Orthodox Christians enter Lent

On Monday, February 19, the Orthodox Christians entered the Lent, the period of 40 days from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter, during which some Christians give up some type of food or activity that they enjoy in memory of Christ’s suffering. According to Ioan Ciuntu, vicar of the Church “St Teodora de la Sihla”, the space of time from today until Easter is the most restrictive period of the year for the Christians. There are two days when the people are allowed to eat fish during the Lent: the Annunciation, the occasion when Mary was told that she was to be the mother of Christ, celebrated on March 25, and the Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem. The 40-day Lent symbolizes the travel of 40 years of the Jewish people through desert, when Jesus Christ did many miracles. The priests recommend that during the Lent the people should eat vegetables, fruit and vegetable oils and have an adequate moral behavior. The Christians should confess their sins and, if allowed by the priest, receive the Eucharist. No religious marriage ceremonies are observed during the Lent. The Lent this year ends on April 8, when Christians will remember the death of Christ and his return to life.