The Orthodox begins a great post

Orthodox Christians today begin the great post . The first high -passage service - the repentant canon of Andrei of Crete - will be performed tonight by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, ITAR -TASS reports.

Seven weeks, believers limit themselves in earthly pleasures and devote most of the time of spiritual life. The Veliky post is crowned by the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ , which this year falls on April 8th. This is one of their earliest celebrations of Easter. In addition, in 2007, all Christian churches of the world - Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants celebrate Easter on one day.

According to the rule established by the First Ecumenical Council in 325 in the city of Nikai, Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday day after the spring equinox and the first March full moon. To calculate the exact dates, special tables are compiled by the Church - Easter.

Saint John Chrysostom denounced those who refuse meat and fish, but at the same time “eat” others. The meaning of the post is taught by the ascetics of the church, not in a diet, but in spiritual purification. This is helped by special high -discharge services, the chants of which are amazing in beauty and depth of meaning. The repentant prayer of St. Ephraim Sirin inspired A.S. Pushkin for the poem "Fathers of the Deserts and wife are immaculate ...", which ends almost literally with the words of the prayer: "But let me ripen mine, oh God, sins, but my brother will not accept the conviction from me, and the spirit of humility, patience, love and chapel in my heart is revived."