Forgiveness Sunday 2024: traditions and cards

Forgiveness Sunday is an important holiday for every Orthodox Christian. “MK” collected pictures and postcards for this holiday. They can be downloaded for free and sent to family, friends and acquaintances on social networks and instant messengers. Priest Valery Dukhanin will also talk about the traditions and history of this holiday.

Postcards for Forgiveness Sunday

Forgiveness Sunday is one of the most important days of the year both for Orthodox believers and for everyone who is interested in established traditions and adheres to their observance in life. This Sunday it is customary to ask for forgiveness and forgive. This day is reserved for cleansing the soul. This important day for every Orthodox Christian falls on different dates from year to year, but always on the last day of Maslenitsa, which in turn is the last day before the start of Lent.

When is Forgiveness Sunday in 2024

In 2024, this Sunday will fall on March 17th. Since the beginning of Lent is calculated from the date of the celebration of Easter – the feast of the Resurrection of Christ, then Forgiveness Sunday always falls on different days. According to the calendar, this could be either February or March.

History and Orthodox traditions

In church life, the ritual is called the Rite of Forgiveness. It appeared in monastic life among the Egyptian monks and had a much more severe meaning. The fact is that the monks spent Great Lent in the desert, strengthening their feat of purifying the soul through trials, reading prayers and preparing for the bright holiday of Easter. The monks dispersed one by one and not all returned after forty days, dying some from attacks by wild animals, others from hunger, thirst and the heat of the desert. That is why the monks sincerely asked each other to apologize for all voluntary or involuntary offenses. And they also sincerely forgave. Each of them mentally prepared for possible death. This is how the rite of forgiveness appeared – for reconciliation with everyone, and through this action – with the Lord God himself.

Before the revolution in Tsarist Russia, Forgiveness Sunday had a very significant meaning. On this day, the Emperor himself addressed people and asked them to forgive him. He also personally toured the barracks where the soldiers lived and the monasteries.

Nowadays, on this holiday in the churches of the Russian Orthodox Church they serve vespers with the Rite of Forgiveness. During the service, the rector and all the priests of the temple leave the altar and ask for forgiveness from the parishioners. Then the parishioners approach the clergy and ask for their forgiveness. And only then – with each other.

On this day, the Church also reminds parishioners of the fall of Adam and Eve, which is why this day is sometimes called “Adam’s expulsion.”

This day is intended for reconciliation. The following dialogue takes place: – Forgive me! – God will forgive, and I forgive.

Since Forgiveness Sunday always falls on the last day of Maslenitsa week, on this day you can still eat plenty of butter and dairy products, go for a walk and have fun, but it is better to do this only in the morning. And after completing the rite, you should already begin to think about fasting, which begins the next day.

On this day it is not customary to do hard, complex or responsible work, since one should think a lot about the soul, and this is what should occupy a person’s thoughts.

What is the importance of this day for an Orthodox Christian?

The Orthodox people traditionally believe that without mutual letting go of grievances, Lent will not fulfill its main role – the spiritual preparation of a person for the celebration of Easter, but will become a simple abstinence from eating certain foods. God will hear a person only when he not only does not eat modest meals for seven weeks, but, and this is the main thing, experiences repentance and becomes stronger in faith. And, therefore, he must forgive others and ask for forgiveness himself.

Advice from a priest

Servants of the Russian Orthodox Church attach special significance to Forgiveness Sunday.

Here is what priest Valery Dukhanin says about this:

– It is right to enter into the simpler period of Lent – this is what Forgiveness Sunday teaches us. If you want the Lord to forgive you, forgive all your neighbors and sincerely, from your heart, ask everyone for forgiveness. On this day in church the following Gospel is read, where there are the following lines: “For if you forgive people their sins, then your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive people their sins, then your Father will not forgive you your sins.” ” That is, the principle is very simple: if you want the Lord to forgive, for your sins to be forgiven, forgive another. Forgive, don’t hold grudges, let go. Say: “Lord, I forgive him!” And the Lord will forgive you.

Priests of the Russian Orthodox Church pay attention to the following points when observing the Rite of Forgiveness.

• It is not so important to ask for forgiveness as to grant it.
• You should forgive not in words, but in your heart.
• God forgives those who forgive others.
• You should ask for sins that need to be remembered in advance.
• On this day you should visit the temple or at least mentally pray.
• Prayers for the forgiveness of sins should be read.
• On the day of Forgiveness Sunday, it is advisable to tune in to the upcoming fast.
• You can’t quarrel, swear, it’s better to do some good deed.
• On this day it is good to treat someone, and even more so, to feed the hungry or help the needy.
• On this day you should love yourself, your neighbors and God.