303. Third Sunday of Pre-Lent: The Last Judgment: Meatfare Sunday

The Church edges us ever closer to the Great Fast. This coming Sunday is Meatfare Sunday, the last day for meat till Pascha.  Here it is slipping away even now. The following Sunday, March 6, is Cheesefare Sunday, the last day for meat byproducts, wine and oil and the like – for the day after […]

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302. Second Sunday of Pre-Lent: The Prodigal Son

Here’s where we are: This week there was no Wednesday or Friday Fast. If you forgot: Quick! grab a cheeseburger! preferably the healthy kind like my wife makes. Next week: normal fasting. Meatfare Sunday, February 27: last day for meat till Pascha. Clean Monday, March 7: The Great Fast begins. I once described Orthodox fasting […]

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301. First Sunday of Pre-Lent: The Publican and the Pharisee

  (Pravmir) Pre-Lent Now we get down to work, preparing for Great Lent which is four weeks away. What disciplines should we take on? Which extra Church services should we attend? How should we keep the Fast? However, if we think the purpose of Lent is to not eat meat for a few weeks, then […]

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300. Second Sunday of Pre-Pre-Lent: The story of the Canaanite Woman

Students: For the benefit of any who were absent from class last week, let me explain again.  Between now and Pascha we’re following the Church’s Sunday Scripture readings – appointed long centuries ago by the Fathers, designed to teach us how to keep Lent and prepare for the Feast of Feasts. Since the story of the […]

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