Tiraspol, March, 11. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Today, on the first day of Great Lent, in the Cathedral of Christ Nativity in Tiraspol, Vladyka Savva held a divine service for the capital clergy. It was reported by the press service of the Tiraspol-Dubossary Diocese.
In the Russian Orthodox Church, the first day of Great Lent got the name of Clean Monday, due to the fact that people tend to keep this day clean. Therefore, during Clean Monday, as well as during the next two days, a very strict fasting is established. Christians must pray diligently and fight their sinful passions.
Great Lent was established mainly in memory of Jesus Christ forty-day fasting, who soon after His baptism went into the desert and was fasting there, as well as in memory of the forty-day fasting of Moses and Elijah.
There was evidence from deep antiquity that the fasting was established by the apostles, and lasted for forty days almost from the beginning of its establishment, and the name Quadragesima itself is often found in ancient written monuments.
However, the Forty Days of Lent (which lasted 40 days everywhere) were not kept at the same time in the ancient church. It depended on the unequal calculation of the fasting days and the days when it was ended. In the eastern churches, the existing order of keeping Lent was established in the IV century.
The ancient Christians kept Lent with great severity, refraining from even eating of water until none (third afternoon). They took food after none, eating bread and vegetables. Meat, milk, cheese and eggs were forbidden.
The fasting will last until April 27.
