CJ Clark ‘26, Hot or Not Editor
Catholic Lent, which most everyone is familiar with, is completely different from Orthodox Lent. The Catholic faith is far more dominant in the West; therefore, it is more widely known even to non-Christians. Lent began for the Catholic Church on Feb. 18, and ends on Thursday, April 2, with Easter falling on April 5. Orthodox Lent began later on Monday, Feb. 23, and is known as Clean Monday. Orthodox Lent ends on Saturday, April 11, and is known as Holy Saturday.
For Orthodox Christians, Lent entails entering into a fast for a total of 48 days. However, the week before Lent begins is called Cheesefare, meaning Orthodox Christians cannot eat meat during this week. This makes for a total of 55 days of fasting. Most confuse the word fast by thinking that Orthodox Christians are fasting from all food and not eating for 55 days. This is false. By fast, it is meant that Orthodox Christians are abstaining from certain foods as did Jesus Christ when he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights being tempted by the devil. The fasting is not about rules for rules sake, but is about love, discipline, and joy in a relationship with Jesus Christ. These practices are firmly rooted in the early Christian traditional practice of the Church and in scripture. During the 48 days from Clean Monday to Holy Saturday, Orthodox Christians abstain from all meat and dairy, essentially meaning they eat a vegan diet. However, shellfish such as shrimp are allowed because shellfish have no backbone and historically have been considered unfit for eating. There is also one exception: fish are allowed on Palm Sunday, which is the week before Easter.
Orthodox Lent on the other hand places a focus on repentance, prayer, and almsgiving. According to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, “Great Lent is the…period before Pascha (Easter) [that invites] us to turn our focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which are at the heart of Christian living.” Thus, Lent is a time of spiritual renewal and progress for Orthodox Christians. The period mirrors the fast to which Christian’s Savior and God, Jesus Christ, went into the wilderness and fasted forty days and forty nights. These days, all are to prepare for the biggest celebration feast day of Pascha (Easter), which commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
This is vastly different compared to the Catholic churches’ Lent. For the Catholic Church, Catholics abstain only from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays for the duration of the Western church’s Lent. The Catholic Church’s Lent includes Catholics giving up something for the duration of Lent, as well as increasing prayer and dedicating more time to God. The item one gives up ranges from certain food like meat, to activities such as playing video games. This is what most are familiar with when they think of Lent, and what is more widely known in the West about Lent, since Orthodoxy is less prevalent in the West in comparison to the Catholic Church.
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Lent is based on “… a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, many seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; they serve by giving alms; and they practice self-control through fasting…Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but they are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season.” Lent is a period of preparation to celebrate the resurrection of Christ for both the Catholic and Orthodox Church. The fast allows more tithing, prayer, and reading scripture to progress in the spiritual life for Christians.
In a message from Pope Francis for Lent 2015, he states, “Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each community and every believer. Above all, it is a ‘time of grace.’” The Pope is the head of the Catholic church, and he leads all Catholics across the globe. This message he sent out to his flock embodies how Catholics are to live out their faith during Lent and how to spiritually progress during the time of Lent. Lent is not just about a diet, but it is about coupling fasting with prayer for spiritual growth. This remains the same for both Orthodox Christians and Catholics, who both seek to progress in the spiritual life.
Conclusively, Lent is similar in its goals and purpose for both Catholic and Orthodox Christians. However, the rules and how Orthodox Christians and Catholics are to practice the fast are vastly different. It is of significance that they are notably not the same and have a vast quantity of differences despite the similar goals and purpose of Lent. This season of Lent is one of importance to those who practice, and regardless of one’s religious practices, the history of religion in the world is one of interest.
Lyon Life 