Starting on March 3, 2025, Orthodox Christians around the world will observe Great Lent, the longest and most rigorous fasting period leading up to the celebration of Pascha (Easter) on April 20. This annual observance has deep roots, originating as early as the third century, and serves to prepare the faithful through prayer, penitence, and the exclusion of certain foods.
The 2025 observance of Great Lent will commence on Clean Monday, leading the faithful through a period of forty days known as the Holy Forty Days or the Great Lent. The Lent ends with the Holy Week, which includes several significant days: Lazarus Saturday on April 12, Palm Sunday on April 13, and the Passion Week from April 14 through April 19, which reflects on the last days of Jesus Christ's earthly life.
During this time, believers engage more deeply with their spirituality by giving up specific comforts and indulgences for the sake of enhancing their faith. "The true purpose of Lent is to demonstrate the spirit’s triumph over the body," said Father Alexander Men, who emphasized the importance of prayer and self-denial during this season.
Central to the observance of Great Lent is the dietary discipline. The guidelines dictate the elimination of animal products from meals, which means abstaining from meat, dairy, and eggs. Fish consumption is restricted to significant celebrations; it is only permitted on the Feast of Annunciation (April 7) and Palm Sunday. On Lazarus Saturday, fish roe is allowed, and there are more lenient dietary rules during weekends.
Exact guidelines require believers to engage with their personal health and circumstances. For individuals who are elderly, pregnant, nursing, or suffering from illness, the church offers flexibility. Many are encouraged to discuss their fasting practices with their priest to determine what is acceptable within the framework of the faith.
On the first day, Clean Monday, practitioners typically fast completely from any food, drinking solely water. The first week is recognized as particularly strict, with many choosing to forgo solid food even more than those later on.
For those adhering strictly to the fasting rules, each week has specific expectations. The first week includes only raw, simple foods, transitioning later to cooked meals with restricted oils, and by the weekend, more lenient menus become available.
From the perspective of the church and the community, fasting also embodies more than dietary avoidance. It entails avoiding distractions and entertainment, aiming to cultivate space for repentance and reflection. Among the church traditions, engaging with one another spiritually is encouraged, with visits to friends and family permitted as long as they remain simple gatherings without abundant food or drink.
This year, guidance from health authorities suggests maintaining balanced nutrition even within the fasting framework. Major dietary suggestions focus on the incorporation of plant-based proteins—such as lentils, beans, and grains—keeping hydrated, and ensuring good access to vegetables and fruits. Folk wisdom warns against excessive refined carbohydrates and encourages the consumption of slow-absorbing grains for sustained energy.
Heeding to church advice, various groups within the community are reminded to counterbalance fasting with extensive prayer and, at times, congregation attendance. This outlook serves to bolster the significance of the Fast, aligning physical abstinence with emotional and spiritually enriching activities.
At the intersection of spirituality and community health, the observance of Great Lent becomes both personal and collective. The church community extends its compassion and adaptability, acknowledging not all circumstances allow for strict adherence. This is oriented toward reinforcement of faith and the nurturing of positive relationships among parishioners throughout the fasting period.
One prominent figure, Archpriest Alexander Men, highlights the importance of gradual culinary reintroductions post-fasting as well. After Easter, the transition back to regular diets should be moderated, avoiding abrupt shifts back to indulgences.
Finally, as Great Lent commences, it prompts the faithful to ponder their own lives and paths. It is intended to be not merely about what goes unsaid or undone, but rather about what can flourish within their hearts. The directive is to emerge from the fasting with renewed purpose, ready and willing to embrace the coming joys of Pascha.
With the observance beginning on March 3rd and culminating on April 20th, 2025, Great Lent stands as both historical and personal—a period uniting reflections, prayers, and community strength, enhancing the connection to timing for celebration so immeasurable to many Christian lives.