Cheesefare Sunday (of Forgiveness), Tone 4; The First and Second Finding of the Precious Head of the Holy, Glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist
All-Night Vigil Feast. The commemoration of John the Baptist is transferred from February 24 for this year,
Read
Romans 13:11-14:4; 2 Corinthians 4:6-15;
Matthew 6:14-21; Matthew 11:2-15
On the final day before Great Lent, the Gospel teaches us the importance of reconciliation with one another, of mutual forgiveness. Vespers and Matins for this Sunday sing about the Garden of Paradise, which we lost through the Fall of Adam and Eve. Again, this reminds us that in this world we are exiles, that our true home is in the Eternal Paradise, the Heavenly Kingdom, and that the Paschal Pilgrimage leads us toward our eternal homeland.
This Sunday is also called Cheese-Fare Sunday, because according to the traditional rules of fasting, this is the last day when dairy products may be eaten. Some parishes have a meatless dinner on this day, to consume any remaining dairy products.47 Great Lent begins with Vespers on the evening of Forgiveness Sunday. The service is dramatic: it begins with the priest and deacon in bright vestments as though for a feast. At “Lord, I have cried,” we sing
Let us abstain from passions as we abstain from food, and persevere, to be worthy to see the Holy Passion of Christ our God, and the joy of His Holy Resurrection.
The Royal Doors are opened, and there is an Entrance.
Suddenly, everything changes. We sing the great Prokimen: “Turn not Your Face away from Your servant, for I am in trouble, pay attention to me, draw near to my soul and redeem me!” Lent has arrived. The priest removes his bright vestments and puts on a dark epitrakhil, the Royal Doors are closed, and the rest of Vespers follows the Lenten pattern. The responses are sung according to the unique Lenten chant.
Behold, this is the favourable time, the season of conversion. Let us turn away from the works of darkness, and clothe ourselves with the armour of light, so that crossing the ocean of the Fast, we may come to the harbour of the Resurrection.
Aposticha, Vespers for Cheesefare Sunday
Just before the end of Vespers, the priest offers the Prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian. This is the first time this typical prayer of Lent appears in our worship.
After Vespers, as we begin Lent, we offer one another mutual forgiveness. In our Lenten repentance, we are asking God to forgive us; God requires us to forgive one another as well. Mutual forgiveness is not easy; it requires the grace and help of God.
Excerpt from Our Paschal Pilgrimage. A Guide for the Great Fast for Ukrainian Catholics by Bishop Basil Losten