Meat and Cheese-fare Sundays

[Joe]

Why are there 2 fasting Sundays leading up to Lent, one for meat and one for cheese/dairy? Why doesn't the full fast just start on the Monday Lent starts? Is it just a slow transition into things, or is there a deeper meaning to them?
Thank you.

[Mary Stavroula]

After a life-long experience with the other timing for lent, I so much appreciate easing into Lent with the meat-fare and cheese-fare Sundays. We start thinking about Lent before it actually starts. I'm sure others can give some deeper meaning at length, but I really relish the rhythm of Orthodoxy.

[Herman Blaydoe]

The week following the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican is typically fast-free, for 2 reasons I am told. Spiritually, it reminds us of St. Paul's epistle: "food is for the belly, and the belly for food, but God will destroy both one and the other...". It reminds us that fasting is not for its own sake, that we must couple the obedience of the pharisee WITH the humility of the publican. Practically, it is an opportunity to clean out the larder of non-fasting foods, to prepare for the upcoming fast. Meat-Fare Sunday is, as you say, an "easing-in" to the transition, and a last chance to eat up and clean out the dairy and other non-Lenten foods, so that we have a real "Clean Monday" to start our Lenten Spring.

[Olga]

Get hold of a copy of "Great Lent" by the late Rev. Alexander Schmemann, published by (I think) St Vladimir's Seminary Press, it is excellent. Not sure if it's currently in print though.

[Mother Evfrosinia]

Another wonderful explanation of Great Lent and the various fasting and liturgical traditions involved can be found in the introductory articles to Bishop Kallistos Ware's translation of the Lenten Triodion.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

There is also now available in English a wonderful book called Synaxarion of the Lenten Triodion & Pentecostarion.

This is available from HDM Press, Rives Junction, Michigan.
In Christ- Fr Raphael

PS: There is also something called monachos where one can also find Lenten reading material (http://www.monachos.net/great_lent/index.shtml)

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Mary Stavroula]

The book by Fr. Schmemann is in print and it's one of the best books on liturgy, spirituality and Orthodoxy I have read. It is definitely in print. I bought it last year and read it. Thanks for reminding me. I am going to take it off the book shelf and read it again. It's worth reading every Lent.

[M.C. Steenberg]

Mother Evfrosinia wrote:


Another wonderful explanation of Great Lent and the various fasting and liturgical traditions involved can be found in the introductory articles to Bishop Kallistos Ware's translation of the Lenten Triodion.

These, along with other texts by the bishop, are available in his newer volume, The Lenten Journey: The Meaning of the Great Fast. It is available from our on-line Lenten bookshop (http://monachos.net/books/bookstore/lent_books.shtml), and is rather affordable, really.

INXC, Matthew

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Dear All,

As we set out on the Holy season of Great Lent I ask all for the forgiveness of any offence I may have caused in any way.

May we all have a spiritually fruitful Great Lent & may we all be participants in the Paschal Light of Christ.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

A "PS" to my last post.

Being a sometime poster to or just a reader of some other lists I want to add how remarkable the quality of Monachos is. While there is so much turmoil in the human heart nowadays (and how much this is reflected in our poor world)it seems that there is something prayerful & quiet at Monachos in preparation for the solemnity of the season before us. Thanks to all & especially Matthew for this.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Antonios Spartan]

Fr Vereshack,

I had the same thought yesterday regarding this website. The silence was comforting. May God bless us all as we begin our journey back home; praying for those around us, and learning not to judge but rather to find the face of God in all people we meet. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.

[Byron Jack Gaist]

Thank you for your posts Fr Raphael. I know I would also like to thank other monachos posters and ask the forgiveness of all for any offence I may have inadvertently brought about.

I would like to wish everyone much success in this time of spiritual growth.

ICXC
Byron