Lent: A Time of Repentance Towards the Joy of Resurrection
How Do Churches Live this Holy Period?
Learn With Us About Their Traditions!
The Middle East Council of Churches
(Part 1)
It is a journey of Prayer, repentance, and self-reflection to purify the soul and draw closer to God. It is the safe path through which Christians head towards the joy of Resurrection, the Feast of Feasts and the Season of Seasons. It is the Season of Easter Lent, considered one of the holiest Christian periods in history. It is a time that renews believers spiritually and psychologically, moving them from the chaos of life to safety, from sin to salvation, and from despair to heavenly joy.
How much we need today to unite in Prayer and celebrate the Feast of Resurrection together! How much we long for the desired unity that crowns the rich diversity of our Churches?
What is special this year is that the Eastern and Western Churches will celebrate the Great Feast together on the same date, coinciding with the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, which convened in 325 AD in Nicaea and marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Christian faith. In preparation for the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Christians go through the Lent journey, each according to the doctrine and traditions of their Churches.
A Pilgrimage Towards the Heavenly Kingdom
The Orthodox Church enters the Season of Lent through the Triodion period, which is divided into three main phases: the period of preparation for Lent, Lent, and the Holy Week. The Orthodox Church focuses on joy and repentance in its Lent, emphasizing that Lent is a heavenly pilgrimage that contributes to the transition from human birth to Christian birth. During this holy period, the Church makes various daily Prayers, including the Great Compline, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and the Small Compline, which includes the service of the Salutations to the Theotokos.
The Syriac Orthodox Church began Lent in the third century AD. In the second quarter of the fourth century, the Holy Week Fast, which had already begun before this date, was added. The Syriac Orthodox Church also believes that Lent reminds believers of the struggle of the Lord Jesus, who began His divine plan with a 40-day and 40-night Fast in the wilderness to teach us Fasting and spiritual struggle to confront Satan. It is worth noting that during this period, according to the Eastern Syriac Orthodox Rite, prayers called "Al-Rimch" (literally "Afternoon Prayer") are made.
For its part, the Coptic Orthodox Church begins its Lent on the Sunday of Treasures and continues it until Easter Sunday. This phase extends for 55 days and includes three Fasts: the Holy Forty Days in the middle, preceded by a week as a prelude to the Holy Forty Days, or as a substitute for the Saturdays during which it is not permissible to abstain from eating. This is followed by the Holy Week. Hence, the Coptic Orthodox Church believes that Lent has two sublime purposes: preparing for the joyful experience of the Resurrection of the Crucified Lord, and preparing the catechumens through teaching and practicing Worship with true repentance so that they may receive the Sacrament of Baptism on Easter night.
The Armenian Apostolic Church begins its Lent with the Feast of Paregentan, or Day of Good Living, which falls between the Feast of Saint Sarkis and Great Lent. The Paregentan during Great Lent is called the true Paregentan because it precedes the longer Fast. This Feast commemorates the human happiness felt by Adam and Eve in Paradise. It is also an example of paradise life, where humans were allowed to taste all fruits except the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which symbolizes Lent. Noting that Lent lasts for 48 days, including seven Sundays. According to popular custom, a Lenten cake is made from leavened dough, on the last day.
Struggle and Forgiveness Towards the Feast of Feasts
The Catholic, Latin, and Maronite Churches begin the forty-day period with Ash Monday or Ash Wednesday: "Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return." Their Lent centers on Easter and the Resurrection of Christ through contemplation of the Sundays’ Gospels during Lent, particularly the two Sundays of Miracles. In this context, the Catholic Churches emphasize the believer's commitment to their faith in Jesus Christ, the Physician, Healer, Forgiver of Sins, Redeemer of the Dead, and Conqueror of death, satan, and sin.
The Chaldean Church observes the Season of Lent from Monday until the eve of Easter Thursday. During this Season, believers participate in the “Hours of Prayer”, which according to the “Hawzara” are called by several names, including "quṭā'a," meaning a period of time, and "ādana," meaning "time." The Prayers of the Hours of Fasting include Psalms (Holāleh), Priestly Prayers, hymns and supplications, most of which are monastic.
The Greek Melkite Catholic Church, for its part, performs special Rituals for the Season of Great Lent, embodied in the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Great Compline, and the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos. The period of Lent extends from the Monday preceding Ash Wednesday in the Latin Church until the Friday before Palm Sunday. The duration of Lent has changed, now including two additional periods: the Holy Week and the three-week preparatory period for Lent, an extension of the meaning of the Blessed Lent.
The Syriac Catholic Church begins its Lent on Monday with the Rite of repentance or forgiveness and anointing with oil, which involves drawing the cross with oil on the forehead of the faithful. During this Rite, the Head of the Church prostrates himself and asks the congregation for forgiveness three times, as well as for forgiveness from the Lord, especially since the first step in Lent is repentance for sins. The church also performs many prayers, including the Way of the Cross Prayer on each Friday, in addition to the Mid-Lent Prayer, and individual Prayers recited in Monasteries.
The Evangelical Churches follow the Western calendar, where Lent extends over a period of 40 days before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday. During this period, they focus on ascending towards God, spiritual preparation, and contemplating Christ's suffering, death, and Resurrection. Churches also choose hymns of repentance and mercy, and do not recite the Gloria hymns. In this blessed Season, the Evangelical Churches emphasize personal brokenness before God and how Fasting is translated, particularly in service, giving, and acts of mercy, through which we meet with every relative and stranger, and with every in need and weak person. “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58: 7). It should be noted that these Churches generally encourage Fasting at any time of the year, not just during the period preceding Easter, because Fasting and Prayer support believers.
Today, believers are more in need than ever of inner peace, culminating in a journey of Fasting, repentance, and acts of mercy and almsgiving.
Our call during the Season of Lent is to convert and return to God and discover the gift of His Word, which gives us the strength to overcome our weaknesses and helps us open our hearts, minds, and souls to the work of the Holy Spirit. Fasting builds and strengthens, renews and strengthens our faith, and helps us prepare for the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Resurrection that brings joy and hope all over the earth.