The Great Post is called the Great for the importance of its establishment. It is dedicated to the forty-day feat of the Savior, who fasted in the wilderness after his baptism. It consists of two parts: the Holy Pentecost - the time when the Orthodox go to meet Jesus, and the Holy Week - the weeks when the Lord comes to meet the believers. Goes through Golgotha, the Last Supper, suffering, descent into hell, to Passover overcoming the last barriers that separate Christians from God. The main principles of fasting yourself are bodily consolation and observance of the lean menu , sincere repentance, and the attainment of freedom from passions. The Church of Christ teaches the Orthodox that fasting is a means of cleansing the soul of sinful thoughts and slavery to sin, alienation from evil, a time of spiritual transformation and preparation for the fertile fruit of Love - the Resurrection of the Lord.
The foundations and principles of Lent
- Unceasing prayer. Prayers in Lent should be given more time than on ordinary days, carefully follow the prayer rule: read the evening and morning prayers, adding the prayer of the Monk Ephrem the Syrian and the Psalter. Clergymen recommend fighting prayer with Lenten temptations: for despondency, anger, irritation, answer with Jesus' prayer.
- Visiting the temple. Lent is the only one in which worship is a special guard. There are special prayers and even "Lord, have mercy", is sung to another chant. Believers should definitely visit the canon of Andrew of Crete, Mariinho Stoyanie, the Akathist of the Mother of God, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the services of Holy Week.
What does post mean - Repentance. Fasting is necessary for Christians, and not for the Lord, therefore, without repentance, one can find true humility and receive communion with divine mysteries. It is not for nothing that the Church offers laymen the reading of the canon of Andrei of Crete twice for the Fourteen days, not for nothing every Saturday of fasting at the All-Night Vigil the chant sounds: "Repentance is opened by doors, Life-Giving".
- Abstinence from bodily food. The meaning of fasting is obedience to the Church, gaining independence from the flesh, easing prayer work. What you can eat in the post is spelled out in the Church Charter.
The Great Fast of Christians - Raising your heart in the spirit of God's mercy and love. "Look at you, fasting: did not you grumble at Jesus in your hardships and your sorrows? Do not you conceal envy, anger, resentment on your neighbors? Do not you have vain earthly care? "
The Orthodox Church strongly condemns those who violate the principles of fasting, but does not impose strict rules on the veneration of the elderly, children and the infirm. The true essence of the Great Lent is spiritual rebirth, the killing of sinful desires, the consolidation of the soul in self-denial.