Chaplain's Corner 

The commencement of The Great Lent 

It has been a pleasure to begin the year with you all. We have been honoured and blessed to commence our year with the Whole School Blessing presided by our beloved Bishop, His Grace, Kyriakos of Sozopolis. As we prepare to enter into the period of preparation for Holy and Great Pascha, I take this opportunity to share some thoughts with you.

Holy and Great Lent commences with Clean Monday (Καθαρά Δευτέρα) on Monday February 27th and ends on Great and Holy Pascha, Sunday April 16th. This lent is one of the strictest fasts of the whole year. 

…οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (1Κορ 8:8-13, 9:1-2)

I will never eat meat (1 Cor. 8:8-13; 9:1-2)

This 40-day period of fasting is our preparation period for our participation in the Salvific Passion our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His Joyous and Life-Giving Resurrection.

During this period, we are called to fast, pray, give to our neighbour, attend church regularly and participate in the mystery of confession. 

Some key fasting points during this period; whilst it is a strict fast, we can consume fish on the Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (March 25) and on Palm Sunday (April 9). 

Please take time to read through this beautiful breakdown of Great Lent and for activities you can do with your families. I look forward to seeing each of you at Church and am here to support you and your families. 

May we have a blessed Lent and journey to Pascha.