The longer the fast lasts, the greater its healing power
Holy Great Lent is called “great” because of its importance. It includes one Forty Days — that is, forty days — and Holy Week (the week of the Saviour's Passion). We find mention of this fast in the “Apostolic Constitutions” and in the works of the holy fathers: “Do not despise the feast, and fast zealously during the holy forty days, for they hold the image and likeness of the Lord's way of life” (Ignatius the God-bearer, 2nd century).
“Jesus Christ fasted before His temptation,” teaches St Gregory the Theologian, “but we fast before the Saviour's Resurrection. Christ fasted for 40 days, for He is God; but we match the fast to our strength.”
The most ancient sources tell us that the forty-day fast (after the example of Jesus Christ) was established by the Church as early as the time of the apostles. The 69th Apostolic Canon bears witness to this: “If any bishop, or presbyter, or deacon, or subdeacon, or reader, or singer does not fast the holy Forty Days... let him be deposed; and if a layman, let him be excommunicated.”
The 2nd-century churchman Irenaeus of Lyons, and the 4th-century holy fathers Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory the Theologian, Ambrose of Milan, John Chrysostom, Blessed Augustine and others call Great Lent “the forty days” (Holy Week always stood apart). From ancient times the forty-day fast was considered the best time for the purification of catechumens, for baptism and Communion. St Cyril of Jerusalem, before performing the mystery of baptism, addresses one of the catechumens with these words: “How many years you have spent idly, to no profit — will you not give the Lord 40 days to save your soul? We have 40 days before us for repentance, and that is no short time...” And indeed, Great Lent is the best means of purification, repentance, Communion and drawing near to God. It heals every shortcoming and fills the faithful with grace. Blessed Augustine teaches us to spend the holy days of the fast with reverence and not to be afraid of its length: the greater its healing power, the longer the course of abstinence, the more abundant the grace of redemption.
In the Old Testament the Lord sent the Flood upon mankind held captive by sin, and blotted out everything. The forty-day rain that cleansed the world symbolizes precisely the forty-day fast. That is why, from the time of the apostles, this fast, as “the rod of strength,” has been considered by Orthodox Christians the most important arena of ascetic struggle. During Great Lent faith and love for God show themselves in all their fullness and sincerity. The fast unites people not only in deed but also in spirit.
Once the Byzantine emperor Justinian, because of a great famine, ordered meat to be sold to the people in the second week of Great Lent, to save them from hunger. Although the emperor took this step out of necessity, the Christians refused to buy or eat meat — they preferred to die of hunger rather than break the established rule and so commit lawlessness.
There are also church canons concerning the keeping of Great Lent. The 8th canon of the Eighth Council of Toledo (about 653) laid down that anyone who, except in extreme necessity, ate meat in Great Lent should be barred from Communion and forbidden to eat meat for a whole year.
Blessed Augustine warns: “There is fasting, and there is fasting. Some fast apparently according to the rules, but are so fond of good food that their Lenten dishes often surpass even the meat dishes in variety. Sometimes they go so far as not to keep in the house even the pots in which a meat dish was cooked shortly before. They take care out of false scrupulousness, and are not afraid of the sin of gluttony.” And he calls us: “Come, brothers, at least during the forty-day fast let us move away from the temptations of this world, from carnal pleasures and a sinful life, from amusements and jokes; instead of idle talk let us draw near to Holy Scripture, calm our soul, and partake of the eternal light and wisdom...”
In Great Lent Christians pay particular attention to the sick, to prisoners and travellers; they take special care of their neighbours and try to reconcile those at odds. At this time everyone should find time for good works; each, according to his ability, should labour through the spiritual life and good works to gain grace for this life and the life to come.
In the early centuries, during these holy days even the authorities showed special care, mercy and charity: the carrying out of punishments on criminals was forbidden and the work of the courts was suspended (except in special circumstances). For Great Lent is the time when all mankind stands before the event most full of grace — the radiant Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ — and comes to share in and to know this greatest of mysteries.
