We are already one step before Great Lent, as we are already in the third week of the Triodion. This week is called “Cheesefare week”, also known as “Butter Week”, or “Pancake Week”, during which Christians do not eat meat to prepare for the Great Lent.
Traditionally, during this week until the eve of Shrove Monday we can eat whatever we want except meat.
This week it is common to eat fish, cheese, milk, and eggs, as well as pasta. According to tradition, this is explained as follows: from the first week of the Great Lent, the souls come back to earth.
Both the Saturday and the Sunday of the Apokria, that is, the Sunday that follows Swan Thursday, and the Saturday before the last Sunday of the Carnival, are Saturdays of Souls. At the memorial dinner, in addition to the huts are also offered makaronia (pasta) from the words “makaria” (meaning food made from barley) and “eternal”, they were called makaronia (pasta).
The fast of the Great Lent
During the Great Lent, fasting is strict, without consumption of wine and oil. We catalyze oil and wine only on Saturdays and Sundays and during the feast of the Forty Martyrs.
It was named Great Lent in memory of the fasting of the Lord Jesus Christ in the desert which had lasted 40 days.
It is the oldest of all the great fasts of the Orthodox Church since it was established in the 4th century AD.
During the Great Lent, Christians prepare themselves through fasting, confession, prayer, almsgiving, frequent services, and all spiritual struggles, to be resurrected from their passions and sins.
Source: Metropolis of Zambia
