Great Lent is the lengthiest fast of the year, but another reason it is called Great is because it relates to and precedes the greatest feast of the Christian Church – Easter. Lent developed gradually, having different durations at first. In the modern tradition of Armenian Church Great Lent includes the period of seven weeks preceding Easter. Although first and last Sundays are not fast days, they are included in Lent since first Sunday – Boon Barekendan symbolizes paradise, where fasting took its origin in the form of a commandment, and on last Sunday – Easter day – fasting is absolved (after Holy Communion). Including these Sundays, the Great Lent lasts 50 days. According to Scripture 50 is a Year of Jubilee and symbolizes liberty, as in the 50th year slaves were set free [Leviticus 25:9-13]. Church fathers interpret the 50-day Lent as a period of liberation from the bondage of sin, since “whosoever committeth sin is a slave of sin” [John 8:34]. Just as in the Old Testament in the Year of Jubilee the sounding of trumpets announced the release of all slaves, so Easter is a time of joy for all Christians who rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ, through which God restored human nature immerged in the death of sin. Thus, Church honors Christ’s resurrection with a fast of 50 days - a celestial Jubilee, and a single most important means of repentance and atonement of sins in order to enter into Lord’s joy [Matthew 25:21]. The canonical liturgy of the Great Lent with its daily Scripture readings, sharakans (hymns) and sacraments reflects the unity of effort - man’s attempt for piety and God’s saving economy. The Lamb of God took upon Him the sins of mankind, sacrificing Himself on the Cross – but the way for man to profit from this great mystery is to make a reciprocal sacrifice, as response by one spiritual love to another.
Translation by Seth Simonyan via www.ArmenianChurch.us
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Thank you all, once again, and we pray you have a blessed week!
Celebrant Priest: Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Berjekian,
Pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church of San Diego
