February 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We who live in the Valley of the Sun appreciate the great natural beauty which surrounds us- and we give thanks for it. There are those, however, who are a bit skeptical about this corner of the world. There are those, for example, who sarcastically note that we really only have two seasons and two types of weather—warm and sunny, and hot and sunny. This, of course, is not entirely true. However, as Orthodox Christians, we don’t regulate our lives based upon the weather, be it good or bad. Rather, our lives are guided by the Church’s liturgical seasons—the ebb and flow of fasting and feasting that marks our commemoration of the history of our salvation.
As an example of this, on Sunday, February 1, we already begin to experience the Pre-Lenten Sundays which prepare us for the season of Great Lent which will soon be upon us. In the Orthodox Church, the pre-Lenten “season” lasts four weeks, beginning, in the Slavic practice, with the Sunday of Zacchaeus. This time of preparation then continues with the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and on until the Sunday of Forgiveness (the day before the beginning of Great Lent). These weeks of the pre-Lenten season are anticipatory by nature; they begin on Monday and end on Sunday, each week being named for the theme of the upcoming Sunday. The hymns used during the Pre-Lenten and Lenten seasons are taken from a book called the Triodion.
The weeks of this Pre-Lenten Season, which are all observed this month, are:
· Zacchaeus Sunday (February 1) is regarded as a pre-Lenten Sunday because of its place in the Slavic lectionary. It is the 11th Sunday before Pascha. Although there are no hymns proper to this Sunday and its only distinguishing feature is the reading of the Gospel concerning Zacchaeus, it invites us to meet the Lord, to welcome him into our homes and hearts as we look to the weeks ahead.
· Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (February 8): 10th Sunday before Pascha (70 days). The week following this Sunday is a fast-free week, lest we
be tempted, like the Pharisee to boast about the fasting we are soon to undertake.
· Sunday of the Prodigal Son (February 15): 9th Sunday before Pascha (63 days). The Parable of the Prodigal Son, read at the Liturgy on this Sunday, invites us to return to the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father, to seek forgiveness for our past sins, and to set out on a new path. The week following this Sunday is the last week until Pascha during which we may eat meat or meat products.
· Sunday of the Last Judgment or Meat-Fare Sunday (February 22) is called “Meat Fare” because on this day we say “Farewell” to meat until the celebration of Holy Pascha: 8th Sunday before Pascha (56 days). The week following this Sunday is called Cheese-Fare Week and is a fast-free week, with the exception that meat and meat products are forbidden, i.e., all dairy products are allowed.
· Sunday of Forgiveness or Cheese-Fare Sunday (March 1): 7th Sunday before Pascha (49 days). This Sunday is the last day dairy products may be consumed. Throughout Great Lent, fish, wine, and olive oil will be allowed only on certain days.
As we begin these weeks of preparation for Great Lent, we do so in a spirit of prayerful anticipation and with the desire to experience the coming Fast in a way that will assist us in our spiritual journey to Pascha. And we should always remember that we do not undertake this preparation in isolation or as solitary followers of the Lord, but as members of a community that is supportive of all its members.
I invite your to reflect seriously upon the Gospels which will be proclaimed in the weeks to come, to ask the Lord to prepare your heart and soul for the Lenten Fast that will shortly be upon us, and to prayerfully remember and support all our brothers and sisters in our parish family, so that together we may arrive at a bright and joyous celebration of the Lord’s Pascha.
With love in the Lord,
Father David