Easter Lent Begins
Author: Dean Rouseberg
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
It is considered to be the longest and most important fasting period of the year.
Lent begins on February 27 - a period of seven weeks in Christianity, which precedes the greatest Orthodox, Christian holiday, the Resurrection of Christ. It is considered to be the longest and most important fasting period of the year, part of the preparation for Easter.
During Lent, a person reconsiders his behavior and prays that his sins will be forgiven in order to purify himself in body and spirit.
At the heart of fasting is the fight against sin by abstaining from food. It is abstinence, not the exhaustion of the body, so everyone must balance their strength, their preparation and willingness to fast with the rules of fasting.
There are six degrees of rigor in fasting:
- everything but meat;
- fish tasting;
- hot food with vegetable oil;
- hot food without fat;
- cold food without fat and without hot drinks;
- complete abstinence from food.
Fasting is strictest during the first and last week, especially during Holy Week and Good Friday. Then you should not consume anything - meat and dairy products, oil and alcohol.
On days when fish is allowed, hot food prepared with vegetable fat is also allowed.
It should be borne in mind that fasting is risky for people with chronic diseases - chronic hepatitis, infectious intestinal diseases, chronic pancreatitis.
Dietitians and nutritionists do not recommend a 40-day fast in people with cardiovascular, kidney or metabolic diseases, diabetes.
Fasting is not suitable for people with anemia, infectious diseases, as well as patients with viral and influenza infections, pneumonia, long-term and debilitating diseases.
Those affected by such diseases need a balanced intake of complete proteins, such as those contained in animal and protein foods and rich in essential amino acids.
Fasting is not recommended during pregnancy, as well as in adolescents, children and adolescents.