Introduction
Forgiveness Sunday, also known as Cheesefare Sunday, marks the final Sunday before the start of Great Lent in the Greek Orthodox Church. This day emphasizes the themes of Adam and Eve’s exile from Eden and our need for divine forgiveness. It is a time to reflect on how sin has caused separation from God, serving as a reminder that, as we enter the intense fasting period of Lent, our hearts must turn towards repentance and reconciliation with God.
Biblical Context
Forgiveness Sunday prepares believers for Great Lent through its dual focus on Adam’s expulsion from Paradise and the necessity of forgiveness. The Triodion, a liturgical text used during this period, often portrays Lent as a journey back to Paradise. While Lent is a time of mourning our estrangement from God, it also anticipates Christ’s resurrection, promising restored communion with God. This journey begins with seeking forgiveness and reconciliation both with God and with one another, as reflected in the Gospel reading from Matthew 6:14-21. Without mutual forgiveness, fasting and repentance remain incomplete. This period encourages unity and shared spiritual growth, emphasizing that Lent is a communal journey rather than an individual endeavor.
Forgiveness, a keystone of the Gospel reading, symbolizes liberation from sin’s grip. True fasting involves rejecting earthly desires while cultivating an inner spirit free from sinful confines, undertaken with humility and sincerity. Forgiveness, in turn, breaks down the barriers of division, allowing love and unity to prevail.
Iconography
The icon for the Sunday of the Last Judgment integrates these themes, depicting Christ sitting in judgment, surrounded by figures like the Theotokos and John the Baptist. This imagery represents the moment when humanity faces God’s judgment but also reminds us of the mercy and forgiveness granted through Christ. The scene with Adam and Eve illustrates their original state of grace and the subsequent fall, symbolizing the loss of innocence and harmony with God.
Orthodox Observance
On Forgiveness Sunday, Orthodox Christians participate in the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, following a Matins service. Saturday evening includes Great Vespers, incorporating hymns from the Triodion focused on the Exile of Adam and Eve. The day, also called Cheesefare Sunday, marks the last occasion to consume dairy before Lent’s fasting begins. The Vespers of Forgiveness, held on this evening, is pivotal, inviting participants to seek and offer forgiveness, thereby paving the way for genuine repentance as Great Lent commences. This service is notable for the recitation of the Lenten prayer of St. Ephraim and the exchange of mutual forgiveness among the faithful.
Engaging in Great Lent involves dedication to repentance, confession, prayer, and fasting, all of which begin earnestly on Clean Monday, symbolizing spiritual cleansing. The preceding Saturday is dedicated to the Souls, commemorating all departed faithful, highlighting the communal nature of this spiritual journey, supported by the prayers of the saints.
Hymns and Prayers
Forgiveness Sunday features various hymns and prayers that articulate themes of repentance and God’s mercy. The Exapostelarion of Matins expresses sorrow for straying from God’s commandments, invoking divine mercy. Vespers include the Prokeimenon and Idiomela, prayers imploring God’s swift deliverance and celebrating His saving grace. The Kontakion calls upon God’s wisdom and compassion, reinforcing the believer’s plea for forgiveness.
Sources
- Nave Mosaic from Palatine Chapel, Palermo, Sicily, Mid 12th Century.
- The Lenten Triodion by Mother Mary and Kallistos Ware, St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press, 1994.
- Schmemann, Alexander. Great Lent: Journey to Pascha, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1969.
- Barrois, Georges. Scripture Readings in Orthodox Worship, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1977.
- Farley, Donna. Seasons of Grace: Reflections on the Orthodox Church Year, Conciliar Press, 2002.