In the Orthodox Christian tradition, there are several preparatory weeks for Holy Lent. This is a special time in which a person seeks to spiritually prepare for the proper feat. Forgiveness Sunday is the last day before the beginning of the Holy Pentecost.
The last Sunday before the beginning of Lent in the liturgical language is called the raw week. On this day, the last time before fasting is allowed to eat dairy food, cheese and eggs. Also at this time, the Orthodox Church recalls the expulsion of the forefathers of Adam and Eve from paradise. The people have another name for this day - forgiveness Sunday.
It is no coincidence that the week is called raw forgiven Sunday. On this day in all Orthodox churches a special rite of forgiveness takes place, during which believers ask for forgiveness of their sins from God, and also apologize to each other for various omissions or sometimes frank unkind deeds. Such practice is necessary for an Orthodox person to enter Great Lent without unnecessary "debts" to his neighbors. By asking for forgiveness from others and the abandonment, in turn, and the last of sins, a person renewed begins the saving feat of abstinence.
Forgiveness Sunday is not fixed for a specific date. Such a calendar feature is caused by the fact that Lent itself is transitional (depends on the time of the celebration of Easter). However, many believers know that forgiveness Sunday always falls on the last Sunday before the beginning of the Holy Pentecost. In 2015, Lent itself begins quite early, therefore, the forgiven Sunday itself dates from a rather early period. Forgiveness Sunday falls on February 22nd in 2015.
On the day of Sunday forgiven, it is advisable for all Orthodox people to attend a worship service, at the end of which the order of forgiveness will be performed.
