Great Lent begins Monday, March 2nd

Yes, I know Roman Catholics and Protestants began on Wednesday. We figure the date of Easter differently, which means we start Lent differently as well.

But that's not why I'm posting this.

My friend Ron Fritts has a decent article about "giving something up for Lent" over on QuincyNews.Org. You can find it here.

I don't always agree with Ron but he pretty much has this one down pat.

Fasting and prostrations (the two big Orthodox penitential activities) are meaningless without a heart that is willing to change, and an attitude of repentance and intention to do better, and a firm resolve not to observe the letter without embracing the spirit.

The Orthodox during Great Lent generally refrain from meat, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil. On Saturdays we are allowed fish, wine and oil, usually. On Wednesdays and Fridays we are asked to fast all day (and that actually applies all year round, not just in Great Lent) and break our fast in the evening with very simple fare.

The point is not to obsess over "oh I can't buy this product at the store because it has milk by-products!" The point is to use the time you would usually spend preparing and eating on spiritual food--reading Holy Scripture, or the writings of our Christian fathers and mothers, or in prayer, or in helping others. The point is to use these ancient spiritual practices to help YOU to grow to be more like God: loving, forgiving, calm, full of grace.

If you miss a day, move on and try to do better. If your non-Orthodox parents offer you a meal that includes your favorite steak and blue cheese, do not insult them by refusing, but accept their hospitality humbly and with a glad heart. Fasting from food doesn't mean you fast from right treatment of others.

We say a special prayer during Great Lent, and we say it often. It's meant to focus us on the real meaning of what we're doing--not as a duty to be borne, but as a means to "deification", an aid to that "narrow way", a staff (if you will) upon the path to "theosis".

It is the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, and it is replete with prostrations. But look past that to what it says, and what we are saying when we submit to God and to letting His power help us overcome the things which hinder us:

The Great Lenten Prayer of St Ephraim:

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk.
(Prostration)

But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love.
(Prostration)

O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
(Prostration)

O God, cleanse me a sinner. (12 times, with as many bows, and then again the whole prayer from the beginning throughout, and after that one great prostration)

Perhaps if you say this prayer you will not do a single prostration. Personally I think you will be missing an incredibly powerful spiritual exercise (not to mention physical :), but just focus on the words all the same.

Therein lies a great gift of God's grace.

One other thing, the Orthodox don't do the Ash Wednesday thing. But we do have Forgiveness Vespers. This Sunday after the Divine Liturgy (although more properly at sundown) we will pray the Vespers service and end by going to each member of the congregation, embracing them and saying "Brother (or sister), forgive me."

This simple act begins our Lenten walk, and the spirit in which we participate colors the entire season.

May God grant that I freely and openly forgive anyone I have offended, and that I humbly and with great compunction request their forgiveness for my many faults.

Glory to God unto the ages of ages.

Reader Nikolai Kevin Payne