The Great Lent
The fast that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fasted is known to be “The Great Lent.” The salvation done for all human beings is through His marvelous wisdom. The Lord’s Covenant vowed for His First Mankind and his heir has been made through The Holy Son becoming man and wearing flesh of humans.
The Lord’s work of salvation revealed upon the apostasy era, is done by His Birth, Words of Gospel, Baptism and Crucifixion. The Ethiopian Orthodox Incarnation Religion recognizes His work of salvation and in particular to His fasting, there are Eight known Weeks.
1. He Who Comes Down
The Almighty son of God, who can never be watched by the human’s eyes and touched with man’s hand has come down to be with mortals, wearing our flesh; ate; walked and talked like one of us. Even have washed human’s (the apostle’s) feet.
This is the reason our Holy Church recognizes and named the first week of the Great Lent that our Lord and Savior Jesus fasted Himself as “He who comes down.” Though He fasted for forty days, the days the King Heraclius fasted is added to the fast. Thus we fast 55 days, in commemoration of Our Lord’s fasting and enduring all the suffering
In this fasting season, all in the name of Orthodox Incarnation Religion believers, beginning the age of seven, are expected to fast in accordance to the time stated in the Book of “The Law Kings.”
The weeks of Great Lent have their own Liturgy of fasting and thus shall be known and performed accordingly. For instances, the time of abstaining from any kinds food and beverages in the first week is until 12 O’ Clock Local time. All the other weeks except passion week which is fasted until dawn, (One O’ Clock), are fasted till 11 O’ Clock.
The Significance of fasting this fast far more than just abstaining during the time duration since it the world’s salvation done by it. We shall make ourselves ready spirituality in order to embrace His mercy and cleanse our soul. We need to be engaged in all the good endeavors specially alms giving.
Saint Paul the apostle in his epistle to the romans said, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds.” (Romans 8:12-13) The Apostle has thought us to seize our bodily desire and do good for our soul.
Fasting has the power of strengthening us to pass all the predicaments in our spirituality and bestow us all the virtue in front of God. The prayer we do and the prostration we make during fasting seasons are accepted more than any other times. Our good endeavors are also recognized aside them.
May God bestow us mercy upon this fast, Amen!