The Orthodox Christians on February 23 enter Lent, which is the strictest fasting period of the year. Until Easter, which this year is celebrated on April 12, those who fast cannot eat meat, fish, dairy products and eggs and cannot drink wine. The first and last weeks of Lent are the strictest.
Contacted by IPN, priest Eugen Onicov, of the Chisinau Church “Saint Pantelimon”, said the persons who are able to eat only in the evening on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week and on Friday and Saturday of the last week. During Lent, they eat only in the evening on Wednesdays and Fridays.
“During Lent we must clean both our soul and our body. If we do not eat forbidden food, but do not abstain from evil deeds, fasting is useless, as Saint John the Golden Mouth said. Lent must have two wings, as a bird – the material side that represents abstention from food, and the spiritual side, which is abstention from sin. By these two aspects of fasting, we can reach perfection,” said the priest.
On Palm Sunday (April 5), those who fast will be allowed to eat fish. On the Annunciation, fish will not be allowed because the feast this year falls in the Passion Week.
The sick people, pregnant women and children can ask the priests to allow them to eat certain prohibited products. The faithful will be able to take communion starting with the first week of Lent.
There are four main periods of extended fasting during the year: the Great Lent, the Nativity Fast, the Apostles’ Fast, and the Dormition Fast.
