Forgiveness Sunday

Forgiveness Sunday is the last Sunday before the start of the great fast. All churches celebrate vespers (traditionally known as Forgiveness vespers) and at the end of the service everyone within the parish community goes to each other, first beginning with the priest and asks for forgiveness. The beauty of the service illustrates the importance of the Lenten season. By prostrating yourself to everyone asking for forgiveness demonstrates the love that Christ had for all of us and in pouring out His life for us we also are called to forgive and love each other. The Lord taught forgiveness to his disciples when he showed them how to pray: "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Forgiveness is needed to break our stoney hearts and make them hearts of flesh-alive and breathing in the spirit of Christ. Remember the thief on the cross in how he asked for forgiveness from Christ and Christ promised him that he would be in his kingdom that very day. The act of forgiveness is fashioned in the art of humility. How can we expect to be forgiven and ask for forgiveness if we ourselves do not rid of the pride that we hold on to, the ego of individualism that breaks us down. Forgiveness is given to those who let go of there individualist ideas thoughts, and passions. As the Lenten Season approaches let us considering  the importance of forgiveness and fasting this lenten season.

Christ death has bestowed upon us life. Through death we acquire the life of forgiveness and humility. At the bottom is the Paschal Troparion chanted by Valaam monastery in Tone 1.

The following is taken from the OCA website:

As we begin the Great Fast, the Church reminds us of Adam’s expulsion from Paradise. God commanded Adam to fast (Gen. 2:16), but he did not obey. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden and lost the life of blessedness, knowledge of God, and communion with Him, for which they were created. Both they and their descendents became heirs of death and corruption.

Let us consider the benefits of fasting, the consequences of disobedience, and recall our fallen state. Today we are invited to cleanse ourselves of evil through fasting and obedience to God. Our fasting should not be a negative thing, a mere abstention from certain foods. It is an opportunity to free ourselves from the sinful desires and urges of our fallen nature, and to nourish our souls with prayer, repentance, to participate in church services, and partake of the life-giving Mysteries of Christ.

At Forgiveness Vespers we sing: “Let us begin the time of fasting in light, preparing ourselves for spiritual efforts. Let us purify our soul, let us purify our body. As we abstain from food, let us abstain from all passion and enjoy the virtues of the spirit....”

http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/03/17/7-sunday-of-cheesefare-explusion-of-adam-from-paradise