The Great Lent in 2025
The Great Lent in 2025 will commence on February 23 and continue for 48 days, concluding on April 10, the day before Easter. This period is established by the Church in remembrance of the 40-day trial of the Son of God in the desert. The first day of Lent is observed as Clean Monday, and the first week is known as Clean Week. This observance is a major spiritual preparation for Easter in Eastern Orthodox and some other Christian traditions.
The subsequent weeks of Lent have their own designations:
- The second week – The Second Week
- The third and fourth – The Weeks of the Cross
- The fifth – The Week of Praise
- The sixth – Palm Sunday
The Saturday before Palm Sunday is also known as Lazarus Saturday. Holy Week lasts for 6 days and immediately precedes Easter.
Rules of Fasting and Dietary Guidelines
During the Great Lent, it is important to receive Holy Communion and confession at least once. It should be noted that the Eastern Church adheres to a monastic charter, while the Western Church has relaxed its dietary requirements. For the duration of the fast, the consumption of the following is prohibited:
- Meat products
- Fish products
- Eggs and dairy
It is also forbidden to eat more than once a day, to drink alcoholic beverages, or to smoke. Permitted foods include plant-based meals, pickled and fermented vegetables, rusks, tea, bagels, mushrooms, nuts, black and gray bread, water-based porridges, and kissel. On weekends and major feast days, it is customary to add vegetable oil and wine, and the number of daily meals may increase to two.
On the first day of Lent, February 23, a complete fast from food is prescribed, allowing only water. From February 24 to 27, one should abstain from hot food; consumption of bread, nuts, dried fruits, honey, and raw fruits and vegetables is permitted. On February 28 and March 1, food cooked with vegetable oil is allowed. On April 3, one may consume food with oil and fish roe, and on April 4, dishes with fish and seafood are permitted.
Only fully healthy individuals are expected to observe the strict fast. Exemptions from the full fast include:
- Children
- Pregnant women
- Nursing mothers
- Elderly persons
- Military personnel
- People with chronic illnesses
- Those facing difficult life circumstances
Throughout Lent, boisterous revelry, quarrels, weddings, parties, foul language, harmful habits, and the consumption of alcoholic beverages are also prohibited.
The entire Lenten period is divided into the holy Forty Days, which includes 5 weeks and 5 days, Lazarus Saturday, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), and Holy Week. The primary rules of the Great Lent involve praying more, reading Holy Scripture, attending church services more frequently, repenting, and being mindful of one's thoughts and actions, avoiding pride, envy, and judgment.
The dietary schedule during Lent specifies that Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are days for dry eating (xerophagy); Tuesday and Thursday are for hot food without oil; and Saturday and Sunday are for hot food with oil. This structure allows for the observance of the fast while preserving one's health and inner peace.
The Great Lent is a significant period for believers, holding not only religious importance but also serving as an opportunity for spiritual cleansing and self-reflection. Adherence to the rules of fasting, such as dietary and behavioral restrictions, fosters inner harmony and moral values. This period also emphasizes the importance of community and mutual support among the faithful, as shared traditions and practices strengthen the bonds between people.