Forgiveness Sunday is an Eastern Orthodox holiday that marks the start of Lent, and its actual date is March 17th this year. The Western and Eastern churches celebrate Lent and Easter on different dates - the Western dates are calculated with the Gregorian calendar, and the Eastern dates use the Julian Calendar - and this year they are an entire month apart.
Western Lent begins this Wednesday, February 14, and so I'm celebrating Forgiveness Sunday now, glomming it in with Western dates, to help myself become prepared for a time of Lenten reflection.
1. Ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness
2. Make tyropita (cheese pie)
3. Light a candle
Each person asks forgiveness from, and offers forgiveness to, each other person, then exchanges the kiss of peace.
Quakers don't usually go in for any kind of ceremony, but I can imagine that it's a powerful moment. Wesley J. Smith says "The service is a healing balm. It is hard to bear grudges when all have shared such an intimate mutual humbling. Indeed, Forgiveness Vespers is emotionally intense, tears often flow and hugs of true reconciliation are common."
As a Quaker, I have had to figure out simple ways to ask for and offer forgiveness and feel that humbling moment, and I do it as often as I can, with honest words, a note, or a silent prayer. A wise man said to forgive our neighbors even when they sin against us repeatedly, even until seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). So, today I offer this prayer:
Forgiveness Sunday is also known as Cheesefare Sunday; it's the last day before Lent that dairy products are permitted. Sweet or savory cheese pies are popular traditional Greek foods today.
This recipe is pretty easy to make, and very, very rich and good. You can use your favorite cheeses and herbs, and either store-bought puff pastry or home-made pie pastry. The recipe is here.
1. Ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness:
The traditional theme of the Lenten fast is repentance and reconciliation with God. The Eastern Orthodox Church reminds us that we can't have that without first being reconciled with one another. On Forgiveness Sunday they have a special Forgiveness Vespers, and at the end everyone takes part in the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness-- each person will bow down, first before the priest, and then each other, asking, “Forgive me, a sinner” and the proper response is “God forgives you”.
The traditional theme of the Lenten fast is repentance and reconciliation with God. The Eastern Orthodox Church reminds us that we can't have that without first being reconciled with one another. On Forgiveness Sunday they have a special Forgiveness Vespers, and at the end everyone takes part in the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness-- each person will bow down, first before the priest, and then each other, asking, “Forgive me, a sinner” and the proper response is “God forgives you”.
Each person asks forgiveness from, and offers forgiveness to, each other person, then exchanges the kiss of peace.
Quakers don't usually go in for any kind of ceremony, but I can imagine that it's a powerful moment. Wesley J. Smith says "The service is a healing balm. It is hard to bear grudges when all have shared such an intimate mutual humbling. Indeed, Forgiveness Vespers is emotionally intense, tears often flow and hugs of true reconciliation are common."
As a Quaker, I have had to figure out simple ways to ask for and offer forgiveness and feel that humbling moment, and I do it as often as I can, with honest words, a note, or a silent prayer. A wise man said to forgive our neighbors even when they sin against us repeatedly, even until seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). So, today I offer this prayer:
I offer forgiveness to those in my community who have wronged me this year, and ask forgiveness for those I have wronged. I pray that we can start fresh, with open hearts.
In offering forgiveness, I hope to be able to set down this burden of indignation and rage, and move on to mitigating the problems we have created.
2. Make tyropita (cheese pie):
Forgiveness Sunday is also known as Cheesefare Sunday; it's the last day before Lent that dairy products are permitted. Sweet or savory cheese pies are popular traditional Greek foods today.This recipe is pretty easy to make, and very, very rich and good. You can use your favorite cheeses and herbs, and either store-bought puff pastry or home-made pie pastry. The recipe is here.
3. Light a candle:
On Forgiveness Sunday evening in Russia, the whole town gathers to throw the Maslenitsa effigy doll onto a huge bonfire. The doll symbolizes winter; they hope that all their problems will leave along with winter.
When I have this fire with children, we talk about the symbolism of burning away the winter so that spring can return. And because most of us have a primitive love of burning things, it takes only a minute for my students to be gleefully on board. We march together out to the fire circle, say a few words of thanks, stick the doll into the ground and watch it burn.
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| 2017 Maslenitsa Fire |
On Forgiveness Sunday evening in Russia, the whole town gathers to throw the Maslenitsa effigy doll onto a huge bonfire. The doll symbolizes winter; they hope that all their problems will leave along with winter.
When I have this fire with children, we talk about the symbolism of burning away the winter so that spring can return. And because most of us have a primitive love of burning things, it takes only a minute for my students to be gleefully on board. We march together out to the fire circle, say a few words of thanks, stick the doll into the ground and watch it burn.
I didn't make a doll this year, and we just had our fire on Imbalc, but I did take a moment to light a candle and say goodbye again to winter.
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