Great Lent is a special time of repentance in the life of an Orthodox Christian. Abstinence from food of animal origin, as well as sinful vices, lasts for seven weeks. The charter of the Orthodox Church provides for special preparation for the beginning of holy fasting, expressed in special liturgical naming of the preparatory weeks for the holy fourtieth day.
In 2015, Lent begins on February 23rd, and already on the 1st of the same month, a special book, the Lenten Triode, begins to be used in divine services, which contains the sequence of the preparatory weeks for Lent. It is worth noting that in the liturgical tradition it is customary to call the week Sunday, and the week in our understanding is called the week. So, there are three preparatory weeks (weeks) for Great Lent, in which there are four special Sundays.
On February 1, 2015, the week of the publican and the Pharisee begins. On Sunday, February 1, at the liturgy, a special gospel story is read, telling the Savior's parable about the publican and the Pharisee. The essence of the parable is that a humble person has more boldness before God than a proud one. This week points people to the need to realize their sins and repentance, because this is a more "winning" situation in a spiritual sense, unlike those who seem to be doing nothing wrong, but are proud of their "righteousness."
The eighth of February 2015 begins the week (Sunday) of the prodigal son. The week is dedicated to the memory of the parable of how the prodigal son, having squandered his father's property in a foreign country, repented and returned to his home. In this, the Church points out to a person about the need for repentance, thereby confirming the mercy of God, because there is no unforgiven sin, except unrepentant sin.
February 15, 2015 - Meat Sunday. After this day, it is forbidden to eat products of meat origin, but dairy food, cheese, eggs, fish food are still allowed. Also, this resurrection is called the week of the Last Judgment. The Church remembers the testimony of God about the universal judgment of mankind at the time of the second coming of Christ.
The last Sunday before Lent (in 2015 - February 22) is called cheese week. On this day, cheese, eggs and dairy products are eaten for the last time before fasting. In the liturgical sense, this day is called the week of remembrance of Adam's exile. On this day, Orthodox Christians remember the biblical story of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise. Also on this day, the rite of forgiveness is performed, when believers ask each other for forgiveness before entering Great Lent. That is why the last Sunday before the holy fourtieth day is also called forgiven.
