Dionysius of Alexandria tells about it.

Thus, Great Lent (Holy Lent) in the form in which it exists today developed gradually. Church historians believe that it finally took shape when it became the custom to baptize converts on Easter and prepare them to receive the Sacrament through a long fast. Out of a sense of brotherhood and love, all believers began to participate in this fast with them.

Already in the 4th century, Lent existed everywhere in the Church, but it did not begin everywhere at the same time and did not last for 40 days everywhere. The fast was very strict. The ancient Christian writer Tertullian says that only bread, dried vegetables and fruits were allowed, and then not before the evening. This was called dry eating. We didn’t even drink water during the day. In the East, dry eating persisted until the 12th century, then not only vegetables, but also fish and even some birds began to be considered lean.

Any joy and fun was considered a violation of fasting. General rule consisted of abstaining from stimulating foods and moderate consumption of even permitted foods.

In subsequent times, heresies appeared, some of which considered fasting to be the main duty of a Christian, others, on the contrary, completely denied its significance. The church rules, which generalized the experience of the first centuries, punish not only anyone who, unnecessarily for health, violates established post, but also those who claim that eating meat is a sin even on holidays, and condemn the consumption of meat food at permitted times.

During the days of Lent in Christian countries, all kinds of spectacles were prohibited, baths, shops, trade in meat and other fasting products were closed, and only essential items were sold. Even court hearings were stopped. Christians did charity work. During these days, slaves were often freed or released from work.

Posts are divided into one-day and multi-day posts. Multi-day fasts include:

Great Lent, or Holy Pentecost.
Petrovsky post.
Assumption Fast.
Christmas post.

One-day fasts include:

Weekly fasts on Wednesday - in memory of the betrayal of the Savior by Judas and on Friday - in memory of the suffering and death of the Savior.
However, there is no fasting on Wednesday and Friday of some weeks. These are: Easter week, which is revered as if for one Bright day; week after Trinity; the so-called Christmastide, that is, the time from Christmas to Epiphany Eve; Week about the publican and the Pharisee before Great Lent (so that we do not become like the Pharisee who boasted of his piety); Maslenitsa (although there is a ban on meat during it).
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is September 27.
The day of the beheading of John the Baptist is September 11.
Epiphany Christmas Eve, that is, the day before Epiphany - January 18.

Lent

Lent consists of: 40 days (Lent); two holidays(Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday), as well as Holy Week - a total of 48 days. It is called Great not only because of its duration (it is longer than all the others), but also because of the great significance of this fast in the life of a Christian.

In addition to the 7 weeks of fasting itself, the charter prescribes another 3 weeks of preparatory weeks for it. They begin with the Week of the Publican and the Pharisee. From the beginning of the 3rd week until its end, there is no longer any meat at the meal; it will appear only at the breaking of the fast during the Easter meal. The entire week is also called Cheese Week, or Maslenitsa, because the main food during it is dairy products, fish, eggs, and cheese.

3 weeks before Great Lent, on Sunday, when the Gospel text of the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee is read at the liturgy, the Lenten Triodion, a book of liturgical texts that determines the features of worship during Great Lent, begins to be used in worship.

On Sunday, which is called the Week of the Publican and the Pharisee, at morning they sing a special prayer of repentance from Psalm 50: “Open the doors of repentance...” This is the beginning of preparation for fasting. The singing of the repentant prayer continues at matins on Sundays (Weeks) of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks of Great Lent inclusive.

Week o prodigal son- second preparatory week. On Sunday, during the liturgy, the Gospel with the parable of the prodigal son is read. At Matins a new penitential chant sounds: “On the rivers of Babylon...” (Psalm 136).

Week o Last Judgment- third preparatory week. On Sunday the Gospel of the Last Judgment is read. This Sunday is also called meat-eating Sunday, as it is the last day of the meat-eater. From Monday until Easter you cannot eat meat.

On the eve of Meat Sunday - Ecumenical (Meat Sunday) parent's Saturday. On this day, the memory of all Orthodox Christians who have passed away from time to time is commemorated.

The week following this Sunday is called Maslenitsa.

Week of remembrance of Adam's exile - Forgiveness Sunday. On this Sunday, a Gospel passage is read about forgiveness of offenses and fasting. Adam's exile is remembered in many liturgical texts. In the evening, everyone gathers at the temple for the rite of forgiveness. The service is already fast, the vestments are black, bows and singing of repentance. At the end of the service, a sermon is read about forgiveness of offenses, about fasting and a prayer with a blessing for Lent. The clergy, starting with the eldest, ask the people and each other for forgiveness. Then everyone approaches the priests in turn, bows, asks for forgiveness and forgives them all their sins and offenses, while kissing the cross and the Gospel as a sign of the sincerity of what is being said. The parishioners ask each other for forgiveness. Such forgiveness of mutual offenses is an indispensable condition for the purification of the heart and the successful conduct of Lent.

Lent differs from the rest of the year in special services.

Firstly, the Divine Liturgy is not served on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (except for several holidays), the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated on Wednesday and Friday, and the Liturgy of Basil the Great is celebrated on Sundays.

Secondly, in worship the volume of texts read from the Psalter increases, and singing becomes much less.

Thirdly, the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is read with 16 bows, waist and prostration. Added to the service special prayers with bows and kneeling.

All these differences determine the special spiritual atmosphere of Lent, which is not typical for the entire year. Orthodox Christians visit church more often than ever so as not to miss special services.

First week of Great Lent

Reading of the Great Canon of Andrew of Crete on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Great Compline. On Wednesday morning the first Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. On Friday morning, after the liturgy, there is a prayer service with the consecration of the koliva (in memory of the miracle of the Great Martyr Theodore Tiron). Kolivo is boiled grain with dried fruits, most often rice with raisins. The consecrated Kolivo is distributed to those present in the temple and consumed on an empty stomach on the same day. The first week ends with the First Week, that is, the first Sunday of Lent. This Sunday marks the Triumph of Orthodoxy - the restoration of icon veneration at the VII Ecumenical Council.

Second week

On Saturday - remembrance of the dead. On Sunday evening, many churches serve the first Passion - worship of the suffering of the Savior. This is a service with an akathist to the Passion of Christ. The remaining three Passions are served on subsequent Sundays. Although Passion is not a statutory service, it has already become part of a pious tradition.

Third week

On Saturday - remembrance of the dead. The week ends with the Third Week, the Worship of the Cross. The day before, at the Sunday all-night vigil, the Cross of the Lord is brought to the middle of the church for veneration. Such worship is performed while singing “We worship Your Cross, O Master, and we sing and glorify Your Holy Resurrection.” The cross remains in the center of the temple all week.

Fourth Week, Worship of the Cross

This week of fasting is more strict than the second and third. Wednesday marks the end of Lent, that is, its middle. The Cross is worshiped on all days of the week. On Friday, at Vespers, the Cross is taken to the altar. On Saturday - remembrance of the dead. The week ends with the Fourth Week, dedicated to memory St. John Climacus, abbot and strict ascetic.

Fifth week

On Thursday at Matins there is St. Mary's standing. The service is dedicated to the Venerable Mary of Egypt. At this service the Great Canon of Andrew of Crete is read in full. The Saturday of the fifth week is called the Saturday of the Akathist, or the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos; At Matins, the Akathist to the Mother of God is read with special holiday chants. But the fast on this day does not weaken.

Sixth week

Pentecost ends on Friday of this week. On Saturday, the memory of righteous Lazarus, resurrected by Jesus Christ on the 4th day after his death, is Lazarus Saturday. This week ends Palm Sunday(Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem).

Holy Week

Strict post. All services are special.

In the first three days, special chants are sung: “Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight...” and “Thy Palace...”. This is a reminder of our upcoming meeting with Christ, the Heavenly Bridegroom of our souls, in His Kingdom - the beautiful Palace. On these days, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served.

On Wednesday evening, confession is for everyone who wants to ease their souls before Easter. On Maundy Thursday we remember last supper, on which the Lord established the Sacrament of Communion - the Eucharist. On this day, everyone who can partakes of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

In the evening, service of the Passion of Christ. It reads twelve selected gospel passages telling about all the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. These "12 Gospels" make up main feature services. During the reading, everyone stands with candles. The candle that burned during the readings of the “12 Gospels” is called “Thursday” and is taken home unextinguished to light the lamp and draw a cross with the flame over the door frame.

There is no liturgy served on Good Friday. In the morning they are committed Royal watch. In the middle of the day, the Shroud is taken out - an embroidered icon of the Savior, taken from the Cross and prepared for burial. The shroud is placed in the middle of the temple, surrounded by flowers. Everyone bows to her and kisses her. In the evening of the same day, the burial of the Shroud takes place. At the end of the service the shroud with procession circles around the temple.

On Holy Saturday in the morning the following are celebrated: hours, vespers and the Liturgy of Basil the Great. At Vespers, 15 parimia are read, that is, readings of the Old Testament, which contain prophecies about Christ and His Resurrection. At the beginning of the liturgy, all vestments change from black to white.

On this day, the consecration of Easter dishes - Easter cakes, Easter cakes, eggs - begins in the morning. The consecration may continue on Easter.

This concludes the service of the Lenten Triodion; Lent itself ends.

Petrovsky post

Otherwise it is called apostolic. The beginning of this fast depends on the time of Easter, and therefore it can be shorter or longer. Lent begins a week after Trinity and ends on July 12 with the feast of the supreme apostles Peter and Paul. The longest possible duration of Peter's fast is 6 weeks, the shortest is 8 days. Its origin comes from ancient times, it was commanded even in the apostolic decrees, but has been especially often mentioned since the 4th century.

Dormition post

Fasting in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos lasts 2 weeks - from August 14 to August 28, until the Feast of the Assumption. This fast is similar in severity to Lent, but is relaxed on Sundays, as well as on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 19.

In the Ancient Church it was called autumn. There were disagreements about its duration; some allowed themselves to eat meat during the Transfiguration. But active since the 12th century church rules they don't allow this.

Christmas post

It begins 40 days before the Nativity of Christ and therefore, like Lent, is sometimes called Lent. It is also called Filippovsky, because on the day it began, November 28, the memory of the Apostle Philip is celebrated.

This fast is not as strict as the Great Fast; fish is allowed. But a few days before the Nativity of Christ, abstinence intensifies; on Christmas Eve, the last day before Merry Christmas, they do not eat anything until the evening star, in memory of the star that appeared over Bethlehem at the Nativity of the Savior.

The Nativity Fast has been mentioned in church books since the 4th century, in modern form it was adopted by the Church in the 12th century.

Discussion

Comment on the article "Posts Orthodox Church"

Practitioners are clear that they are on duty now and do not look here. 1. In the cookbook under Did/is there a similar multi-day fast in other countries, with the same restrictions? 1. In Greek Orthodox monasteries, seafood was not considered (and it seems that even now it is not...

A survey about food during Lent, so call it “Food during Lent.” Because fasting is not food at all. In my opinion, fasting is not a diet at all, and since I’m not going to fast in a non-food sense, I don’t see the point in limiting myself in food.

Discussion

The survey, IMHO, is incorrect. A survey about food during Lent, so call it “Food during Lent.” Because fasting is not food at all. More precisely, not only food. This includes prayer, abstinence (from marital intimacy to watching entertainment programs on TV), work on spiritual and human qualities first of all.
For example, according to your survey, I would like to answer “I try to comply as much as possible,” meaning prayer and working on myself, but at the same time I eat everything. Only this year I plan to eat Lenten food in the last week of Lent.

Discussion

Maybe she meant Christmas? The Catholic Czechs I know (also Christians) do not celebrate in any way. Their children were very surprised that in our country all the gifts are given mainly for New Year's Eve, and then for another 5 minutes they meticulously asked why New Year's Eve is so important to us?

so Christians or Orthodox?
Orthodox Christians - or rather, some particularly narrow-minded believers - do not celebrate because they are fasting, apparently they are sure that the holiday means getting drunk, and it is contraindicated to rejoice during fasting (although why? there is something to come happy event- birth, as opposed to Lent before Easter)
but that's their problem
and the rest of the Christian world still notes how
Moreover, this has nothing to do with religious beliefs - it’s a secular holiday, everyone is having fun
believers and those who join them solemnly celebrate Christmas
and NG is a fun party

Great Lent. YES someone is going to comply with it full program? When I found out that I was pregnant for the third time, it was Lent, which my husband and I observed in full. Check out other discussions: Church fasting and conception.

Discussion

Pregnant women should not fast in the full sense of the word; they should not even try. all this is discussed with the priest, who allows certain concessions...

When I found out that I was pregnant for the third time, it was Lent, which my husband and I observed in full. I approached the priest in church and said that I had started fasting, and now I found out that I was pregnant, what should I do? He didn’t even let me finish, he immediately said, eat everything that pregnant women should :) At the same time, I registered with the LCD and took tests, it turned out that I had very low hemoglobin, less than 80. This was another confirmation that Lenten food restrictions are not for pregnant women. I started eating boiled veal and my hemoglobin returned to normal :) So strict fasting (in terms of food) is not necessary and even harmful for pregnant women, you need to eat fully and correctly.

Christmas Eve (Nomad) - is the Eve of the holiday. Christmas Eve is the last fast day of the Nativity Fast. According to the Church Charter, it is eaten in the evening after complete abstinence from food throughout the day. Preparation Ingredients

Discussion

I’m telling you how my Khokhlyak grandmother cooked (for Christmas). You need a mortar pestle, preferably a heavy brass one, and a clay bowl or pot. Products: poppy seeds, raisins, walnuts, sugar and rice (although she said that they used to make kutia from wheat). Then everything is simple - pour the poppy seeds into a bowl, pour in a little boiling water until it becomes a liquid paste, add sugar and grind everything with a pestle. Cook the rice until tender, cool slightly, add raisins, lightly crushed walnuts (you can crush them with the same pestle) and poppy seed gruel with sugar, mix everything and cool. It’s also good to cook a compote of dried fruits (it’s called a broth) and wash it down with kutya... Oh, my mouth is already watering.

Kutya is prepared for a funeral. And sochivo - for Christmas.

Our son was conceived during Lent, which occurs before Easter. And nothing, thank God, he healthy child! Because of the love of a husband for his wife :) And God is love and only love... It would not be worth making special plans for fasting, but if this happens, then don’t worry.

Discussion

Everything is done by faith. If you approach Communion with faith and reverence and fear, then it is impossible to become infected by anything from other communicants, but you can only be healed. Over the several years of our constant church life, my children never got sick after Communion, but they did get better.
As for whether it is possible to receive communion if you are sick with some infectious disease, I don’t know. I once had such a case, my goddaughter had just gotten sick, and before giving her communion, I asked the priest for his blessing.
In your case, the children will receive communion according to the faith of the godmother, who made vows for them during the sacrament of baptism. Therefore, with it you can safely send them to Communion.
Another thing is that when parents are not believers, it is almost impossible to raise children in faith. Or very difficult. This is a heavy burden for your godmother, because she has a huge responsibility for your girls, so she tries to fulfill her duties to the best of her ability.

I am a Catholic, raised in a religious family. My godmother was exactly like your children; she often took me to church. Catholics, however, do not give communion to children, but at the age of 11-12, children undergo First Communion - a very beautiful, solemn holiday, before which they confess for the first time, and then stand at Mass separately from adults, dressed up, decorated with branches of myrtle or rue. We receive communion only with bread, but not with a thick prosphora, but with a wafer made from unleavened dough the size of a large coin and the thickness of a sheet of paper. By the way, during baptism they do not lower people into the font, but draw crosses on their foreheads and chests with holy water. They do not apply to icons, because they are rarely used by Catholics. In general, everything is very hygienic.
Personally, I believe that there is no need to take children to communion if the mother has doubts. There's no point in this. Without communion, children will not grow up less happy, and it is not worth arguing that you are thus denying them something vital.
Faith must be in the soul of a person, and not in observing rituals. You can go to Communion as much as you like, but at the same time be an envious, vile person - then observance of the canons turns into pharisaism. 1.Lent from March 14 to April 30.
2.Petrov fast from June 27 to July 11.
3. Assumption Fast from August 14 to August 27.
4 Christmas post from November 28 to January 6.
It is also not blessed to have sex on Wednesday, Friday and most days. church holidays(any Sunday is also a holiday).
But these are recommendations for believers, church-going laity, if you don’t go to church, don’t confess and don’t receive Communion, then there’s no point in abstaining on these days. Everything is interconnected.

"When are our posts?" Who do you have, excuse me? Judging by the fact that you don’t even know about these posts, the question arises - is it necessary? All signs work only for those who believe in them!

conception in Lent ...I find it difficult to choose a section. Child from 1 to 3. Raising a child from one to three years old: hardening and development There are several fasts a year, so it’s funny to talk about some kind of “condensation of pathologies”... Or is this only statistics for Orthodox mothers and children?

Discussion

Fasting is not only abstinence from food, but also the observance of bodily cleanliness.
According to medical statistics, pathologies are more concentrated in children conceived during late winter/early spring, i.e. just in time for Lent
So draw your own conclusions

If it is a sin, it is a very sweet one (in the reg).

Lent begins seven weeks before Easter and consists of Pentecost- forty days - and Holy Week- weeks before Easter itself. Pentecost was established in honor of the forty-day fast of the Savior, and Holy Week - in remembrance last days earthly life, suffering, death and burial of Christ. The general continuation of Great Lent together with Holy Week - 48 days.

Accepted with particular rigor observe First And Holy Week

Not very long ago historical centuries in Orthodox countries, during Lent, the lives of citizens changed greatly: theaters and baths were closed, the meat trade ceased, and in the first week of Lent, as well as during Holy Week, classes in educational institutions, everything was closed government agencies so that believers can go to church for very important Lenten services. According to historians, pious people in Rus' in the first days of Lent did not leave their homes unless necessary.

Last Sunday before Lent called Forgiven or “Cheese Empty” (on this day the consumption of cheese, butter and eggs ends). During the liturgy, the Gospel is read with a part from the Sermon on the Mount, which talks about forgiveness of offenses to our neighbors, without which we cannot receive forgiveness of sins from the Heavenly Father, about fasting, and about collecting heavenly treasures. In accordance with this Gospel reading, Christians have the pious custom of asking each other on this day for forgiveness of sins, known and unknown grievances. This is one of the most important preparatory steps on the path to Lent.

Accepted with particular rigor observe First And Holy Week Great Lent. Lent involves giving up meat, dairy, fish, and eggs, but the extent of your fast must be agreed upon with the priest, in accordance with your state of health.

The first week of Great Lent is particularly strict,
and the Divine service - duration.

Holy Pentecost, which reminds us of the forty days Jesus Christ spent in the desert, begins on Monday, called Clean. Not counting Palm Sunday, there remain 5 Sundays, each of which is dedicated to a special memory. Each of the seven weeks is called in order of occurrence: first, second, etc. week of Great Lent.

The service is distinguished by the fact that, during the entire continuation of the Holy Pentecost, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays there is no liturgy(unless there is a holiday on these days). In the morning, Matins, hours with some intercalary parts, and Vespers are performed. In the evening, instead of Vespers, it is performed Great Compline. On Wednesdays and Fridays Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, on the first five Sundays of Great Lent - the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which is also celebrated on Maundy Thursday and on Great Saturday of Holy Week. On Saturdays during the Holy Pentecost, the usual liturgy of John Chrysostom is celebrated.

In the first four days, (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) on the Great Believe is read Canon of St. Andrew of Crete with refrains to the verse: “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.” This canon provides numerous examples from the Old and New Testaments in relation to the moral state of the soul of a person mourning his sins. The Canon is called great both by the multitude of thoughts and memories contained in it, and by the number of its troparions (about 250, while in There are about 30 of them in ordinary canons).

Orthodox believers try not to miss these services with the reading of the canon.

On Friday of the first week During Great Lent, after the Liturgy, the consecration of “koliva” takes place - this is boiled wheat with honey, in memory of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tiron, who provided beneficial assistance to Christians to preserve the fast. In 362, he appeared to Bishop Eudoxius of Antioch and ordered that Christians be informed not to buy food defiled by the blood sacrificed to idols by Emperor Julian the Apostate, but to consume kolivo.

First Sunday of Lent is called " The triumph of Orthodoxy", established under Queen Theodora in 842 about the victory of the Orthodox at the Seventh Ecumenical Council. During this holiday, temple icons are displayed in the middle of the temple in a semicircle on lecterns. At the end of the liturgy, the clergy sing a prayer service in the middle of the temple in front of the icons of the Savior and Mother of God, praying to the Lord for the confirmation of Orthodox Christians in the faith and the conversion of all those who have departed from the Church to the path of truth. The deacon then loudly reads the Creed and pronounces an anathema, that is, he declares the separation from the Church of all who dare to distort the truths of the Orthodox faith, and “ eternal memory“to all the deceased defenders of the Orthodox faith, and “for many years” to those living.

On the second Sunday of Lent memory is made St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonites, who lived in the 14th century. According to Orthodox faith he taught that for the feat of fasting and prayer, the Lord illuminates believers with His gracious light, as the Lord shone on Tabor. For the reason that St. Gregory revealed the teaching about the power of fasting and prayer and it was established to commemorate him on the second Sunday of Great Lent.

On the third Sunday of Lent during the All-Night Vigil after the Great Doxology the Holy Cross is carried out. All believers venerate the Cross, at this time it is sung: We venerate Your Cross, O Master, and glorify Your holy resurrection. In the middle of Lent, the Church exposes the Cross to believers in order to strengthen those who fast to continue the feat of fasting by reminding them of the suffering and death of the Lord. The Holy Cross remains for veneration throughout the week until Friday. Therefore, the third Sunday and fourth week of Great Lent are called “Worship of the Cross.”

On the fourth Sunday I remember the great ascetic of the 6th century - Saint John Climacus, who from 17 to 60 years of age labored on Mount Sinai and in his creation “The Ladder of Paradise” depicted the path of a person’s gradual ascent to spiritual perfection, as if on a ladder leading from earth to ever-present glory.

On Thursday in the fifth week the so-called " standing of St. Mary of Egypt", on which the Great Canon of St. is read. Andrew of Crete, the same one that is read in the first four days of Great Lent, and the life of the Venerable Mary of Egypt. The service on this day lasts 5-7 hours.). The life of St. Mary of Egypt, formerly a great sinner, who left the world and decided to live in the desert in fasting and prayer and through this acquired not only forgiveness from God, but also holiness, should serve as an example of true repentance for everyone and convince everyone of God’s ineffable mercy towards repentant sinners.

On Saturday in the fifth week is accomplished " Praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary": read great akathist Mother of God. This service was established in Greece in gratitude to the Mother of God for Her repeated deliverance of Constantinople from enemies.

On the fifth Sunday of Great Lent follow-up takes place Venerable Mary of Egypt.

On Saturday in the 6th week At Matins and Liturgy, the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus Christ is remembered.

Sixth Sunday of Great Lent- the great twelfth holiday, on which the solemn Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem to free suffering. This one is called differently Palm Sunday, Week of Vaiya and Flowering. On the eve of the All-Night Service, willow branches (vaya), with which believers come to church, are consecrated. Then candles are lit, with which the believers stand until the end of the service, thereby signifying the victory of life over death.

Palm Sunday ends Pentecost and Holy Week begins.

Holy Week dedicated to the memories of the suffering, death on the cross and burial of Jesus Christ. Christians should spend this entire week in fasting and prayer. This period is mourning and therefore the clothes in church are black. Due to the greatness of the events remembered, all days of Holy Week are called Great. The last three days are especially touching with memories, prayers and chants.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week are dedicated to remembering the last conversations of the Lord Jesus Christ with the people and disciples. Features of the service of the first three days Holy Week are as follows: at Matins, after the sixth psalm and “Alleluia,” the troparion is sung: “Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight,” and after the canon the song is sung: “I see Thy palace.” My Savior." All these three days the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated, with the reading of the Gospel. The Gospel is also read at matins.

IN Great Wednesday Holy Week commemorates the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot.

Lent Services

Matins(look at the Book of Hours)

Priest's cry

Reader:The usual beginning and two psalms, troparia (on a row)

Priest: Short, intense litany, exclamation

Choir:Amen. Bless in the name of the Lord, father.

Priest: “Glory to the Saints...”

Reader: Amen. and six psalms.

Priest: Great Litany, verses from “Alleluia” for the current voice of the week

Trinity troparia voices(look in the Triodion appendix. The troparions are read, the endings are sung. The first troparion has different endings for each day, the troparions for glory and now are the same)

Kathismas three (look in the instructions for which ones)

Litany on Kathismas No.

According to the first kathisma - sedalny Octoechos.(look in the Triodion appendix by voice and day of the week. If the celebrated saint has a kontakion according to the 6th canon of the canon, then he is immediately read and martyred with the verse “ God is marvelous in His saints, the God of Israel" before "glory". If there is no kontakion, then this martyr is read in the canon, 6 songs instead of the kontakion.)

2nd and 3rd kathismas– Triodi sedals along the line

Psalm 50.

Priest's Prayer, " Lord have mercy " - 12 times, exclamation, " Amen ».

Canons:

The Canon of the Menaion is sung with the three songs of the Triodion. See the Three Songs in the Liturgical Instructions.

Look in the book "Services of the 1st Week of Lent" Look by day of the week and add from the Triodion.

Those songs that include three songs are sung on 14: first the canon of the Menaion with the Irmos on 6, then three songs on 8. In addition, the last three songs usually also has one troparion, not included in the number of 14 and sung with the refrain “Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to You."

Songs in which there are no three songs are sung on 4. Irmos are not included in this count and in the 1st, 4th, 5th and 7th songs they are sung before the troparia, and in 3rd and 6th- at the end of the troparions.

Songs containing three songs end with katavasia - the irmos of the second three song.

The canon will be sung with biblical songs, set out in Irmology(as well as in the services of the 1st week.)

Songs 3 and 6 of the canon are the small litany, sedalny or kontakion.

On the 9th song – “The Most Honest”

After the chaos of the 9th song, it is sung"Worthy to eat"

Small Litany.

The Trinity of the current voice is luminous.(look in the Triodion appendix, in the same place as the Trinity).With endings: 1st - different for each day, 2nd and 3rd - the same.

Reader:psalms of praise and daily praise.

Litany of Petition

Stichera on the Triodion verse with the usual refrains from the Book of Hours. Glory even now - Theotokos Triodion.

And the usual end of Matins on the line:

Reader- “It is good to confess to the Lord...” (twice). Trisagion according to Our Father. At the cry of the troparion reader: “In the temple worthy of Thy glory...”, “Lord, have mercy” (40). "Glory, even now." "The most honest one." “Bless you in the name of the Lord, father.”

Priest:“Blessed are you...”

Reader:"Heavenly King..."

Priest:“Lord and Master of my life...” and 3 great bows, 12 small bows with the prayer “God, cleanse me, a sinner,” and in conclusion another great bow. After reading “Lord and Master of my life...” the reader: “Amen” and reads the 1st hour.

First hour, third and sixth - everything is in order. Look at the Book of Hours or the services of the 1st week. There are no kathismas at the 1st hour on Mondays and Fridays. At the 6th hour after the Mother of God “Like not the imams” - troparion of prophecy, prokeimenon, paremia, prokeimenon and further.

Ninth hour - Also everything is in order. Kathisma is not read on Fridays.

At nine o'clock they joinfigurative,which begin with the singing “In Thy Kingdom.” Next, everything is in order.

According to the “Our Father” kontakion:

Kontakion of the day,

Kontakion of the temple,

Kontakion of an ordinary saint

Glory - “Rest with the Saints”

And now - “Representation of Christians”

(in the Church of the Theotokos, kontakion - of the day, an ordinary saint, Glory - “Rest with the saints”, And now - of the temple)

Vespers, when there is no Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Reader: “Come, let us worship...” and Psalm 103: “Bless the Lord, O my soul...”

The priest (in stole and phelonion) reads the prayers of the lamp in front of the Royal Doors.

According to the psalm - the great litany.

Then Kathisma 18th.

After the kathisma there is a small litany.

“Lord, I cried” in the voice of the stichera of the Triodion. Stichera 6: Triodion - 3 and Menaion - 3(It's another day)

While singing the stichera, the usual incense is performed.

“Glory, even now” - Theotokos Menaion on a row.

No entry.

Chorus: "Quiet light..."

Then follows the prokeimenon of the first parimia and the reading of the parimia itself, the second prokeimenon and the second parimia.

At the end of the parimia reader:“Grant, Lord, this evening...”

Litany of petition.

Chorus: stichera on the Triodion verse with the usual refrains from the Book of Hours, “Glory, even now” - Theotokos.

After stichera reader:“Now you are letting go.” Trisagion. According to "Our Father"

Priest - exclamation. Chorus:« Amen" And they sing the troparia, tone 4: “To the Virgin Mary” and others - along the line.Look at the Book of Hours or the services of the 1st week.

Reader: “Lord, have mercy” (40), “Glory, even now,” “Most honorable,” “In the name of the Lord...”

Priest: “Blessed are you...”

Reader: prayer “Heavenly King...”

Priest: “Lord and Master of my life...” and we make the usual bows (16).

After the bows, the final Trisagion - Reader.

The priest's exclamation reader:“Lord, have mercy” (12), “All-Holy Trinity...”.

Reader: “Be the Name of the Lord...” (3), psalm “I will bless the Lord at all times...” (in full).

Priest : « Wisdom"

Chorus: “It is worthy to eat...” (up to and including the words: “Mother of our God”).

Priest: “Most Holy Mother of God, save us.”

Chorus: "The most honest one."

Priest: “Glory to Thee, Christ God...”

Chorus: “Glory, even now,” “Lord, have mercy” (3), “Bless.”

Priest : dismissal (on the pulpit).

Choir : perennial.

The curtain of the Royal Doors closes.

This is the order of Vespers on the weekdays of Pentecost, when there is no Presanctified Liturgy.

After Vespers there is another funeral lithium.

Great Compline is sung separately from Vespers - in the evening.

Unfortunately, for most people, Lent is associated only with some bodily restrictions on food. Those who are a little more “advanced” in Orthodoxy will also remember abstaining from idleness and entertainment, gossip and condemnation. All this is true. But the essence and significance of the post is by no means limited to this. It is not for nothing that the Holy Fathers called this period, favorable for man, “spiritual spring.” It is impossible to understand this without experiencing the beauty and significance of fasting services. In the article we will dwell only on some of its features, giving rise to an independent, deeper acquaintance.

Why are services long?

The period from the first week to Friday the sixth inclusive is called holy pentecostal and lasts exactly 40 days. The seventh week is called Holy Week and stands out separately. The first fast service falls on the evening of the so-called “ Forgiveness Sunday", since the church day begins in the evening.

Church services of Lent differ primarily in their duration. Their goal is to set a person in a repentant mood, to prepare the soul for the meeting with the Risen Christ. This is achieved through intense prayer.

During the evening service of Great Lent, Great Compline is served instead of Small Compline. At Matins the usual canon to the saint is replaced three-songs - special canons consisting of three songs. In addition, special readings are made Lenten hours . At Vespers they also sound proverbs (excerpts from the Old Testament).

Particular attention is paid to reading the Psalter during Lent. This applies to both home and church prayer. During a week in the temple, the entire book is now read twice instead of once.

Prayer of Ephraim the Syrian

During Lent, we often hear the following prayer in church:

Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk. Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. To her, Lord, King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for blessed are you forever and ever. Amen.

The words of this prayer belong to the holy ascetic desert of the 4th century - St. Ephraim the Syrian. It is read on days of fasting not only in church, but also at home along with the morning and evening rule. In this case, the recitation of the prayer is accompanied by a large number of bows.

It should be said that the abundance of bows is one of the main features of the services of this fast. Prostrations are made by believers not only during the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, but also at other moments of the services. This rule does not apply only to Saturday and Sunday services.

The penitential canon of Andrei Kritsky

From Monday to Thursday of the first week of Holy Pentecost, a special service is performed in the evenings with reading Canon of Penance. This is one of the most outstanding works of church hymnography, written Rev. Andrew, Archbishop of Crete. In general church use, the canon was already known in the 10th century.

Why was this work called Great? This name is due not only to its large size (the canon is divided into four full parts), but also to the abundance of thoughts, comparisons and allusions from the Old and New Testaments.

The general mood of creation reflects the state of the soul, which bitterly mourns its sins. The same repentant mood is conveyed by the repeated refrain: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. On Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent, at Matins, the canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read in its entirety at one time.

This service was called "Mary's Standing" in honor of the memory of the Venerable Mary of Egypt, which takes place this week. At the same time, the life of the holy ascetic, who spent forty years in the desert, is read in the temple. This service is the longest of all church services and lasts about five hours.

Specifics of Lenten Liturgies

Another of the main features of Lenten services is that in weekdays Full Liturgies are not served in the church. The only exception is for the Feast of the Annunciation, if it falls during the week. What is the reason for this specificity?

The fact is that Lent implies some limitation of a person in things that are joyful and pleasant for him. And this applies not only to physical oppression, but also to mental oppression. Of course, the main spiritual joy for a Christian is the Eucharist (communion), celebrated during the Divine Liturgy.

The full Liturgy is not celebrated so that we can re-evaluate this gift of God to man and have time to “hungry” for it. However, even here a small concession was made for the believers. Another feature of fasting services is that on Wednesdays and Fridays, instead of the full service, .

Already from the name you can understand that people can partake of the pre-consecrated saints of the Body and Blood of Christ, which are usually prepared on Sunday. Such a Liturgy is never served again in the year.

Liturgies are celebrated in full rite on weekends. Moreover, on Sundays of Lent, except for Palm Sunday, it is served Liturgy of Basil the Great. It takes place only ten times a year. It differs from the Liturgy of John Chrysostom in the more extensive and deeper content of the secret prayers of the Eucharist, read by priests at the altar.

Lent memorial services

Three Saturdays of Lent in a row, starting with the second, are called parents memorial Saturdays . On these days, the funeral Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the Great Requiem Service are served. On the eve of Friday, a parastas is performed (funeral evening service with the reading of the 17th kathisma).

These are days of special remembrance of the dead. Such services are motivated by the fact that on weekdays of Lent there is no church commemoration of the departed, since the full Divine Liturgy is not celebrated. In order not to deprive our families of the Church’s prayers for them these days, parental memorial Saturdays were established.

Sunday passions

On the days of Holy Pentecost, another exceptional divine service is celebrated - Passion. It is served on four Sundays, from the second to the fifth, during the days of fasting. Passion came to us from the same place where the black vestments of the priesthood came from - from the West. From Latin "passion" translated as "suffering" .

This service is not in the church charter, so its content may vary in different churches. The following of the passion has reached us in the form in which it was compiled in the middle of the 17th century by Metropolitan Peter (Mogila). In fact, this service is the evening service of Lent on Monday. At the same time, an akathist to the Cross or Passion of the Lord is served.

The obligatory part is reading a passage from one of the Gospels about the Passion of Christ. Hence the number of passions in a year - according to the number of four evangelists. After the service, a sermon must be preached, for which the clergy carefully prepares.

Week of the Cross

Among other features of the services, one cannot fail to mention the third Sunday of this Lent. At the all-night vigil of this day, the Cross is brought out for worship by believers. At the same time the chant is sung:

We worship Your Cross, O Master, and we glorify Your holy resurrection.

The end of the third week marks the middle of Lent; half the journey has been completed. The cross is brought out to believers to strengthen the strength of those fasting, so that it is easier to go the rest of the way. Moreover, this tradition has its roots in Byzantium.

As you know, previously baptism was accepted there exclusively on Holy Saturday, before Easter. To strengthen the strength of the catechumens (preparing for baptism), the Cross was carried out in the middle of Lent. He remains in the temple until Friday, which is why the fourth week is also called "cross-worshipping".

"Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary"

Completely separate from all services is the so-called "Saturday Akathist", or "Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary". It takes place on the fifth week of Holy Pentecost. At Matins, an akathist to the Mother of God is read "Rejoice, Bride Bride" .

This is the first and only akathist established by the Church Charter. It was written in honor of the protection of Constantinople by the Most Holy Theotokos from the invasion of foreigners in 626. To perform the service, the priests on this day go to the middle of the temple. The Akathist is read in parts, four times. After each part, a kontakion (short chant) is sung. "To the Chosen Voivode" and the temple is censed.

In its atypical festivity for Lent, “Saturday of the Akathist” is similar to the Annunciation. And only in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos are two such great exceptions made during Great Lent.

As you can see, the guard services have a huge semantic load and variety. On the last one, Holy Week they are even more spiritually saturated. This should be discussed separately. However, it makes sense, if possible, not to miss any of the most important religious services in the post, because they won’t happen again this year.

Take it for yourself and tell your friends!