Great Lent

A little over two weeks ago Great Lent began in the Orthodox Church. Last year we celebrated Easter (or Pascha, Greek for Passover) on the same day as Western Christianity but this year we are several weeks later (April 27th), as the day is reckoned differently.

The week prior to Lent I had the opportunity to listen to a lecture by His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, perhaps the most well known Orthodox teacher and scholar in the world today. The lecture took place at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Chuch in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle following Vespers. As far as I know, his lecture on Lent and the meaning of fasting was not recorded, but another recent interview concerning the sacramental life can be listened to here (posted on March 7th), some of which was repeated in the lecture that I attended. If nothing else, the interview is worth listening to since His Eminence sounds as if he is hosting Masterpiece Theater. All kidding aside, the interview is beneficial and well worth listening to, even if one is not Orthodox.


The beginning of Lent is inaugurated by Forgiveness Vespers. As the title of the service suggests, every member of the parish quite literally asks everyone else present at the service, one by one, for forgiveness. All of this takes place simultaneously in a sort of forgiveness conga-line around the perimeter of the nave. As simple and straightforward as the service may sound, I have found it to be one of the most memorable and profound that I have ever attended. As each person humbles themselves before the other, something quite special and unusual (or is it natural?) happens that defies description. While the service certainly has penitential aspects, because of the restoration that ultimately takes place during the 45 minutes or so of the forgiveness-fest, our nave was filled with the sounds of joyful tears. Lent is often described by the Orthodox as a "bright sadness" and Forgiveness Vespers is one such example.

During the first week of Great Lent, the canon of St. Andrew of Crete, which dates to the 7th century, is read in its entirety over 3 separate services (it is also read in its entirety on the Wednesday of the 5th week of Lent). The service is notable for its many troparia (hymns of one stanza each) followed by the refrain, "Have mercy on me O God, have mercy on me" which in turn is followed by a full prostration.

It is clear from reading the Canon of St. Andrew that he took his own sin quite seriously. This is something that I have found to be true of the larger Orthodox Church. It is my understanding that this attitude of repentance for sin is not based primarily on personal guilt or fear of an angry God that seeks to be appeased or levy judgment because He cannot tolerate sin. Quite simply, sin is taken seriously because love is taken seriously. Sin obscures love. Unchecked selfishness trumps self-sacrifice. Sin is not a consequence of original guilt, it is a self-inflicted wound. The inevitable death that results from sin is a natural consequence of our willing choice. God in His mercy does not desire our groveling or self-flagellation. But he does desire that we repent of our sin and instead turn and reorient ourselves to life that he originally intended. Following is an excerpt from Canticle Two of the Lenten Triodion, translated by Metropolitan Ware and Mother Mary:

I am surrounded by the storm of sin O Compassionate Lord. But stretch out Thine hand to me, as Thou has to Peter.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I offer to Thee, O merciful Lord, the tears of the harlot. Take pity on me O Savior, in Thy compassion.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

With the lusts of passion I have darkened the beauty of my soul and turned my mind entirely into dust.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I have torn the first garment that the Creator wove for me in the beginning, and now I lie naked.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I have clothed myself in the torn coat that the serpent wove for me by his counsel, and I am ashamed.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I looked upon the beauty of the tree and my mind was deceived; and now I lie naked and ashamed.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

All the ruling passions have plowed upon my back, making long furrows of wickedness.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I have lost the beauty and glory with which I was first created; and now I lie naked and ashamed.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Sin has stripped me of the robe that God once wove for me, and it has sowed for me garments of sin.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I am clothed with the raiment of shame as with fig leaves, in condemnation of my self-willed passions.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.