On March 3, 2025, the Great Lent commenced across Russia, marking the beginning of one of the most significant periods for Orthodox Christians. This 48-day period, culminating on Easter Sunday, offers believers the opportunity for deep reflection and repentance.
During the first week of Lent, known as the week of the Celebration of Orthodoxy, various liturgical services are scheduled, spearheaded by prominent church leaders such as Metropolitan Leonid of Voronezh and Liski and Metropolitan Yevgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye. These services are not only about individual worship but also about fostering community spirit and commitment to faith.
Metropolitan Leonid, for example, is set to lead several services throughout the area. On the first day of Lent, he conducted the Great Evening Prayer with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon by St. Andrew of Crete at the Annunciation Cathedral, starting at 6:00 PM. Following this, on March 4, he is scheduled to serve at the Alexievsky-Akatov Monastery at 5:00 PM, continuing this significant series of services throughout the week.
The week continues with multiple opportunities for worship each day, including the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts and the continuation of the Great Penitential Canon readings. Notably, March 6 will feature the service at the Church of the Birth of Christ on Uralmash and the Church on Blood, with starting times also carefully planned to allow working parishioners to attend.
One of the highlights of this week is the reading of the Great Penitential Canon itself. This text, comprised of 250 songs filled with themes of sorrow and penance, guides believers through the process of seeking forgiveness. Each chant concludes with the plea, "God, have mercy on me," encapsulating the spirit of repentance central to Great Lent.
Reflecting on the importance of this period, Archbishop Silvester remarked, "Let us not be hypocrites during this period, for true repentance must come from the heart." His call to resist the temptation of observing the fast only superficially resonates deeply within the community, emphasizing the need for sincere inward change.
The first week of Lent is characterized by strict fasting guidelines, where many believers engage fully with their faith through prolonged services and personal reflection. This includes abstaining from certain foods, and many parishioners are encouraged to engage with their clergy to discuss their personal practices during fasting. Indeed, those struggling with chronic illnesses, the elderly, children, and expectant mothers are typically granted leniencies to participate fully without undue hardship.
The schedule is not merely for the clergy but is meant to engage the entire community, aiming to build connections among parishioners. Live broadcasts of Metropolitan Yevgeny's services are set to take place on the Orthodox television channel Soyuz, attracting viewers and participants from across the region and making the experience accessible to many who cannot attend physically.
Listening to the Great Penitential Canon brings forth strong emotions. Attendance at these services is seen as not just participation but also as a way to embody the message of love and forgiveness central to Christianity, allowing individuals to draw closer to God.
The spirit of the Great Lent is reflected through prayers and participation, where believers aim for not just physical fasting but also fasting from negative emotions and actions. This ethos extends beyond the church walls, urging community unity and compassion during this season of prayer.
Community members have shared touching experiences from the services, describing how being part of these sacred events encourages them not only to reflect but also to encourage their neighbors, creating bonds of love and support among those attending.
Metropolitan Yevgeny's scheduled events will conclude the first week with the Feast of Orthodoxy, emphasizing the significance of this celebration. On March 9, he will lead the Divine Liturgy followed by prayers honoring the tradition of Orthodoxy.
The observances during the first week of Great Lent set the tone for the subsequent weeks, encouraging believers to deepen their faith, partake earnestly of repentance, and cultivate virtues among themselves.
Great Lent is not just about the rituals; it’s also about the transformative process of the soul. Each service, every reading, and the heartfelt prayers serve as reminders for the faithful of the necessity of connecting with God and with one another.
With such meaningful practices undertaken during this sacred period, the Orthodox Christian community enters this Lenten period empowered by faith and deeply aware of their shared path toward Easter, rich with possibility for renewal and reconciliation.