Orthodox Christian Lent always begins on the Monday, designated as Clean Monday, before the Sunday of Orthodoxy. This year it started on the 19th of February. Clean Monday marks the beginning of the time of prayer and fasting that precedes the celebration of Pascha, the most sacred and holy day of the Orthodox Church. Pascha, or Easter, will be celebrated April 27.
During all of Lent, Orthodox strive to abstain from eating certain foods. Their refraining from these foods does not somehow benefit God or make him like them more. Fasting is a form of self-discipline, like lifting weights or jogging. It builds the muscle of self-control. If they can master the temptation to reach for a cheeseburger, they can resist other daily temptations as they come along. In Russia there are over 130 million Orthodox Christians!
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