The Great Lent of Orthodox Easter begins today! Everything you need to know!

Today, Albanian Orthodox believers fully begin the Great Lent of Easter, which this year will last until April 12, on the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania announced

The Great Lent of 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 set forgiveness as a prerequisite toward others, toward anyone who has wronged us or whom we have wronged: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” Matthew 6:14-18

Lent is a cooperation of the spiritual and the physical in the worship of the living God. By fasting from certain foods and at the same time fasting from sins, we help the whole person, body and soul, to draw closer to and worship God

FOODS EATEN DURING LENT

The use of any animal-based food is not permitted

Therefore, the consumption of meat and its products is not allowed, nor fish. Fish is permitted only on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, and on Palm Sunday, this year on April 5

Dairy products are not allowed, including cheese of any kind, butter, yogurt, milk, eggs

The consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other harmful habits is prohibited

The consumption of vegetables and various plant-based foods is allowed, such as beans, lentils, rice, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, eggplants, peas, olives, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, pumpkin, peppers, okra, beetroot, turnips, wheat, corn, chickpeas, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, green salad, arugula, and their pickled forms

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

Dough products such as pasta without eggs and various pies with vegetables are permitted

The consumption of plant-based fats such as olive oil, sunflower oil and their processed forms such as margarine is allowed, checking the ingredients

Seafood is permitted, such as mussels, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, shrimp

Within this framework, sweets without dairy and eggs are allowed, as well as products such as jam, marmalade, honey, halva, lenten biscuits, cocoa, sugar, tahini. For cooking, cocoa, baking soda, vanilla, flour and yeast are also permitted

ADVICE

The use of oil and 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 ability and health condition

We recall that the purpose of Lent is spiritual and physical discipline, an effort and struggle against passions and desires, the improvement and refinement of our person, not harming the body, which is also the Temple of the Holy Spirit

Have a blessed Lent

“KORÇA BOOM”