The Orthodox Christians on April 14 enter Holy Week, which is referred to as “Great and Holy Week”. Fasting during Great and Holy Week is very strict. Dairy products and meat products are strictly forbidden.
Each day of the Holy Week, called Great and Holy days, signifies one new step of the Savior on the road to crucification, priest Valentin Zicu, of the Great Holy Martyr Ecaterina Church, has told IPN. Matins services for each day are held on the preceding evening. Thus, the Matins service of Great Monday is sung on Palm Sunday evening, and so on. Matins is often served in the evening, and in some places Vespers is served in the morning.
On most days of the Holy Week, no alcoholic beverages are permitted and no oil is used in the cooking. Friday and Saturday are observed as strict fast days, meaning that nothing should be eaten on those days. However, fasting is always adjusted to the needs of the individual, and those who are very young, ill or elderly are not expected to fast as strictly.
Those who are able to may receive the blessing of their spiritual father to observe an even stricter fast, whereby they eat only two meals that week: one on Wednesday night and one after Divine Liturgy on Thursday.
Lent is the longest fasting period of the year, which lasts for 40 days plus the Holy Week.
