What do we know about Lent? Nutrition calendar by days!

          Some Church Fathers in the 5th century believed that Great Lent was established by Christ's disciples themselves - the apostles. Officially, the first mention of it appears in 331 in the "Festive Epistles" of Athanasius the Great.

"Lent is a time of renewal and purification, when the healing Divine grace touches the soul. Bearing infirmities, sins, our own imperfections, we hear the Lord's call. If we turn to Him with a prayer of repentance and adorn it with good deeds, we will find the power of His grace. This will help us to revive, to be transformed...

Lent prepares us for the greatest joy in the world – Christ’s victory over death. Only those who have gone through all the difficulties of Lent can truly feel the joy of the Bright Resurrection of Christ and understand its meaning to the fullest extent possible.

                     Immediately after Maslenitsa, which ends on March 13, Lent begins. The fast is observed with particular strictness during the first and Holy Weeks.

Great Lent 2016

On Clean Monday, complete abstinence from food is accepted. The rest of the time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – dry food (water, bread, fruits, vegetables, compotes); Tuesday, Thursday – hot food without oil; Saturday, Sunday – food with vegetable oil.

• Fish is allowed on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7) and on Palm Sunday (April 24 in 2016).
• On Lazarus Saturday (April 23, 2016) fish eggs are allowed.
• On Good Friday (April 29, 2016) one must not eat food until the shroud is taken out.

Great Lent 2016 first week

• Monday, March 14 – complete abstinence from food.
• Tuesday, March 15 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Wednesday, March 16 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Thursday, March 17 – dry eating (consumption of bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Friday, March 18 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Saturday, March 19 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.
• Sunday, March 20 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.

Great Lent 2016 second week

• Monday, March 21 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Tuesday, March 22 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Wednesday, March 23 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Thursday, March 24 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Friday, March 25 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Saturday, March 26 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.
• Sunday, March 27 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.

Great Lent 2016 third week

• Monday, March 28 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Tuesday, March 29 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Wednesday, March 30 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Thursday, March 31 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Friday, April 1 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Saturday, April 2 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.
• Sunday, April 3 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.

Great Lent 2016 fourth week

• Monday, April 4 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Tuesday, April 5 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Wednesday, April 6 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Thursday, April 7 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Friday, April 8 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Saturday, April 9 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.
• Sunday, April 10 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.

Great Lent 2016 fifth week

• Monday, April 11 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Tuesday, April 12 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Wednesday, April 13 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Thursday, April 14 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Friday, April 15 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Saturday, April 16 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.
• Sunday, April 17 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine.

Great Lent 2016 sixth week

• Monday, April 18 – dry food (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Tuesday, April 19 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Wednesday, April 20 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Thursday, April 21 – boiled plant foods without oil.
• Friday, April 22 – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Saturday, April 23 – boiled food with added vegetable oil, wine, caviar.
• Sunday, April 24 – it is permitted to consume fish.

Great Lent 2016 seventh week

Holy Week is a strict week of Lent 2016, each day has its own name. It should also be noted that during Holy Week the fast is strengthened and is really strict.

• Monday, April 25 (Holy Monday) – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Tuesday, April 26 (Holy Tuesday) – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Wednesday, April 27 (Holy Wednesday) – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Thursday, April 28 (Maundy Thursday) – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Friday, April 29 (Good Friday) – complete abstinence from food.
• Saturday, April 30 (Holy Saturday) – dry eating (eating bread, raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, honey, nuts).
• Sunday, May 1 (Christ's Resurrection) – Easter, the end of Lent.