Eastern Catholics and the start of Lent

[divinefaith]

I’m aware Maronite Catholics have an Ash Monday instead of Ash Wednesday. How about other Eastern Catholic rites?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Eastern Catholics of the Byzantine tradition do not have “Ash Monday/Wednesday.” For us Lent begins with “Forgiveness Vespers” celebrated on Sunday night.

As a side note, Vespers is actually the liturgical beginning of the next day. We think of the day beginning at either midnight or sunrise. In the ancient world the new day was thought to begin at sunset. This carried over into the liturgical life of the Church. It is also why Vespers on Sunday night is not a celebration of Sunday, but of Monday. So liturgically “Forgiveness Vespers” is the beginning of Lent starting on Monday…

Okay, sorry about the muddled explanation. I didn’t get much sleep last night.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Brother Phillip is correct, despite being sleep deprived.

The first full day of Lent is called “Clean Monday” and is a day of strict fast.

 

[GEddie]

For those who don’t know, the vespers thing is true in the Roman Church as well. Liturgically, the day does not begin at midnight, it begins the night before. That is why we have Saturday vigil Mass and the Easter Vigil.

ICXC NIKA

 

[ByzCathCantor]

For those who don’t know, the vespers thing is true in the Roman Church as well. Liturgically, the day does not begin at midnight, it begins the night before. That is why we have Saturday vigil Mass and the Easter Vigil.

ICXC NIKA

We forget sometimes just how much we borrowed from our “older brothers” (as Blessed Pope John Paul II once remarked), the children of Israel, in our liturgical life and practice. Just as the Sabbath began at sundown, so does the Eighth Day!

 

[divinefaith]

Brother Phillip is correct, despite being sleep deprived.

The first full day of Lent is called “Clean Monday” and is a day of strict fast.

Is that in reference only to Byz. Catholics. Also what are your rules on fasting?

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Is that in reference only to Byz. Catholics. Also what are your rules on fasting?

For Eastern Catholics, the first day of Lent is a day of strict abstinence. Rules for fasting vary by jurisdiction, and are normally published by the bishop in advance.

The fasting regulations for the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church are common throughout the Metropolia, and were incorporated in the Norms of Particular Law promulgated in 1999.

Canon 880 §2

§1. The special penitential seasons are:

 1. The Great Fast

 2. The Peter and Paul Fast

 3. The Dormition Fast [August 1-14]

 4. The Philip Fast [November 15-December 24]

§2. Strict abstinence is to be observed on the first day of the Great Fast and on Great Friday. Simple abstinence is to be observed on Wednesdays and Fridays of the Great Fast.

§3. Simple abstinence or an equivalent penance is to be observed on all Fridays throughout the year.

A brief summary of Lenten fasting regulation and worship is available here: bcchnh.org/regulations-for-the-season.html