Vespers of forgiveness. Another chance for man

The Vespers of Forgiveness or the Vespers of Apology. Another Chance for Man

Reaching the most sacred period of our Church, the Lent, we have left behind us the first three weeks of the Trinity, which was the period of preparation and gradual approach to the period of fasting.

Our Church enters a period of struggle from the Monday of the first of the seven weeks of Lent. This first week is called Shrove Week and its first day, as you know, is called Shrove Monday.

Of course, as it happens every day, the 24-hour sequence begins with the Vespers, which is sung in the afternoon of the previous day. So the Vespers of Holy Monday are sung on Sunday afternoon. This last Sunday before Shrove Monday is the Sunday of Turin or Tyrophagus.

The Vespers that become the afternoon The Sunday before Clean Monday is called the Vespers of Forgiveness. It is not good for Christians to enter this holy period of the Church with any burden on their souls and especially with others.

Thus, on this day in all the parish churches, immediately after Vespers, all the faithful pass in front of the priest standing at the Beautiful Gate.

The priest asks for forgiveness from everyone and then everyone passes in front of him, kisses his hand and they also ask for forgiveness. It is the Vespers of reconciliation, unity and brotherhood.

In fact, in the cities, the Vespers are celebrated a little earlier and then the priests go to the metropolitan church to "forgive" the bishop.

Thus the clergy and the orthodox people can proceed as brothers in the spiritual course of Lent, which will culminate with Holy Week.