The priest explained how believers can prepare for Lent

Orthodox Christians begin preparations for Lent

Orthodox Christians begin preparations for Lent. Lent itself, including Holy Week, will be from March 18 to May 4. Archpriest Maxim Kozlov in an interview with RIA Novosti told how to prepare for this event.

He reminds that in the next four weeks there will be changes to the menu, and in churches during the Liturgy the corresponding passages from the Gospel will be read. All this is so that believers can tune in to fasting and determine its spiritual goals for themselves. The time of fasting is given for repentance and correction of one’s life. He prepares a Christian for the celebration of the main holiday – Easter. Therefore, you cannot reduce everything to one diet.

The preparatory period begins today, since the week for Orthodox Christians begins on Sunday evening. The coming week is about the publican and the Pharisee, then about the prodigal son, then about the Last Judgment. And at the end, meat and butter (or butter). During the last week before Lent, Christians no longer ate meat. Only plant foods, dairy foods and fish. Maslenitsa itself is not a Christian holiday, but a tribute to pagan traditions. But usually it is celebrated in the last week before Lent.

The priest advises you to make a plan for Lent: what prayers to read more often, what services to attend in addition to the Sunday Liturgy, what patristic or doctrinal literature to read. During Lent, you should not forget about helping your neighbors and doing good deeds. After all, this is how a person first of all shows love for God.