The first week of Lent differs from others in the particular severity of fasting and the duration of the service.
In one of the stichera at Vespers, on the first day of this week, the Church teaches the faithful what true fasting consists of:
“Let us fast with a pleasant fast, pleasing to the Lord: true fasting is alienation of evil, abstinence of the tongue, putting aside rage, excommunication from lusts, speaking, lying and perjury. For these impoverishments, fasting is true and favorable.”
The same stichera on Wednesday of the same week:
As we fast, brethren, physically, let us also fast spiritually: let us resolve every union of unrighteousness, let us dissolve the obstinacy of needful changes, let us tear apart every unjust write-off: we will give bread to the hungry, and we will bring the bloodless poor into their homes: that we may receive great mercy from Christ God.
Brothers! Having fasted in body, let us fast in spirit: let us untie every tangle of lies; Let us destroy the untruth of obligations forcibly imposed (on our neighbor), we will tear up every unjust record, we will give bread to the hungry, and we will give shelter to the homeless beggars in order to receive great mercy from Christ God.
At Great Compline, on the first four days, the penitential canon of St. Andrew of Kritsky, with touching singing: “Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me!”