Forgiveness Sunday marks the end of the Maslenitsa week, after which Lent begins before Easter. Following the Orthodox canons, on this day you should visit the church for confession, and also ask for forgiveness from your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues for the willfully or unwittingly caused insults. In the old days, when traditions were sacred among the people, every believer knew how to behave correctly on Forgiveness Sunday, how to answer "I'm sorry." Today, in an attempt to return to the spiritual roots, we have to rediscover the lost knowledge.
How did the tradition of mutual repentance come about?
According to religious scriptures, in ancient times there was a custom, obeying which, the monks with the beginning of Great Lent alone went into the deserts for a long forty days. At this time, they not only abided by food restrictions, but also indulged in prayers, preparing for the Day of the Resurrection of Christ. Not everyone was destined to return to their abode - someone died from cold and hunger, someone became a victim of wild animals. Realizing this, the Holy Fathers, before setting off on a pilgrimage, asked each other for forgiveness for possible transgressions.
Their words were quiet and sincere, exactly as if it were the last dying repentance. Over time, in Christianity, a tradition arose in a special way to celebrate Forgiveness Sunday. How to answer "sorry", everyone can decide for themselves. The main thing is that the words come from the depths of the soul, pronounced from a pure heart. The usual answer spelled out in church charters is: "God will forgive, and you forgive me."
Shrovetide festivities - a tribute to pagan customs
When the pagan Maslenitsa merged with the Christian Cheese Week, it is not known for certain. But the church disapproves of wide celebrations with songs and dances, burning scarecrows, jumping over bonfires. Often, on the last day of Shrovetide, verbal and poetic wishes of health, prosperity, a satisfying life are heard. How to respond to congratulations? Forgiveness Sunday, though coincides with the climax of the pagan Maslenitsa, but has nothing to do with it. Therefore, you can politely wish the person who congratulated you all the best and ask him for forgiveness.
It doesn’t matter how close you know him, what kind of relationship you have. To repent before family and friends is easy, as the Christian covenants say, to lay one’s head in front of the enemy is an act of humility pleasing to God.
As the Forgiveness Sunday is celebrated by the church
Throughout the whole Cheese Week, Christians should prepare for Lent, gradually abandoning worldly joys and entertainment. During this period, it is recommended to behave with dignity, asking for forgiveness and letting go of resentment to your neighbors. Only after cleansing the soul of passions, thirst for revenge, anger towards other people can we begin the sacraments of Lent.
On the last day of Cheese Week, special liturgies are held in churches, and then the clergyman descends from the dais to ask for forgiveness from his parishioners. The people who came to the service bring repentance to the priest and to each other, with faith in the grace of God, hope for the eradication of all enmity. When they ask you to release insults, how to respond? On Forgiveness Sunday it is permissible to pronounce any phrases prompted by the heart. The main thing here is sincerity, openness and friendliness.
How was the ceremony of reconciliation in the old days
Obviously, this custom is based on the need for spiritual purification prescribed by the church in anticipation of Lent. Often you can hear the question: on Forgiveness Sunday how to answer forgiveness? To give an exhaustive answer, we turn to ancient sources.
In the literature of the XVIII – XIX centuries one can find a description of this good Christian tradition. Before the evening dawn died out in Russian villages, people walked from house to house, asking for forgiveness from their enemies or those whom they especially offended. Entering the room, the guest humbly bowed to the owners' feet and, with humility in his soul, spoke in a quiet voice the words of repentance.
This action took place in the evening on Forgiveness Sunday. How to respond to the request, the owner decided for himself, usually the words were said: "God will forgive, and you forgive me." After that, the reconciled enemies kissed each other on the mouth, bowed and overshadowed themselves with a cross as a sign of mutual absolution.
How to spend the last day before Lent?
The Church does not recommend organizing wide feasts on Forgiveness Sunday, and even more so drinking alcohol. Guests on this day are greeted with cakes or pancakes with cottage cheese, honey, jam, sour cream. Meat dishes are already banned, as during the entire Pancake week. With the sunset, all fast food is removed from the table, the so-called charm begins.
Believers usually go to church, where during the evening service the chapters of the gospel are read and the traditional rite of reconciliation and repentance is performed. Being angry, scandalous, rude and pompous - these actions, of course, are unacceptable on any day, and even more so on Forgiveness Sunday. How to answer "sorry", we already know. You can also say the words: "God will forgive, and I forgive."
Body and soul cleansing
According to folk customs, on the last Pancake day it was customary to go to the bathhouse, in order to be cleansed of moral sins, to wash away our bodily dirt. Chase away negative thoughts, bad memories, do not enter into conflicts, forgive all insults and insults that disturb your soul. These are the basic rules of conduct on Forgiveness Sunday. How to answer “I'm sorry” - a good heart and a bright mind will tell. The Gospel of Matthew says: "... if you do not forgive people their transgressions, then our Heavenly Father will not forgive you your sins."