Contact | In the Orthodox world, we use the word "passions" to describe tendencies that each person has that lead us to sin. On other feast days, such as the First and Second Finding of the Head of Saint John the Baptist (February 24), the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (March 9), the Forefeast of the Annunciation (March 24), and the Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel (March 26), wine and oil are permitted. The strictest observancewould be to take only two meals during this week one on Wednesday evening and one on Friday evening after the services scheduled for those nights keeping Clean Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday as absolute fasts (i.e., no food whatsoever). Almsgiving Great Lent roughly lasts for seven weeks (including Holy week - see details at Background section below). Site Map | Fr. Let us welcome the Fast with humble hearts., See how the beauty of repentance forms the soul anew at the approach of Lent! Instead the non-eucharistic services are extended with additional scripture readings and hymnology of a lenten character. Again, Lent is not a season of deprivation, nor should we "give up" something only to get it back once Lent is over. St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church 800 West Park Street Cedar Park, TX, 78613 United States (map) Google Calendar ICS. There is a 19 Sunday (18week) period of time each year in the Orthodox Christian Church that surrounds the Feast of Pascha (Easter). Facebook | We can discover that always and everywhere Christ, the Divine Love Himself, stands in the midst of us, transforming our mutual alienation into brotherhood. Copyright 19962023. The Archdiocese responds to the spiritual needs of the Greek Orthodox Christian Faithful through National Ministries, providing programs and services to your local parishes, Metropolises, and you. David. All rights reserved. Each of us has a "passion" for anger, lust, power, greed, ego, etc. This year, Easter falls on Sunday, April. Copyright 19962023. We ask our good God and His Most-Holy Mother to grant us strength so that this Lent may become a spiritual feast for our souls, which otherwise are atrophied by pleasures. In the Orthodox Church, Great Lent begins on a Monday called Clean Monday, rather than Ash Wednesday, as it does in other churches. Certain individuals and institutions are presented for reference purposes only and may not be under the supervision or jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. 2023Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Wednesday. Its exact date changes every year because it is determined by the dates of . WEEKENDS (Saturday and Sunday) are observed as Wine and Oil Days. The word "lent" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon 'lencten' which literally means "spring". Level six -- Level four and eliminate dairy products on Wednesday and Fridays and during Holy Week. With the bestowal of our blessings and prayers for all of you, we remain, Metropolitan and First Hierarch of the Russian True Orthodox Church-MM. Easter Archpastoral Letter April 24/April 11, 2022, , Archpastoral Letter for the Beginning of Great Lent 2022. This fast helps us prepare to properly celebrate our Lords nativity in the flesh and it is to our benefit to observe it as fully Read more, On Monday, August 15, we will celebrate the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary. The ecclesiastical book that contains the Services of our Church which are performed during the period beginning with the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and ends on Great and Holy Saturday, that is the Services of the movable feasts that precede Easter, is called the Triodion. Instagram | This ends this cycle of "movable feasts" (called this because their date moves every year), which surround the feast of Pascha. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. In addition to the ascetic fasting of the lenten season, the Orthodox alone among Christians also practice what is known as eucharistic or liturgical fasting. Clean Monday ( Greek: ), also known as Pure Monday, Ash Monday, Monday of Lent or Green Monday, is the first day of Great Lent throughout Eastern Christianity [1] and is a moveable feast, falling on the 6th Monday before Palm Sunday which begins the Holy Week preceding Pascha Sunday (Easter). Certain individuals and institutions are presented for reference purposes only and may not be under the supervision or jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. In general, the fasting rules during Great Lent and Holy Week are as follows: WEEKDAYS (Monday - Friday) are observed as Strict Fast Days. The Orthodox Christian Faith proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the teachings of the Apostles, and the tradition and life of the living Church worldwide through worship, communion, witness, and service. Good Friday occurs on the Friday before Easter. 8 East 79th Street New York, NY 10075 The road home, however, begins with us. The Church, in her wisdom, begins preparing us for this most-holy time in the weeks that Read more, The Nativity Fast begins this year on Tuesday, November 15. that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; Facebook | It mourns all that the Israelites had lost in the Babylonian captivity and shows their longing to return home. GREAT LENT AND HOLY WEEK 2022 (March 7 - April 23) The Lenten fasting discipline commences after Forgiveness Vespers on March 6 and concludes with the breaking of the fast at Pascha on April 24. Truly, I say to you, Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Great Lent/Pascha resources. As we stand at this moment, the threshold of Great Lent, with all turmoil and violence unfolding in the world, the Lenten fast comes like a spring breeze to refresh our souls. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. The Orthodox Christian holiday explained Cady Stanton USA TODAY 0:00 0:45 Orthodox Christians in Europe, Africa and the Middle East celebrated Orthodox Easter on Sunday. RTOC-MM: Archdiocese of North America and the Diaspora From the Blog March 7/February 22, 2022 To the beloved clergy, religious, and faithful of the Russian True Orthodox Church, Archdiocese of North America & the Diaspora-mercy, peace, and love be yours in ever-greater measure. Because the lenten season is one of preparation for the Lords Resurrection through the remembrance of sin and separation from God, the liturgical order of the Church eliminates the eucharistic service on the weekdays of lent. The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843 has been that of the victory of the icons. Because fasting is so misunderstood, it is many times done incorrectly. On Sundays it is the longer Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. The Orthodox Faith / A meeting ofthe HIERARCHS of the RTOC-MM Synod ofBishops takes place. May the road upon which we embark today be our first steps that lead us to that heavenly Zion, for which we long. If you've never fasted before, I would not recommend doing a strict fast. Archbishop of Washington But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, We are assured in the Letter to the Galatians that For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1). Phone: (212) 570-3500Contact, Download VCFJoin our Mailing ListsDonate. Nor should we, as Christ warns, look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men (Mt 6:16). His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon /. to loose the bonds of wickedness, Even in the midst of everything we endure; a pandemic, social unrest, economic uncertainty, and now war in Ukraine, we must remember to always attend to doing good and becoming ever-brighter beacons of Christs light in this darkening world. One may ask, however: Why should I perform this rite when I have no enemies? Why should I ask forgiveness from people who have done nothing to me, and whom I hardly know? If you have a medical condition that requires you to relax the fasting guidelines, then do so. April 2022 - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America DONATE Calendar of Saints, Feasts, and Readings in the Orthodox Church April 2022 List Grid View All View Saints View Readings Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 4th Friday of Lent Isaiah 29:13-23 Genesis 12:1-7 Proverbs 14:15-26 2 Fourth Saturday of Lent Hebrews 6:9-12 and your father who sees in secret will reward you:' Matthew 6: 16-18 The experience provides the faithful significant content to listen to, watch, and read; in order to lead, grow, and inspire. Sunday, March 6, 2022. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Fasting is a tool that is used to assist in spiritual growth. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Stavros in two ways: Purchase the book"The Road Back to Christ: Reflections on Lent, Holy Week and the Resurrection"by Fr. After a few years at one level, challenge yourself to go up a level. What is Orthodox Christianity? It is before his own Master that he stands or falls." "The holy season of abstinence shines upon us all with the light of . [2] To ask these questions is to misunderstand the Orthodox teaching concerning forgiveness. they have received their reward. 2028 - Sunday, April 16. Christ shed His blood for us, so we do not consume any "blood" or "animal" products. And it is primarily the renewal of that love, a growth in it, that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire spirit and the entire effort of that season. Find out the dates, history and traditions of Equal Pay Day. Metropolitan of All America and Canada, The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Please also be of service to them in your charity and almsgiving this Lent. Remember also those who have been killed in this war. In general, the fasting rules during Great Lent and Holy Week are as follows: WEEKDAYS (Monday Friday) are observed as Strict Fast Days. Feasts & Saints /, The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. ". for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. The Orthodox rules for lenten fasting are the monastic rules. Great Lent is a time to prepare ourselves in order to celebrate Pascha. Saint Paul reminds us in Romans 14:3-4: "Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. We entreat thee urgently: enter with us, by thy mediation, into the struggle of the Fast, and grant us to complete it for our souls salvation.. The weeks of the Great Lent are: First Sunday (Sunday of Orthodoxy) Second Sunday (St. Gregory Palamas) Third Sunday (Adoration of Cross) Fourth Sunday (St. John of Climax) Fifth Sunday (St. Mary of Egypt) Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday Fasting The Orthodox Easter period influences a range of festivals and events. Whether our sin takes the form of something great or small it remains a way in which we have hurt ourselves, have hurt others, and have damaged our relationship with God. Feasts. Prayer 2. Portions should be smaller than usual. (Gospel of Cheesefare Sunday). April 5, 2022. What is Western-Rite Orthodoxy? A contemporary father of the Church, Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou, explains beautifully: In the beginning state, before the Fall. This post will provide you with the fasting guidelines for the pre-Lenten period of preparation, Great Lent, and Holy Week, according to the general practice of All Saints parish and as approved for publication by Fr. Also called Quadragesima or Tessaracoste, Great Lent is a 40-day season of spiritual preparation that comes before the Feast of Holy Pascha or the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which falls on April 24. When we each ask God to open to me the gates of repentance this Lent, remember that we do not fast to earn Gods love or to impress others around us. Today, as we begin the time of the Fast, let us all rise up and choose to make the journey home. The week before Great Lent, we are only required to fast from meat, not dairy products. Orthodoxy / While we can go a day without a lustful thought or an angry thought, we can't go more than a few hours without a hungry thought. Search, Learn more about the Orthodox Church in America. The stopping of these is the fast true and acceptable (Monday Vespers of the First Week). Volume II - Worship: Octopus and shell-fish are allowed, as is vegetable oil. As a Lenten hymn says: In vain do you rejoice in not eating, O soul!For you abstain from food,But from passions you are not purified.If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast!. Religious study 4. Fasting 3. 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved. We invite you to prayerfully consider sharing the resources given to you by God with a donation to the Archdiocese. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The day commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the Apostles, as recorded in the New Testament in Acts, 2. This Lent, be especially on guard with social media, which too easily inflames our passions, devours our time, and devolves into the foolish controversies which Saint Paul warns us to avoid, for they are unprofitable and futile and only disturb our brothers and sisters in Christ (cf. We are united with one another on this road and we always have a strong hand to grasp for those times when we think we might fall. Contact | As part of the Triodion, Lent is dedicated to spiritual uplift and liberation of passions. Generally speaking, children and elderly people are allowed to relax the fast under the guidance of their spiritual father. Phone: (212) 570-3500Contact, Download VCFJoin our Mailing ListsDonate. According to what was done in the monasteries, one meal a day is eaten on weekdays and two meals on weekends of Great Lent. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Great Lent 2022. Sunday of Orthodoxy. On Saturdays it is the normal Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, usually with prayers for the dead. YouTube | The well-known teaching that Saturdays and Sundays are never days of fasting in the Orthodox Church, an issue emphasized centuries ago when controversy arose with the Latin Church, refers only to this eucharistic-liturgical fast. Great Lent & Holy Week - 1st Monday of Great Lent through Great and Holy Saturday Apostles' (Peter & Paul) Fast - June 11 through June 28 Dormition (Theotokos) Fast - Aug. 1 through Aug. 14 Fast-Free Weeks Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ to Theophany Eve - Dec. 25 through Jan. 4 The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great Lent. (Doxastikon of Orthros, Cheesefare Sunday, Trans. The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of America was born in 1967 in Bakirky, Istanbul. Instead, Lenten food usually consists of plenty of olives, taramasalata, Halva, vegetables, legumes and seafood, such as calamari, octopus, shrimps, oysters, cuttlefish, mussels, lobsters etc. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. link to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese website for the liturgics of the day, if available. Jesus said, 'and when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, In our time, there are many bonds of wickedness and cords of the yoke which Lent urges us to loosebut above all, the sins which bind our souls. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. "The Road Back to Christ: Reflections on Lent, Holy Week and the Resurrection", St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, FL, Level one -- Fast from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays and during Holy Week, Level two -- Fast from meat and fish on Wednesdays and Fridays and during Holy Week, Level three -- Fast from meat the entirety of Lent and Holy Week, Level four -- Fast from meat and fish the entirety of Lent and Holy Week, Level five -- Level four and eliminate dairy products during Holy Week. The Church, in her wisdom, begins preparing us for this most-holy time in the weeks that precede the fast. During Saracosti, no meat or dairy foods are eaten. Lent serves to heal this fall of Adam, which we repeat many times every day. It is a pious practice to observe Great and Holy Friday as an absolute fast. Forgiveness Sunday: the day on which we acquire the power to make our fastingtrue fasting; our efforttrue effort; our reconciliation with Godtrue reconciliation. Great Lent marks the start of the Easter cycle in the Orthodox Christian Church Home Countries All Countries International Days United Nations Calendars 2024 2023 2022 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2021 2020 2019 Upcoming Today The most basic "passion" is hunger. This site has been made possible by a grant from Leadership 100. Christ fasted and taught men to fast. Home / For example, in Greece, Clean Monday (Ash Monday) is taken to be the first day of spring. The Lenten liturgical program was synthesized throughout time. We can choose to remain on the shores of the Babylon, lamenting our loss and resigning ourselves to this present state of life or we can get up and begin the journey that leads us home. Every year, the Church gives us this period of pause, remembrance, and renewal to remind us of the need for self- awareness, for repentance, and for forgiveness. Contact | Another specificity is the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, celebrated only during Lent. We avoid gluttony of food, but likewise we ought to avoid gluttony of all sorts: in recreation, media, or conversation with others. to let the oppressed go free, As I advance towards the other, as the other comes to mewe begin to realize that it is Christ who brings us together by His love for both of us. Instagram | The first week of Lent is especially strict. On Wednesday, the fast is kept until after the Presanctified Liturgy. 18 March, 2023 - Annual Western PA/OH Pan-Orthodox Lenten Retreat April 1, 2023 - Lenten Retreat Praying our way together during Great Lent Recent Galleries 02/25/2023 02/20/2023 Mailing Address Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA P.O. Twitter | On these days the fast is relaxed to permit fish with backbones, in addition to alcoholic beverages and oil. The information contained on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is for informational purposes only. If one does not have the strength to do this, it is good to abstain from food until after venerating the epitaphios (winding sheet) during Vespers on this day. I humbly ask your forgiveness. We can eat shellfish because they do not contain blood. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of America was born in 1967 in Bakirky, Istanbul. When we think of Easter, what comes to mind are Easter eggs and those fun games played before getting an Easter egg. On these days the fast is relaxed to permit alcoholic beverages and olive and other vegetable oils. This day commemorates the Last Supper shared by Jesus and his disciples. During this period of Lent, we have the opportunity to show that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (and by prayer, and by tears of repentance, and by prostrations, and by asceticism) that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4.4). Generally speaking, fasting is an essential element of the Christian life. What is the meaning of this rite? Twitter | The Church eases us into the fasting discipline during these weeks of preparation as follows: The Lenten fasting discipline commences after Forgiveness Vespers on March 6 and concludes with the breaking of the fast at Pascha on April 24. The ascetic fast of Great Lent continues from Meatfare Sunday to Easter Sunday, and is broken only after the Paschal Divine Liturgy. Western Rite. May God keep their memory eternal. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that should be practiced with the oversight and direction of your spiritual father. The consumption of shellfish and mollusks, however, is permitted in Greek Orthodox Churches. 'Lencten' has a root in the Germanic word for long, which assigned itself to Spring as the days become longer. In the Russian Orthodox Church, fasting always begins on a Monday, whereas in the Roman Catholic Church, on a. Instagram | At the same time, to reiterate the need for a conscience free of passions, the Church decided that the Great Canon should be read in its entirety in the fifth week of Great Lent. All rights reserved. Orthodox Lent is observed from Clean Monday to the evening of Holy Saturday and leads up to Easter Sunday, which runs from March 18 to May 7 this year. It is no wonder that it begins on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, itself a story of loss and exile, with the beautiful image of the return home as its conclusion. The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843 has been that of the victory of the icons. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with its headquarters located in the City of New York, is an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, The mission of the Archdiocese is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian faith, to energize, cultivate, and guide the life of the Church in the United States of America according to the Orthodox Christian faith and tradition. During this week, the Fifth Week of Great Lent, we celebrate additional church services that are a little longer. Let us fast with a fast pleasing to the Lord. The Ecclesiastical Calendars are an annual resource published by Outside of Lent, it is Tradition to fast every Wednesday (in honor of the betrayal of Christ) and Friday (in honor of His Crucifixion). Lent is all about that journey, and the brave souls who choose to embark upon it. In 2021, Lent in the Roman Catholic Church takes place from February 17 to April 3. Read about Orthodox Lent around the world in 2024. About the Faith / This fasting does not refer to the normal abstinence in preparation for receiving the holy eucharist; it means fasting from the holy eucharist itself. They understand fasting as an end in itself, as a good deed required by God and carrying in itself its merit and its reward. Thus, truly forgiveness is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for, the Lenten season. Also, do not pass judgment on others who are not fasting to the degree you are. If a believer is accustomed to attending only the Sunday Liturgy during Great Lent, then the opportunity for a . The information contained on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is for informational purposes only. Beginning of Great Lent Commemorated on March 7 In the Orthodox Church, the last Sunday before Great Lentthe day on which, at Vespers, Lent is liturgically announced and inauguratedis called Forgiveness Sunday. Even during Great Lent, Saturday (the Sabbath Day) and Sunday (the Lord's Day) remain eucharistic days, and the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. God forgives us, and His forgiveness is in Christ, His Son, whom He sends to us so that by sharing in His humanity we may share in His love and be truly reconciled with God. A great saint of our Church, Maximus the Confessor, says that the first man, being deficient in the actual movement of his natural powers toward their goal. The Church Year, The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America, the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. To the beloved clergy, religious, and faithful of the Russian True Orthodox Church, Archdiocese of North America & the Diasporamercy, peace, and love be yours in ever-greater measure. Beloved children in the Lord, I conclude by directing you to keep in prayer those suffering in the calamity of war: the wounded, the grieving, and the displaced. Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent in the Christian calendar, has been observed by Britons for centuries. as You love humanity. Home / What is Orthodox Christianity? Fasting is about getting control of our passions, maintaining control over them, and ultimately giving control of ourselves to God. Blessed fasting is done in secret, without ostentation or accusation of others (Mt 6.16; Rom 14). In that year the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged on and off since 726, was finally laid to rest, and icons and their veneration were restored on the first Sunday in Lent. YouTube | If you have any specific questions about how the fasting discipline applies to you, you should consult your spiritual father. We thought it would be helpful to have them all listed on this page, together with some of our favorite external resources. Below is a guide of some levels of fasting: **Fish is allowed on March 25 (Annunciation)and Palm Sunday; oil and wine are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, except for Holy Saturday. The Church spares no effort in warning us against a hypocritical and pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere external obligations. Great Lent begins on Monday, March 7! Telegram | YouTube | Your support helps us further the vital ministry work. The Road Back to Christ: Reflections on Lent, Holy Week and the Resurrection is a series of short daily reflections on the scripture readings of Holy Week and the accounts of the Resurrection and post-Resurrection appearances of Christ. Each person must do his best in the light of the given ideal. The experience provides the faithful significant content to listen to, watch, and read; in order to lead, grow, and inspire. Over the next forty days we break the chains of sin and evil by controlling the things which control usand so become free people. Titus 3:9). The next forty days, which includes nearly six weeks and five Sundays, is called Great Lent. If we can discipline ourselves to go without certain kinds of food, we can hopefully discipline ourselves so that we can go without certain kinds of behavior that are spiritually destructive. Great Lent begins on Monday, March 7, 2022. Ever since, this Sunday has been commemorated as the "Triumph of Orthodoxy. The Orthodox Church in America. On these dayswe abstain from meat, dairy, fish with backbones, fowl, alcoholic beverages, and oil. The day commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus. E-mail: diocese@easterndiocese.org. But the Church reveals to us that there are much subtler ways of offending Divine Love. A special word must be said about fasting during lent. Eastern churches begin Lent on the Monday of the 7th week before Easter and end on the Friday nine days preceding Easter. In order that the faithful would not be entirely deprived of Holy Communion on the lenten days, however, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated on Wednesday and Friday evenings. Then after Vespersafter hearing the announcement of Lent in the Great Prokeimenon: Turn not away Thy face from Thy child, for I am afflicted! Four Sundays ofpreparation precede Great Lent. to undo the cords of the yoke, Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? Categorized as orthodox Tagged lazarus, . No meat is allowed after Meatfare Sunday, and no eggs or dairy products after Cheesefare Sunday. This site has been made possible by a grant from Leadership 100. Great Lent is the longest and strictest of the four fasting periods of the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Observer places the Church in the context of the current world we live in through a diverse and informative experience offering participants meaningful exchange with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, her ministries, and affiliates. In the first four days of Lent, the Church officiates the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete, a liturgical hymn of repentance, remembering the history of salvation. Weeks of preparation 2022 (February 13 - March 6) Four Sundays of preparation precede Great Lent. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis, Join the Prayer Team Daily Devotionemail listand receive a reflection like this in your inbox every morning,