Great Lent starts in Armenia

The season of Great Lent begins in Armenia on Monday following Boun Barekendan.

This sacred period lasts forty days, concluding on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, commemorating the Lazarus resurrection, and followed by the Sacred Fast of Holy and Great Week (Passion Week), the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reports.

Throughout the entire season of Great Lent, the Church prepares the faithful to receive, with profound reverence, the joyful news of the glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to partake in the Holy Eucharist. During this time, the faithful observe abstinence from certain foods, especially those derived from animals.

On nearly every Sunday of Great Lent, as prescribed by the Armenian Church calendar, the faithful hear the Gospel parables to serve as spiritual awakenings. Like the ringing of church bells, these parables call the faithful to remain vigilant in their faith.

During this time, every believer is called to distance themselves from sin through repentance and penance, purify their soul from sin, and remain ever-vigilant, always prepared for the Lord’s Coming, much like the wise virgins.