Shrovetide is an East Slavic traditional holiday celebrated during the week before Lent, which has preserved a number of elements in its ritual Slavic mythology. Shrovetide week will start soon. Pancake Week starts on February 12th and runs until February 18th. At this time, it is necessary to see off the winter and invite spring.

For all seven days, you need to have fun, visit guests, invite guests and, of course, bake pancakes. The Christian Church actually added Maslenitsa to its calendar, calling it Cheese Week. This was done in order not to deprive people of an established holiday, but at the same time to eradicate its pagan essence. Therefore, Maslenitsa combined church and folk traditions.

Is it possible to eat meat on Shrove Tuesday before Lent: a week before Lent, a ban on meat begins

Since Maslenitsa falls on the last of the church weeks before Great Lent, the believers are banned from meat and meat products (this does not apply to fish). It is also the last week before fasting when you can eat dairy products and eggs.

There was a saying among the people: "You need to eat as much as a dog will wag its tail once." Therefore, there are no restrictions on the amount eaten.

After Pancake week, in the first 2 days you need to starve and prepare for lean meals.

Is it possible to eat meat on Shrovetide week before Lent: what not to do on Maslenitsa 2018

1. On Maslenitsa week, it is necessary to abandon quarrels and curses. After all, you are mentally preparing for Great Lent.
2. From Monday to Wednesday, in the first half of Maslenitsa, the “narrow”, we clean the house. And then on the "wide Shrovetide" we enjoy the rest. Pancakes can be baked daily. And so that they do not get bored, use different fillings - from cheese and garlic to sweet ones with jam and jam. Another tradition for this holiday is sleigh rides from snowy hills.
3. There are no restrictions on work on Maslenitsa. Therefore, you can safely sew, clean and the like.
4. Shrovetide is a must visit. Staying at home is considered disrespectful of long-standing customs and bad manners.

Maslenitsa arose as a pagan custom of seeing off winter, which, gradually losing its pagan content, became integral part cheese week. But why did the former pagan holiday suddenly not only stick to Christianity, but also take root on this basis? Doesn't this indicate that Russian Orthodoxy is still sick with paganism? And instead of sharply dissociating ourselves from such phenomena as “apple-honey Spas”, ritual bathing in baptismal water, is our Church too loyal to this? Perhaps if the Church had taken a tougher stance on this matter, then unchurched thinking people would have looked at Orthodoxy with greater respect and perhaps even thought: “What then is the Church, if not the rites and traditions that are abandoned the clergy themselves?

These and other questions are answered by Professor David Gzgzyan, teacher at the St. Philaret Orthodox Institute, member of the Inter-Council Presence.

D. M. Gzgzyan

- Indeed, it originated from the pagan custom of seeing off winter. However, it must be taken into account that all ethno-cultural forms associated with time cycles are of pagan origin, because paganism is associated with the experience of time.

Any spirituality that is higher than the natural pagan beginning is, to some extent, overcoming time. But as for the question of whether Maslenitsa is compatible with Christianity, it all depends on priorities. In itself, the trembling expectation of spring is difficult to suspect something ungodly, and none of the most hardened fans of Maslenitsa sees a symbol of the sun in pancakes, unless he is specifically reminded of this. Therefore, if we remain Christians in all our fundamental things, then I ask myself the question: what will be bad if, during the transition from a boring winter to a long-awaited spring, we modestly celebrate its approach?

Maybe it's bad that the whole non-church world confuses pagan and Orthodox rites, and linking Maslenitsa to the church calendar only contributes to this confusion. For people who do not know what the Church is, this gives reason to think that the Church is what it is, Easter cakes and, that is, symbolic rites. And the apostle said that you should refrain from even harmless actions if they are a temptation for your brother.

I don't think the atheistic world has that kind of temptation. Rather, the opposite situation takes place. People are usually annoyed by the fact that the Church begins to teach: bathing in the font of the Epiphany is an idle affair, and even harmful.

I am not a supporter of the fact that the Church needs to cancel Maslenitsa and remove this word from its vocabulary. Maybe it would be good if we did not have a thousand-year tradition of this holiday behind us. No, it is worth leaving Maslenitsa, but at the same time introducing a purely Christian content there, and simply excluding the bad pagan element. For example, you can make Maslenitsa an occasion for a thoughtful attitude to. The Church separates herself not from people, but from evil. She, of course, separates herself from paganism as a belief, as a way of life, but not from people. To be able to look for common ground between us Christians and other people, including on the basis of Shrovetide, is a spiritual art. On this path, of course, mistakes and even temptations are possible in both directions. It's probably easier to cancel Maslenitsa for yourself and put an end to it, but simpler doesn't mean better.

When we get together and bake pancakes, the farewell to winter is only an excuse for our communication, but not the reason. Similarly, we can meet in different ways. We can paganly hit the abyss, or we can celebrate the New Year as an occasion to take stock of our results in order to enter New Year with nobler and deeper goals.

In church language, this is called the churching of pagan customs. Same thing with Shrovetide. Its celebration can be a form of churching the pagan tradition - to mark the beginnings and ends of time cycles while simultaneously comprehending the path that we have traveled during this time, so that it does not own us, but, if possible, we own it. We do exist in time. And even as Christians, we distinguish winter from summer, we change clothes accordingly, and nothing terrible happens from this.

The only problem I see here is the substitution of priorities. If it is important to dive into the hole at the Epiphany, while half a percent of the population thinks about the Epiphany itself, this is terrible. If the main thing on Maslenitsa is various kinds of entertainment, then this is not Christianity, but anti-Christianity.

But I am against throwing the baby out with the water. Time is a complex category of human life that requires a reverent attitude. We cannot take and cancel time and instantly step over into the Kingdom of Heaven. We must learn to overcome time, and for this we must subordinate it to the needs of spiritual life, and not just ignore it.

Whether Shrove Tuesday, the Harvest Festival or the beginning of the New Year - all this is connected with time cycles. But in the Church they cease to dominate a person. They simply become an additional reason for new spiritual efforts, for the renewal of one's spiritual life. This is normal, this is natural, therefore it is not shameful to bake pancakes for a festive and Christian meal. This meal would be a means of spiritual communication, and not a celebration of the stomach. It is much more shameful when the people of the Church begin to speak especially for the people, as if condescending to their infirmity, that this is an ancient, almost Orthodox, holiday of farewell to winter and meeting with spring. I heard such statements more than once, and not only from Orthodox laity, but also from clerics. And in response to the question: “Why are you saying this, is it wrong?” may follow: "In order to attract the people." This is bad.

Apple, of course, is a monstrous expression. Indeed, how can it? But I don't see anything wrong with consecrating the first apple harvest. However, if the people have long forgotten the meaning of the word and only apples remain in their minds, and the Church also encourages this, making the consecration of the fruits an obligatory ritual, then this is sad.

But what should be the reaction of the church? Ban the consecration of apples at the synodal level? I don't think it's effective. All these things come from within. In this respect, radicalism on both sides solves nothing. All the same, those who bathe at Epiphany will do it. I have known such Orthodox Christians (or those who identified themselves as such) for whom the most important event in Lent is to wash on Thursday before sunrise. Everything else that happened on Strastnaya Street was deeply uninteresting to them. Yes, it's monstrous. But such things can be overcome only by patiently and consistently getting rid of magical stereotypes.

What do you see as the roots of the pagan worldview of the Russian people? In national character traits, in the historical past?

I can answer this with Leskov's well-known phrase: that "Rus was baptized, but not enlightened." The consequence of this is that in everyday mass consciousness paganism was very easily mixed with Christianity.

Initially, the Church in Rus' was placed in conditions where it was a social institution that artificially supplemented power relations. It turned out that under these conditions it was difficult for Her to fulfill her main mission - to be a witness of the Risen Christ.

The Church performed an educational function only in the person of its individual prominent representatives. And, and Nile, and - were enlighteners. A whole enlightenment movement was born from Sergius. Or let us recall the conversation of St. Seraphim with Motovilov - this is an enlightening conversation. Its main purpose is to show what the meaning of the Christian life is. It must be assumed that the desired meaning was lost by Seraphim's contemporaries. From the point of view of apostolic times, St. Seraphim said an almost banal thing - the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. But for his time, this was an outstanding spiritual revelation, because practically no one perceived Christianity this way. Going out to the people of the Optina Elders is also largely an educational activity.

And if you compare the Russian people with others?

I think that the Germans or the French are no less heathen by nature than the Russians. In order to be convinced of this, it is enough to look at the history of Europe. Language is universal. All people are spontaneous pagans.

What is the significance of the cheese week for the Orthodox believer?

This is the time of preparation for Great Lent, and the content of such preparation depends on what you are going to do during Lent, except, of course, for observing certain rules. This is what you can think about in the week before the post. For example, a confessor of the faith, every Great Lent he read the entire Holy Scripture.

If you do not aim so high, then you can set yourself a task, at least re-read the Gospel. Several times I took on such a task for myself, and I always had to complete it convulsively during Holy Week. Man, unfortunately, is so constituted that he does not lend himself well to systematic rigor. Therefore, “to eat - not to eat” still at the very least comes out, but problems arise in order to accomplish something more substantial.

Maslenitsa ends with Forgiveness Sunday - a day of torture for a proud person, when you need to reconcile with those with whom you quarreled. And besides the severity of this duty, the question arises: is there any point in pronouncing with the lips those words that are not in the heart?

Firstly, it must be said that not all existing relationships need to be maintained, some, perhaps, should be broken off.

Speaking in general, the custom arose among the monks and was associated with life in a cenobitic monastery. Living people, all the more close, in direct communication are simply not able to be only amiable, only courteous, and even more so, only loving. All the same somewhere something does not turn out. And the Chin of Forgiveness very well reveals people and brings them closer.

With some spiritual effort, we can fill habitual relationships with living content, deepen and refresh them. This custom is a wonderful occasion to unravel all sorts of tangles, eliminate misunderstandings, and finally straighten your paths. As for the lack of sincerity, then the old ascetic principle applies here: if you can’t ask for forgiveness completely sincerely, then ask as best you can, just try. And the Lord will not leave a good intention without help.

What date does Shrovetide begin in 2018, what are the days of Shrovetide week called, what are the traditions, customs and essence of the holiday, read on this page.

Maslenitsa: the history of the holiday

For most residents of our country Maslenitsa is the most fun party which marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Celebrating Maslenitsa in Rus' began long before the adoption of Christianity. Then it was a pagan holiday, the main role in which was assigned to the worship of the Sun. In the past, the holiday was timed to coincide with the day spring equinox, and was celebrated seven days before and seven after. Two weeks of festivities on Maslenitsa were devoted to saying goodbye to winter and the awakening of spring.

Today Date of Maslenitsa celebration tied to Orthodox Easter and changes every year. In 2018 Maslenitsa begins on February 12, a days of Pancake Week, respectively, falls on February 12-18.

Maslenitsa and Cheese Week 2018: what not to do and what you can

The church tradition does not consider the Maslenitsa holiday to be “its own”, there is no position with such a name in the Orthodox calendar. But there is Cheese Week and Cheese Week (Sunday). Days of Orthodox Cheese Week and folk Maslenitsa are the same, but they have completely different meanings.

Cheese Week (Shrovetide) for the Orthodox is a week of preparation for Great Lent, when it is no longer possible to eat meat and play weddings, but you can still have fun and get the joy of communication. This week in the Christian sense is dedicated to one goal - reconciliation with others, forgiveness of offenses, preparation for the repentant path to God.

Maslenitsa 2018: traditions and customs of celebration

According to tradition, an integral part of the Maslenitsa festivities are fun on fresh air involving people of all ages.

The final event of the celebration is traditionally the burning of the Maslenitsa figure. The scarecrow is collected from straw, dry branches, which are put on old clothes. The remaining ashes must be scattered to the wind. It is believed that this brings prosperity and good luck for the next year.

According to tradition, not only everyone's favorite pancakes are eaten on Maslenitsa, but also milk and cottage cheese, cheeses.

• See also:

Days of Maslenitsa with their names and meaning: calendar

Traditionally, Shrovetide week is divided into Narrow Maslenitsa (from Monday to Wednesday): household work is allowed on these days, and Broad Shrovetide (from Thursday to Sunday): any work is undesirable. Every day of Maslenitsa has special traditions and names.. Let's tell the meaning of each day of Maslenitsa.

1st day of Maslenitsa. Monday - meeting

On this day they started to bake pancakes, and the first one was always given to the poor. Girls and boys sang songs and walked around the village with a straw effigy. Usually, by the first day of Maslenitsa, swings, slides were built, tables with sweets were set.

2nd day of Maslenitsa. Tuesday - "tricks"

On the morning of the second day of Oil Week, the girls were invited to go sledding and eat pancakes. The kids rode on ice-boats on old calfskins in whole companies. According to tradition, this day was arranged by the bridesmaids.

3rd day of Maslenitsa. Wednesday - "gourmet"

On the third day of Pancake week, everyone ate pancakes and other delicious dishes. They needed to be eaten heartily. On Wednesday, mothers-in-law invite their sons-in-law to pancakes.

4th day of Maslenitsa. Thursday - "revelry"

On this day, the celebration was in full swing. People rode from the icy mountains, swung on carousels and swings, rode in painted sledges pulled by horses. The newlyweds were put on a sled and lowered from the mountain, while they had to kiss in front of everyone. On the same day of Maslenitsa, men went out for fisticuffs. Young people stormed the snow fortresses, made fires and jumped over the fire. The mummers went from house to house, congratulated the hosts on the holiday, and the hosts fed the guests with pancakes.

5th day of Maslenitsa. Friday - mother-in-law evenings - guest day

On the fifth day of Maslenitsa week, sons-in-law should treat favorite mothers-in-law pancakes. Other relatives are also invited to dinner that day.

6th day of Maslenitsa. Saturday - "sister-in-law gatherings"

On Saturday, the farewell to the aged Maslenitsa is celebrated. On this day, the young daughter-in-law should call her relatives. In the evening, an effigy of Maslenitsa is burned. Everyone walks and eats.

Shrovetide is one of the most fun and long-awaited holidays of the year, the celebration of which lasts for seven days. At this time, people have fun, go to visit, arrange festivities and eat pancakes. Maslenitsa in 2018 will begin on February 12, and its end date will be February 18.

Pancake week is a national celebration dedicated to the meeting of spring. Before entering Great Lent, people say goodbye to winter, enjoy the warm spring days, and, of course, bake delicious pancakes.

Maslenitsa: traditions and customs

There are several names for this holiday:

• the meat-empty Maslenitsa is called due to the fact that during the celebration they refrain from eating meat;
• cheese - because this week they eat a lot of cheese;
• Shrovetide - because they use a large number of oils.

Many people are anxiously awaiting the onset of Maslenitsa, the traditions of celebrating which are rooted deep into our history. Today, as in the old days, this holiday is celebrated on a grand scale, with chants, dances and competitions.

The most popular amusements that used to be arranged in the villages were:

• fist fights;
• eating pancakes for a while;
• sledding;
• climbing a pole for a prize;
• bear games;
• effigy burning;
• bathing in holes.

The main treat both before and now are pancakes, which can have various fillings. They are baked every day in large quantities.

Our ancestors believed that those who do not have fun on Maslenitsa will live the coming year poorly and bleakly.

Maslenitsa: what can and cannot be done?

1. On Maslenitsa you can not eat meat food. It is allowed to eat fish and dairy products. As a main dish, pancakes should be on the table in every house.
2. You need to eat on Maslenitsa often and a lot. Therefore, it is customary to invite guests and not skimp on treats, as well as to go on a visit.

Maslenitsa: the history of the holiday

In fact, Maslenitsa is pagan holiday, which was eventually changed to "format" Orthodox Church. In pre-Christian Rus', the celebration was called "Seeing off the winter."

Our ancestors revered the sun as a god. And with the onset of the first spring days, they were glad that the sun was starting to warm the earth. Therefore, a tradition appeared to bake round cakes resembling the sun in shape. It was believed that by eating such a dish, a person would receive a piece of sunlight and heat. Over time, flat cakes were replaced with pancakes.

Maslenitsa: traditions of celebration

In the first three days of the holiday, there was an active preparation for the celebration:

• brought firewood for the fire;
• decorated the huts;
• built mountains.

The main celebration took place from Thursday to Sunday. They came into the house in order to treat themselves to pancakes and drink hot tea.

In some villages, young people went from house to house with tambourines, horns, balalaikas, singing carols. City residents participated in the festivities:

• dressed in the best clothes;
• went to theatrical performances;
• visited booths to look at buffoons and have fun with a bear.

The main entertainment was the ride of children and youth from the ice slides, which they tried to decorate with lanterns and flags. Used for riding:

• matting;
• sled;
• skates;
• skins;
• ice cubes;
• wooden troughs.

Another fun event was the capture of the ice fortress. The guys built a snow town with gates, they planted guards there, and then went on the attack: they broke into the gates and climbed onto the walls. The besieged defended themselves as best they could: snowballs, brooms and whips were used.

On Maslenitsa, guys and young men showed their agility in fisticuffs. The inhabitants of two villages, landlord and monastic peasants, residents of a large village living in opposite ends could participate in the battles.

Seriously prepared for the battle:

• soared in the baths;
• ate well;
• turned to the sorcerers with a request to give a special conspiracy to win.

Features of the rite of burning an effigy of winter on Maslenitsa

As many years ago, today the culmination of Maslenitsa is considered to be the burning of an effigy. This action symbolizes the onset of spring and the end of winter. The burning is preceded by games, round dances, songs and dances, accompanied by refreshments.

As a stuffed animal, which is sacrificed, they made a large funny and at the same time scary doll, personifying Shrovetide. They made a doll out of rags and straw. Then she was dressed up in women's clothing and left on the main street of the village during Shrovetide week. And on Sunday they were solemnly carried outside the village. There, the scarecrow was burned, drowned in the hole, or torn to pieces, and the straw left from it was scattered across the field.

The ritual burning of the doll had deep meaning: destroying the symbol of winter is necessary to resurrect its power in the spring.

Maslenitsa: the meaning of every day

The holiday is celebrated from Monday to Sunday. On Shrove Week, it is customary to spend every day in its own way, observing the traditions of our ancestors:

1. Monday called "Meeting Maslenitsa". On this day they start baking pancakes. It is customary to give the first pancake to the poor and needy people. On Monday, our ancestors prepared a scarecrow, dressed it in rags and put it on the main street of the village. It was on public display until Sunday.
2. Tuesday nicknamed "The Gamble". It was dedicated to the youth. On this day, folk festivals were organized: they rode sledges, ice slides, carousels.
3. Wednesday- "Gourmet". On this day, guests (friends, relatives, neighbors) were invited to the house. They were treated to pancakes, honey cakes and pies. Also on Wednesday it was customary to treat your sons-in-law with pancakes, hence the expression: “ My son-in-law came, where can I get sour cream?". Horse racing and fist fights were also held on this day.
4. Thursday people called it "Razgulyay". From this day begins the Wide Shrovetide, which is accompanied by snowball fights, sledding, cheerful round dances and chants.
5. Friday They were nicknamed "Teschin's Evenings", because on this day the sons-in-law invited the mother-in-law to their house and treated them to delicious pancakes.
6. Saturday- "Zolovkin gatherings." The daughter-in-law invited her husband's sisters to their house, talked with them, treated them to pancakes and gave gifts.
7. Sunday- the apotheosis of Maslenitsa. This day was called "Forgiveness Sunday". On Sunday they said goodbye to winter, saw off Maslenitsa and symbolically burned its effigy. On this day, it is customary to ask friends and relatives for forgiveness for the grievances that have accumulated over the year.

Proverbs and sayings for Maslenitsa

Video: the history and traditions of the Maslenitsa holiday

Maslenitsa is the last week before Lent. What can and cannot be done this week? What is possible for the Orthodox, and what is a relic of paganism? Orthodox priests answer questions about Maslenitsa.

For believers, the beginning of the Cheese Week, or Maslenitsa, reminds that the conspiracy for meat has already passed, but there is still time ahead when it is allowed to eat milk, sour cream, eggs at the meal, i.e. everything but meat.

Since this week is preparatory before, I would like to remind you that the fun that usually accompanies it should not exceed permissible limits, and the celebration itself should not turn into abuse, serve as an excuse for sin.

In the pagan ideas of our distant, distant ancestors, it was a holiday of seeing off winter and welcoming spring. Winter was leaving irrevocably, spring was coming towards us, a new season, a time of renewal of nature, renewal of feelings.

In the pagan world of the Slavs, this holiday was especially brightly celebrated among the people: wide festivities were held, round dances were held, an effigy of the “Shrovetide” was burned, rituals were performed that were directly related to paganism. After the Christianization of Rus' from the 10th century, the Church constantly struggled with these manifestations. Centuries have passed since then, but folk ideas about Maslenitsa have retained some elements of pre-Christian beliefs.

In many places, a straw effigy is still burned on Maslenitsa. Although the participants in this action do not regard it as a pagan rite, I would like to warn Orthodox people against participating in such "fun".

It is necessary to remember what prepares us for Great Lent - a time of repentance, reflection on human life, about what we still have to do for our spiritual perfection in order to rejuvenate our souls ... Great Lent is a time of exertion of spiritual forces, the acquisition of virtues. Therefore, during the wide festivities on Maslenitsa, one must be wary of how they would interfere with the preparation for fasting. Any abuse distances a person from God and from acquiring those qualities of the soul that a Christian aspires to.

- The authorities promise numerous carnival festivities. Is it possible for the Orthodox to participate in them?

– No one says that you should not attend these festivities at all, or go there, but with a lean face. Rejoicing is permissible for a Christian. Another thing is that the proposed entertainment industry does not harm the soul of a person. We know what kind of entertainment that goes beyond any limits: a large amount of alcohol is consumed, which leads to unseemly, and often immoral deeds, sin.

- In "The Barber of Siberia" by Nikita Mikhalkov, a memorable scene of a folk Maslenitsa festivities is drawn, and the Russian proverb "you will not sin, you will not repent" immediately comes to mind. Does a Russian need to go to extremes in order to repent only after that?

– If a person does not have spiritual and moral bonds holding him, then he easily falls into such unacceptable extremes, which he later begins to repent and regret.

However, people are changing, and the mentality of our compatriots, it seems to me, is different from the one that took place even a hundred years ago. Previously, people worked up a sweat, and in the festivities they did not know they were tired. Today, many citizens are more pragmatic about everything, and especially now, during the financial crisis, they will think several times before deciding to spend part of the family budget on a holiday.

Our society is losing elements of folk tradition. This has its negative and positive sides because folk culture and spirituality are not the same thing. The Church in every possible way opposes the loss or weakening of traditional spirituality, but if pagan remnants go into the past, it is a completely different matter.

- And what in the modern celebration of Maslenitsa reminds of paganism? Pancake baking?

– The attitude to pancake in pagan times was, of course, a reflection of the pagan worldview. Pancake even outwardly, with its golden color and shape, resembled the sun, so pancakes were baked on the holiday of the meeting of the sun, on Maslenitsa.

Another thing in the Christian period - this custom was carefully churched, one might say, "digested" by the Church in order to give it a new Christian impulse. Over time, the use of pancakes, pies and everything related to the Shrovetide treat lost its pagan background. Today we can no longer say that it is unacceptable for an Orthodox Christian to eat pancakes just because initially such treats were pagan.

– What can be said about the custom of jumping over a fire?

– This custom has not been preserved in all corners of our country, but it, of course, is directly related to paganism. The fact is that in the pagan world it was believed that jumping over a fire contributes to the purification by fire from some iniquities, sins, misconduct. For a pagan, in order to be cleansed, it is enough to jump over the fire, which symbolically scorches sins. But we know perfectly well that repentance is possible only in God, that only God can forgive sins. Therefore, the Church insists on the need to resort to the Sacrament of Penance.

The Church urged people to go to temples and offer repentance to God, and not jump over fires in order to receive forgiveness of their sins and be cleansed. The fact that this custom has almost disappeared speaks of the success of church preaching.

Today, this tradition is far from being found everywhere and is preserved only as some kind of folk fun, a demonstration of prowess, dashing valor.

- But the straw man is still burnt with pleasure?

– Yes, this is the best preserved tradition, but today it is not dangerous for the Church, because for our contemporaries it has also lost its attachment to paganism. The Church asks Orthodox people not to participate in the burning of the effigy of Maslenitsa, so as not to support the further development of this pagan rite in its deepest content. However, even among those who are present at this action, no one believes that he is participating in a pagan ritual. This is a tribute to tradition, to the past, which today has nothing to do with religion and spirituality. Rus' experienced this many centuries ago.

Burning an effigy is attractive in its unusualness. In real life, we do not encounter anything like this, and suddenly, once a year, some kind of straw effigy is burned in the squares. People are generally attracted to everything unusual. After all, pancakes can be eaten at other times of the year, but in memory of our folk traditions we do it on Maslenitsa.

- Probably, this tradition can be churched and how, as it were, translated into the mainstream of mercy?

- Of course. Moreover, it would be great if our authorities thought about dedicating this holiday to helping the poor.

Let us recall the example of the Holy Prince Vladimir, nicknamed by the people "Red Sun". He specially sent carts with food and treats around Kyiv to distribute them to poor people. Why don’t today the authorities, especially the municipal authorities, arrange baking pancakes throughout the Maslyany week to distribute them first of all where people simply need food – at railway stations, at heating stations, at subway crossings. Where there are always a lot of people without a fixed place of residence, vagrants.

The moral effect and public response from this kind of assistance would be much higher than from all efforts to organize broad Maslenitsa and festivities. The participants of these festivities are already able to buy themselves not only pancakes, but also more serious things. Here's to helping those in need...

A mobile pancake bakery is not something insanely expensive, it does not require huge capital investments. And if such a pancake bakery was brought to Orphanage and treat the children to pancakes with delicious filling, what a mark in the souls of the children this treat and attention would leave!

Pancake recipes for Maslenitsa 2013

Don't burn the scarecrow

Maslenitsa, which church calendar is called Cheese Week, tells us that Great Lent is very close, introduces us to it. Already - a ban on meat food, the sacrament of the Wedding is no longer performed. In temples it is read with kneeling.

Sunday evening is performed in temples to enter the fast, having reconciled with everyone. It's worth preparing all week. After all, the tradition of going to relatives for pancakes (with whom, perhaps, they did not particularly communicate) is an opportunity to get closer, to forget the grievances and discontent that have accumulated over the year.

Not only residents of Usad, but also guests from other cities and even regions come to the Maslenitsa holiday, which is organized by our parish. I think that people are attracted not only by a cheerful concert, a treat with pancakes, sweets, and porridge in the field kitchen, but also something else: the opportunity to become closer to each other ...

Archpriest Fyodor Krechetov

Stock up on calcium and reconcile

, rector of the temple vmch. George the Victorious of the Patriarchal Metochion in Georgia:

Maslenitsa for an Orthodox Christian is a wise establishment of the holy fathers, preparation for fasting, including in the bodily plane. For example, the moment that a person consumes a lot of dairy and fish food for the last week before fasting allows his body to “stock up” with the calcium and phosphorus it needs in order to endure the upcoming feat without harm to health.

And speaking in a spiritual context: in the family of my parents there was a tradition at the end of Maslenitsa to meet with relatives and ask each other for forgiveness, bowing to the ground. Now this is not always possible: we serve in different churches ... But if you can’t do it on your own Forgiveness Sunday(although this is very desirable), then you can meet a little earlier - to make peace before fasting.

Those. the meaning of Maslenitsa is reconciliation with people, for which there was a custom to visit each other during this period, so that later during the fast to repent and be reconciled with God.

Priest Sergiy Zvonarev

Do not abuse

Cleric of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Khoroshevo, an employee of the Secretariat for Relations between the Church and Society of the DECR:

Since this week is a preparatory week before Great Lent, I would like to remind you that the fun that usually accompanies it should not exceed the permissible limits, and the celebration itself should not turn into abuse, serve as an excuse for sin.

During wide festivities, one must be wary that they do not interfere with the preparation for fasting. Any abuse distances a person from God and from acquiring those qualities of the soul that a Christian aspires to.

No one says that you should not attend the festivities at all, or go there, but with a lean face. Rejoicing is permissible for a Christian. It is important that the proposed entertainment industry does not harm the human soul.