Ash Wednesday — is the beginning of Lent among Western Christians (02/03)

Ash Wednesday (lat. Dies Cinerum opens Lent in the Latin rite of the Catholic, Anglican and some Lutheran churches, lasting 45 days (or 46 days — in a leap year) and ending with Easter.

On this day, in accordance with ancient custom, the sign of the cross is applied to the forehead of believers with consecrated ash. In Jewish tradition, sprinkling ashes on the head symbolizes sorrow and repentance.

From the 3rd to 4th centuries, the Church began to lay ashes on the heads of those who publicly repented, after they confessed their sins. Since the 10th century, all the faithful began to sprinkle ashes on their heads to mark their entry into the path of conversion. In the 14th century, the laying of ash was already found everywhere in the Western Church.

During the ash laying ceremony, the priest repeats: «Repent and believe in the Gospel» or «Remember that you are dust and return to dust». These words and actions symbolize the heartfelt contrition and repentance with which a Christian begins fasting.

Palm (or Palm) branches preserved from the past Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) are burned, and the collected ashes are consecrated. The fire that burns the branches of the willows indicates the fire of love, which turns everything sinful into ashes.

The Catholic Church distinguishes between the concepts of «post» and «abstinence from meat». Abstinence from meat foods is mandatory on all Fridays of the year, except major holidays. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the Church instructs believers to observe strict fasting — on this day they cannot eat meat, and lean food can only be eaten once a day.

In the event that someone cannot comply with the necessary instructions, the Church allows the days of repentance to be spent differently. For all the importance of bodily abstinence, works of mercy and prayer are even more important.

It must be said that in Orthodoxy Lent begins on Monday, which is called Clean Monday.

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