The year 2025 marks the beginning of the Great Lent on March 3, continuing until April 19, culminating with the celebration of Easter. Known for its deep significance within Orthodox Christian traditions, the Great Lent serves as both preparation for the joyous Easter feast and immersive practice of fasting, prayer, and self-reflection.
The first day of the Lent, commonly referred to as Clean Monday, is not only symbolic of fasting but also embodies the importance of starting the holy period with physical and mental cleanliness. On this day, believers are encouraged to reflect on their lives, aiming to cleanse their hearts, bodies, and spirits.
During Clean Monday, it's common for households to engage in thorough cleaning, discarding unwanted items and making space for the reflective practices associated with Lent. This tradition serves as both physical and metaphorical purity, akin to the spirit with which the Lent should be approached.
“On Clean Monday, believers strive to start Lent with clean hearts, bodies, and thoughts,” explains the tradition well, highlighting its importance as the gateway to the sacred period of the Great Lent.
For this year, the observance of Lent begins with strict adherence to dietary regulations. The Orthodox Church prescribes significant dietary restrictions during this solemn period, with believers refraining from consuming meat, dairy products, and eggs. Fish is only permissible on specific feast days such as the Annunciation on April 7 and Palm Sunday on April 13.
The dietary guidelines can be summarized as follows: the first week of Lent focuses on complete avoidance of cooked foods; believers may only consume bread, fruit, and vegetables. “The main goal is to approach God through prayer, repentance, and good deeds,” signifies the focus of this period as one of introspection and growth.
During the first week, believers are advised to practice additional acts of charity and to engage deeply with scripture and prayer. Clean Monday itself emphasizes prayer and self-denial, reinforcing the belief this period is not merely about abstaining from food but is rather about rejuvenation of the soul.
While observing this strict form of fasting, believers are encouraged to build their internal fortitude against sin and vice. Although fasting rules can be relaxed for children, the sick, the elderly, and the physically weak, the need for “spiritual fasting,” which involves abstaining from negative thoughts and actions, is universally encouraged.
To prepare appropriately for the Great Lent, individuals may gradually decrease their intake of rich foods leading up to Clean Monday. Visiting places of worship and forgiveness should be prioritized, allowing individuals to enter this period with reconciled hearts and intentions.
Throughout the period of Lent, community support becomes indispensable. Many congregations organize events focused on prayer and education about the significance of the Lenten practices. Social gatherings fostering discussions on individual experiences and the support necessary for sustaining fasting efforts are also highly valued.
Naturally, the first week of Lent is particularly rigorous. Community members often find strength together, uniting through shared experiences of sacrifice and devotion. It is during this time believers connect on both personal and communal levels, enriching their faith through collective discipline and resolve.
On Clean Monday, it remains customary for congregations to read the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, which serves to invoke feelings of repentance and reflection on personal faith. This act allows for serious introspection, giving members space to confront their failings and seek divine forgiveness.
While the observance may be rooted deeply in tradition, the spirit of the Great Lent offers something meaningful for everyone—from strict fasting to community bonding and acts of kindness. For those engaged fully, the emotional and pious rewards flow just as richly as the seasonal bounty of spring on the forthcoming Easter morning.
With these practices, participants to the Great Lent not only seek to shed the remnants of their prior indulgences but are called to cultivate new virtuous habits and strengthen their ties to their faith, community, and the divine.
This year's Great Lent from March 3 to April 19 is not just about abstaining from food but about indulging spiritually and returning to the fundamental essence of faith, which is love, kindness, and reflection. So as the Lent begins, let it be viewed as not just another tradition but as the powerful passage for personal and communal growth leading to the joyous celebration of Easter.