Forgiveness Sunday 2011
is today. This starts Great Lent for Orthodox christians.
Our clery changed clothes during the service and they remain in black-silver for seven weeks coming. Clery and parochians use today’s occasion to ask each other of mercy to forgive their wrongdoings. There is a special Rite for this, traditionally involving a deep bow. Both souls and spines have to work today.
We have heard the Efraim Sirin’s prayer that will help us
for each day of the Lent:
- O Lord and Master of my life,
the spirit of emptiness, despair, domination or idle talk
do not let me have it.
(Prostration). - But give rather a spirit of purity, humility, patience and love, give me to Thy servant.
(Prostration). - Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother,
for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
(Prostration). - O God, cleanse me a sinner,
(12 times, with a bow made for each).
And,om this occasion, dear reader, I ask you to forgive me any offences and wrongdoings I may have done to you: either in course of direct communication or by writting. Wish me a good Lent.
