Forgiveness Sunday

Forgiveness Sunday is observed on the final Sunday before the start of Great Lent; it falls on March 17 this year. Hymns from the Triodion from the pre-lenten period are included in the liturgical book, which covers services from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee (tenth before Pascha) to Great and Holy Saturday. The focus of the Sunday of Forgiveness is an event that reveals how far we have strayed from God and fallen into sin. As Great Lent begins this Sunday, it serves as a reminder to turn from sin and directs our thoughts, emotions, and spiritual pursuits toward repentance.

The Forgiveness Sunday Orthodox History

Over time, the tradition spread to other nations after starting on Mount Athos. Its roots are in an old Egyptian custom where monks would withdraw into the desert well before Lent began, right before Easter, to dedicate themselves fully to prayer. The monks asked for pardon from one another as if it were their last gathering before passing away because of the various dangers in the desert.

Pardoning It's the last Sunday before Lent because Sunday is the last day of Maslyana, an Eastern Slavic religious and folk feast observed during the week before Great Lent. There is no set date for this day because Lent begins on a number of days in February and March.

On this day, Orthodox Christians customarily ask for forgiveness from one another for all the sufferings and sins they have caused each other throughout the years. It is believed that Lent loses much of its significance if it is reduced to nothing more than giving up food without also forgiving others for transgressions. Say, "God forgives, and I forgive you," in response to someone who apologizes to you today.

Day's significance

This final Sunday of Great Lent commemorates the departure of Adam and Eve from Paradise and is the last day that Orthodox Christians typically eat dairy products until Easter. They disobeyed God's order to abstain from eating fruit from trees (Gen. 2:16). As a result, Adam and Eve, as well as their offspring, inherited corruption and death.

Many people attend Forgiveness Vespers on the eve of Great Lent on Forgiveness Sunday. They learn about the Lord's teachings on forgiveness and fasting, and they begin the fasting season by pardoning one another in order for God to pardon them. Your heavenly father will pardon you if you pardon people for their transgressions; but if you do not pardon them

The Forgiveness Rite

Following Vespers, the priest stands before the ambon, or analogion, and the faithful approach one by one to worship the icon. Each then bows before the priest and says, "Forgive me, a sinner." Additionally, the priest kneels in front of each, saying, "God pardons. Please pardon me." The individual replies, "God forgives," and the priest bestows a blessing upon them. In the meantime, the choir softly performs the Paschal Stichera or the irmoi of the Paschal Canon. Following the blessing from the priest, the faithful also ask for one another's pardon.

We are called to make a spiritual discovery on that special evening as we listen to the joyous Paschal hymns: to taste of a different way of living and relating to others, of a life whose essence is love. We might learn that Christ, the embodiment of Divine Love, is present among us at all times and places, converting our mutual estrangement into fraternity. We start to see that Christ is the one who unites us because of His love for us both as I move toward the other and the other comes to me.