On Monday, February 23, the Great Lent for Easter begins fully / Wishing a blessed Lent!

We begin the Great Lent for Easter (February 23 - April 12)

On Monday, February 23, the Great Lent for Easter begins fully, this year lasting until April 12, the Friday of the Resurrection of Christ.

The Great Lent for Easter is a special fast with a deep penitential character, serving as a preparatory period for the celebration of Easter.

Before this spiritual effort, Christ himself established forgiveness toward others as a prerequisite, toward anyone who has wronged us or whom we have wronged: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-18).

Fasting is a cooperation of the spiritual and the physical in the worship of the living God. By fasting and abstaining from certain foods, and also by refraining from sins, we help the whole person, body and soul, to draw closer to and worship God.

Foods allowed during the fast

Animal-based foods are not allowed. Meat and meat products are prohibited, as are dairy products, cheese of any kind, butter, yogurt, milk, eggs, etc. Fish is not allowed except on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, and Palm Sunday (this year April 5).

Consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful habits is prohibited.

Allowed foods include vegetables and legumes such as beans, lentils, rice, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, eggplants, peas, olives, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, pumpkin, peppers, okra, beets, wheat, corn, chickpeas, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, lettuce, arugula, and pickled vegetables.

Dried fruits are allowed, such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, seeds, sesame, raisins, dried figs, etc.

Plant-based dough products are allowed, such as pasta without eggs and savory pastries with vegetables. Plant-based oils such as olive oil or sunflower oil are allowed, as well as processed forms like margarine (check ingredients).

Seafood such as mussels, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and shrimp is allowed.

Sweet products without dairy or eggs are allowed, such as jam, marmalade, honey, halva, fasting cookies, cocoa, sugar, tahini, etc. Ingredients for cooking like cocoa, baking soda, vanilla, flour, and yeast are also allowed.

Advice

Oil (any plant-based oil: olive, sunflower, etc.) or partial abstinence from oil depends on the guidance of one’s spiritual father, who provides a spiritual and dietary program according to each person’s health and ability.

Remember that fasting aims at spiritual and physical discipline, a struggle against passions and desires, improving and perfecting ourselves, and not harming the body, which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

Wishing you a blessed Lent.

“KORÇA BOOM”