Lent is the longest (7 weeks) and strict period of abstinence in the life of an Orthodox Christian. He is called to spiritually prepare the believer for the solemn meeting of the main Orthodox celebration - the Bright Resurrection of Christ.
The tradition of fasting during the Lenten period has an ancient history. Already in the first centuries of Christianity, believers abstained from food of animal origin in memory of the forty-day fast of the Lord Jesus Christ in the desert.
The most severe weeks of Lent are the first, third and Holy Weeks.
In the first week of fasting, the charter defines dry eating (eating uncooked food without vegetable oil) until Saturday. Only on Saturday and Sunday of the first week is boiled food with vegetable oil allowed for the first time. Some especially zealous Christians do not eat food at all during the first two days of fasting, using only water and bread. However, this is more suited to the strict monastic practice of fasting.
The entire Great Lent defines dry eating on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on Saturdays and Sundays - food with vegetable oil. An exception is the feast of the forty martyrs of Sebastia (March 22) - on this day, eating boiled food with butter is allowed. Fish is consumed during Great Lent exclusively on the feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (April 7) and the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (the last Sunday before Easter). On Lazarev Saturday (before the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem), it is allowed to eat fish caviar.
Holy Week prescribes dry eating for the first three days, vegetable oil is allowed on Maundy Thursday. Good Friday is the most strict day for an Orthodox person. Many believers do not eat food on this day at all until the moment the holy shroud is taken out to the middle of the church (afternoon). On Holy Saturday, food with vegetable oil is allowed.
It should be noted that some Orthodox Christians cannot adhere to Great Lent in all their severity. For example, not everyone is fasting dry food. For small indulgences in fasting, the use of boiled food on Wednesdays and Fridays, for example, it is necessary to take the blessing of the confessor.
If we talk about the most common foods consumed in Lent, it is worth noting various types of vegetables and mushrooms. High-calorie and healthy food is figs, various types of nuts. Some believers try to consume as much fruit as possible during Lent.
Despite the severity of bodily abstinence during the fasting period, it must be understood that abstaining only from food of plant origin is called a normal diet. Therefore, an Orthodox person must definitely strive to purify his soul during Great Lent. You need to take communion more often, read spiritual literature and the Holy Scriptures, and fight your main passions. At the same time, one must not forget about the Lent services taking place in all Orthodox churches.
