Among the four many-day fasts provided for in the charter of the Orthodox Church, Great Lent has a special period of time in the life of a Christian. The Holy Pentecostal is the longest and most rigorous period of abstinence.
The dating of Lent is subject to change to the extent that this period depends on the number of celebrations of the main Orthodox celebration - Easter. Therefore, although fasting falls in the spring, its beginning should be determined by the church calendar, which indicates the date of Easter and the immediate beginning of the Holy Pentecost.
In 2016, Orthodox Christians enter the "spring of the soul" (this is what Great Lent is called) on Monday March 14th (modern chronology). This date is the time of the beginning of Lent in 2016.
According to the Orthodox Church’s charter, the Holy Pentecostal Church in 2016 lasts until the feast of the Holy Resurrection, that is, until May 1st. Accordingly, the last day of Lent in 2016 falls on Saturday, April 30th.
Those wishing to start fasting in this post should take into account that eating meat products according to the church Orthodox charter is prohibited a week before March 14th. On the seventh day of the indicated month, a continuous week begins, referred to in the church statute as Cheese. The people of this week received the name of Maslenitsa.
Believers need to understand the main essence of Orthodox fasting, which consists not in diet, but in the desire to purify one’s soul through the sacraments of confession and communion. At the time of fasting, a believing Orthodox person should try to get at least closer to God. Christians think about eternity and devote more attention to their spiritual life by participating in worship, reading the holy texts of the Bible (especially the Gospel), and the soulful teachings of the Holy Fathers of the Church of Christ.
