Cheesefare
week, the last full week before Great Lent begins, is an “in between” week
liturgically in the Orthodox Church. Each day is “kind of like” Great Lent and
“kind of like” outside of Great Lent. This is to provide a transition into
Great Lent. Everything we do is better if we are prepared and in the proper
state of mind. This week, if we read the readings and attend the services, gets
us ready for Great Lent.
How is the week “kind of like” being in Great
Lent?
- We fast all week, but in the most unique way
of the entire year, fasting from meat only, with all other foods being allowed.
We are fasting every day, but only “partially” and we even eat cheese and other
milk products on days we normally would not throughout the year, such as
Wednesday and Friday.
- We are using the Triodion in Vespers and
Matins at all services, and its content definitely is Lenten in tone.
- On Wednesday and Friday, we do not celebrate
the Divine Liturgy, just as in Great Lent we do not celebrate it on most
weekdays. The readings on Wednesday and Friday are of a Lenten character; we do
not read the usual Epistle and Gospel, but instead read from the Old Testament
(on Wednesday, all the selections are from Joel, and on Friday, from
Zechariah). We follow the Lenten format of having a reading during the Sixth
Hour and Vespers.
- Daily Vespers on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
begin in a “non-Lenten” way just as during the rest of the year, but the end of
Vespers is ”Lenten” with the usual prayers with bows after the Aposticha, and
the prayer of St Ephrem.
- Wednesday and Friday Vespers are Lenten in
tone, with an Old Testament Reading, and the prayer of St Ephrem, but the
ending is non-Lenten in tone.
- The quintessential prayer of Great Lent, the
“Prayer of St Ephrem”, is said at every weekday Vespers beginning on Tuesday
evening.
How is the week “kind of like” being outside
of Great Lent?
- Sunday and Monday evening Vespers are just
like in “regular time”, but there are selections from the Triodion for Vespers
and Matins, which definitely point us toward Great Lent.
- All days except Wednesday and Friday we can
serve Divine Liturgy, with its usual Epistle and Gospel readings.
- As noted above, we are “kind of” fasting, and
“kind of” not fasting.
Another
aspect of the week that makes it seem more “Lenten” is the content of the
Gospel readings. They are all concerning the day of the Lord’s passion. We will
return to these readings during Holy week. I always think of the weeks
preceding Great Lent, and especially the last two weeks, as a foreboding of
Holy Week and Pascha.
If you
want to be ready for Great Lent, follow the fasting rules for this week (cheese
pizza is allowed on Wednesday and Friday!) and attend the “kind of” Lenten Vespers on Wednesday night.
Source: http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/02/25/cheesefare-week-kind-of-like-being-in-great-lent/
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