Orthodox church celebrates Lent
St. Simeon encourages fasting, prayer and making sacrifices during the 40 days before Easter
It begins with ash smudged on the forehead in the shape of a cross and culminates with Easter. The 40 days before Easter is known as Lent and is a time when the faithful, become more faith focused.
Lenten practices from different traditions, denominations and churches range from daily church services, stricter diets, to sacrificing other elements of your life. People often talk about the things they “gave up” for Lent, like meat, alcohol, even sweets.
Rob Smith attends St. Simeon Orthodox Christian Church in Saugus. Smith explained he typically includes prayer in his everyday life. Yet, during Lent he strives to focus his prayers.
“I always say daily prayers, but during Lent I try to be more centered,” said Smith. “Lent helps me refresh and renew how I approach the year.”
St. Simeon is one of many local churches that discusses spiritual growth during Lent, often by using physical means. Fr. George Ajalat, pastor at St. Simeon, explained the Orthodox tradition calls for parishioners to complete a “fast” by forgoing all meat, including chicken and fish, dairy and heavy oils for the entire 40 days.
“We focus on receiving grace by restraining the material passions of our life,” said Ajalat. “Many of us are sleeping spiritually. These practices awaken us and prepare us physically and spiritually to see the things of God.”
Orthodox parishioners are encouraged to pray more, attend more church services, and to refocus their daily lives toward the spiritual. All of this is done in an effort to align with the divine and prepare for Holy Week and Easter.
“If we take it seriously, it certainly is a period of struggle and sacrifice,” said Ajalat. “But it is also a period of preparation and anticipation, filled with joy and hope.”
Ajalat explained Lent is aimed to prepare churchgoers to fully understand and experience the joy of Easter, when believers honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the fast and other traditions are important, Ajalat emphasizes it is important for each person to do it according to their own abilities, health and schedule.
Entering spiritual life
St. Simeon hosts three additional services each week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each service has a different theme and focus.
Monday, the church honors the Great Compline. It is a service of reflection and repentance. It features prayers and prostration, bowing movements often associated with the Muslim religion. Wednesday is a special communion based service. Thursday, the Akathist, is a service of praise to Mary, Christ’s mother. It also focuses on Old Testament imagery.
“What we are trying to do is enter more fully into spiritual life,” explained Ajalat. “It is like preparing for a journey, our destination is Pascha, or Easter. To truly enter into the joy of the resurrection, we can’t just think about it mentally, we have to feel it and live it, for it to become a part of our life.”
Smith said when he first joined the Orthodox church it was difficult to complete the dietary fast and cut out meat. Even now, he eats fish about once a week during Lent, sticking to his fast the rest of the time.
“I find by doing this, it adds more balance and structure to my life and I really think that is missing in the world at large these days,” said Smith. “It is a time I can refocus my beliefs and values on what is truly important to me.”