- Title: RUSSIA: Believers mark beginning of Orthodox Lent
- Date: 18th March 2013
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 18, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CATHEDRAL CEILING BELIEVERS LIGHTING CANDLES CANDLES WOMAN LIGHTING CANDLE, CROSSING HERSELF VARIOUS OF MASS IN PROGRESS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH KIRILL LEADING MASS BELIEVERS CROSSING THEMSELVES, BOWING CANDLE WOMAN VARIOUS OF PATRIARCH KIRILL DURING MASS CONGREGATION VARIOUS OF OLD WOMAN AT MASS CONGREGATION CHILD WITH CANDLE CANDLES PEOPLE ON CATHEDRAL STAIRS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ORTHODOX BELIEVER ELENA, SAYING: "Lent is above all about re-thinking of your own life, it is about intention to cleanse the soul, to restrict yourself from exercising any of your bad habits." CROSS ON CATHEDRAL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ORTHODOX BELIEVER MIKHAIL, SAYING: "Christians should restrict themselves in their demands (during Lent), they should not acquiesce to their carnal desires and first of all return to the spiritual things. Lent is meant to teach Christians to restrict themselves." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING NEAR CATHEDRAL CATHEDRAL DOMES
- Embargoed: 2nd April 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- City:
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA5M9VWJ4XDM9MC8D9IBAUSTFZ5
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- Story Text: Russian Patriarch Kirill held a Mass at the Christ the Saviour cathedral on Monday (March 18) as Russian believers marked the beginning of Orthodox Lent.
Believers gathered at the cathedral for the traditional ceremony that includes praying and candle-lighting.
Great Lent is the most important fasting season in the church year for Orthodox Christians which prepares them for the greatest feast of the church year, Paskha (Easter).
Russian Orthodox lent is a little different from Catholic Lent in both timing and the way it is practiced.
The purpose of Great Lent is to prepare the faithful to not only commemorate, but to enter into the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus. The totality of the Orthodox life centers around the Resurrection.
Believers who were leaving the Church after the ceremony said Lent was a very important time for them as it helped to clear their spirits by restricting themselves in their demands.
"Lent is above all about re-thinking of your own life, it is about intention to cleanse the soul, to restrict yourself from exercising any of your bad habits," Orthodox believer Elena said.
"Christians should restrict themselves in their demands (during Lent), they should not acquiesce to their carnal desires and first of all return to the spiritual things. Lent is meant to teach Christians to restrict themselves," another believer, Mikhail, said after the ceremony.
Orthodox Christians regard Lent as a positive period, as it is not so much a period of repentance but an attempt to recapture the true state and to live pure lives. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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