One of the most important Christian virtues for an Orthodox person is abstinence and prayer. The time of holy fasting is the most suitable period for spiritual improvement, comprehension of one's life and striving for moral correction and repentance.
Orthodox believers begin preparations for the longest and strictest fasting for many days a few weeks before the start of the Holy Forty Day itself. This testifies to the special significance of Lent for the life of an Orthodox person. According to the holy fathers of the Church, fasting is a special time of repentance, contrition for one's sins. That is why the four weeks before the beginning of the period of spiritual and bodily abstinence are marked by special penitential chants during the divine services. So, already on Saturday, February 4, 2017, the repentant troparia will sound at the all-night vigil, the Church will remember the parable of the publican and the Pharisee, which tells of humility. The next Sunday is called the week of the prodigal son, followed by Sundays dedicated to the memory of the last judgment and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise. Only after four preparatory weeks (as the Orthodox tradition calls weeks in the usual secular sense) the days of Holy Great Lent begin for Orthodox believers.
In 2017, Lent will begin on February 27th. Despite the fact that the dating of the time of the beginning of the Holy Forty Day differs from year to year, the first day of fasting always falls on Monday. Thus, Monday, February 27th is the time for the beginning of spiritual exploits for a believer. The first week (week) of Saint Forty-days is the most saturated with special fasting services. From Monday morning, long-term Lenten services will be held in Orthodox churches. And on the first four days in the evening, believers will be able to pray for the Great Canon of Penitence of St. Andrew of Crete, which sets the soul of a person to repentance in the best possible way.
Lent in 2017, as usual, will last 48 days. The holy Forty-day ends with the main triumph of the Orthodox faith - the bright Resurrection of Christ. The Lord's Easter in 2017 falls on April 16th.
Forgiveness Sunday is a special day before the beginning of Lent. Taking into account the fact that the holy Forty Day dates from the 27th of February, Sunday, the 26th of this month, and is the last day of the invocation for holy fast. On Forgiveness Sunday, believers strive to ask their neighbors for forgiveness in order to begin the feats of fasting and prayer with a clear conscience.
