Before Lent, each of us receives a rare chance of repentance. Farewell Sunday for all people gives a chance to excuse and forgive each other, as well as forget all sins, release insults. "When is farewell Sunday, what is this day, and what should be done on this Christian holiday?" - you ask. Now we will consider the answers to these questions.
This holiday falls on the last Sunday preceding Lent, i.e. on the last day of the Russian Maslenitsa. By tradition, this day is also called "cheese" - the thing is that it is then that eating butter, cheese and eggs ends. All Orthodox people on farewell Sunday ask for forgiveness from each other - this is necessary in order to take up fasting with a good soul, as well as focus on spiritual life with a clean, open heart and meet Easter. After all, it is a pure soul that does not allow evil intentions that will never be rejected by God and the church.
What else do on farewell Sunday? In addition to apologizing, even merciful deeds are done by believers. Even if your insult to a person is great, say out loud: "The Lord will forgive." Give alms to the poor, especially if they meet you at the gate of the temple, you can buy bread and other pastries to give to those in need.
On this holiday, you need to remember all the insults that you delivered to your loved ones and apologize for them from the bottom of your heart; to ask the Lord for repentance for personal offenses committed in order to be cleansed of all dirt before the feast of fasting.
Between family and friends, forgiveness happens in the evening. At the same time, people say to each other : "Forgive me if you are to blame for something in front of you."
Tradition requires asking for forgiveness from deceased relatives and acquaintances. On farewell Sunday you can not drink alcohol, especially vodka.
Many people can not afford to immediately repent for the misconduct or abandoned evil word because of their pride. The church does not turn away from such ones, but is recruiting, trying to help. It was for this that the day was set - farewell (forgiven) Sunday. Wishes and an explanation of their guilt can be stated on paper, most importantly, that a person receives these words. It is necessary to try on this day sincerely to get rid of all the accumulated grievances.
In the church at the service in the evening, the sacrament of forgiveness is performed. The father sets an example, the first to ask for forgiveness from all those present. After the parishioners come up to him and ask for forgiveness from him and each other with the words: “Forgive me if I am guilty” - “And you also forgive me” - “God will forgive us”. Bowing and mutual kissing are indispensable companions of such words.
The day and the rite of forgiveness appeared a very long time ago, in the monastic life of the monks of Egypt. They introduced him on the eve of Lent. This was done in order to strengthen the feat of prayer and prepare for the brightest holiday (Easter). Diverging through the desert in order to meet everyone together only on Easter, the Egyptian monks asked each other for forgiveness, just like before death. And, of course, from the heart they themselves forgave all those who asked. After all, each of them understood that this meeting on the eve of Great Lent may be the last in life. For this, they came up with a pardon.
On farewell Sunday in the church they remember about the expulsion of Adam and all subsequent humanity with him from Paradise. Thus, believers ask God for forgiveness precisely for that sin, the foundation of which was laid by our first ancestors who sinned before God through the manifestation of their willfulness and falling under the temptation of Satan.
So you found out when the farewell Sunday comes. On this day, ask for forgiveness from all your relatives and friends who have ever been wronged or even if you have not done so, and enter the Post with a clear soul and conscience!