The beginning of the Great Lent in 2027translated

The beginning of the Great Lent in 2027 falls on March 15. The date of the start of the Great Lent depends on the date of Pascha. The fast begins seven weeks before the Bright Resurrection of Christ.

Church days are reckoned from evening, and therefore already the day before, on Forgiveness Sunday, which in 2027 falls on March 14. The colors of the church decorations and vestments of the clergy change to dark ones (most often violet). On Sunday evening, the service is not entirely ordinary – a litany of forgiveness is added to Vespers. Parishioners and clergy pray that they may enter into the fast with clean hearts, spend the coming seven weeks in prayer and fasting from sin and passions, and prepare for the meeting of Holy Pascha. With bows, the prayer of Ephrem the Syrian is recited, which will be read every day except Saturday and Sunday until mid-Lenten week. Parishioners and clergy ask each other forgiveness. Thus begins the Great Lent. The food fast is traditionally begun at midnight.

In the first four days of the Great Lent – from Monday to Thursday – the penitential canon of Andrew of Crete is read during evening services in churches. It will be recited entirely on the fifth week of the fast, but for now, its parts help to acquire the necessary...