Forgiveness Sunday is the last day of Maslenitsa festivities before the start of Lent. Forgiveness Sunday falls on March 6th. On this day, it is customary to visit relatives and friends and, humbling pride, ask for forgiveness for the wrongs caused. And also – to forgive everyone who voluntarily or involuntarily offended us
Forgiveness is an ancient custom that spiritually prepares us for the trials of Great Lent. On Forgiveness Sunday, it is customary to tune in to the upcoming post, seek reconciliation with the outside world, purify the soul and heart from resentment and anger.
Forgiveness Sunday – where did the custom come from
The tradition of asking for forgiveness and reconciling with offenders goes back to the ancient Christian custom of Egyptian monks on the eve of Easter to go into the desert for forty days and be there all alone, spending time in concentration and prayers. On Bright Sunday, the monks returned to the monasteries, but this was not destined for everyone. Someone died from the heat and lack of water, someone was bullied by wild animals.
Therefore, before going on such a dangerous test of faith, the monks all gathered together and said goodbye to each other in case the Lord did not allow them to meet again. The monks prayed and asked for forgiveness from each other for all the offenses they had caused, as they might never see each other again. After the end of the evening prayer, the travelers departed for their spiritual wanderings.
Since then, on the last day of the celebration of the merry Maslenitsa, Orthodox Christians have been praying and asking for forgiveness for insults from the living and the dead.
Forgiveness Sunday – how to ask for forgiveness?
In the old days, it was customary to address everyone who was asked for forgiveness with the following words: “Forgive me.” This was usually answered by those who were asked for forgiveness: “God will forgive, and I forgive.”
On Forgiveness Sunday, it is not customary to specify what exactly you are asking to forgive you for: on this day, forgiveness is granted for all voluntarily or involuntarily caused offenses, and a person is spiritually cleansed, getting a chance to start relations with the outside world “from scratch”.
“Forgiveness” rites begin in the church: the priest, reading a sermon, addresses the parishioners with a request to forgive his voluntary and involuntary sins. They also read the Gospel narrative in churches, where Jesus Christ explains the words of the Our Father prayer “and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
“But if you do not forgive people their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses,” says the Gospel (Mt 6:15).
Forgiveness Sunday – what to do
So what is worth doing on this bright and good day?
Reconcile with loved ones
Immediately in the morning, it is customary to ask for forgiveness for the offenses caused to relatives. If it is difficult to ask for forgiveness, before that you can imagine yourself in the place of the offended and feel for yourself how bad it was for him. In the old days, on this day, married daughters and married sons came and came to their father’s house and asked for forgiveness from their parents. And they asked to forget insults to adult children.
Ask for forgiveness from the dead
On Forgiveness Sunday, it is customary to come to the graves of the dead to ask for forgiveness from those who can no longer be seen. We often regret that we offended a person during his lifetime. On this day, there is an opportunity to ask for forgiveness and remove the burden from your soul.
Forgive those who ask for forgiveness
On Forgiveness Sunday, you need to be ready to sincerely forgive everyone who asks for reconciliation. We need to forgive from the heart those who ask us about it.
Forgiveness Sunday – what not to do
On Forgiveness Sunday, one cannot refuse forgiveness to the one who asks. Also, you don’t need to sort things out, clarify why exactly you forgive the one asking, start conflicts, complain about life.
The ability to forgive is maturity and wisdom because by forgiving, a person frees himself from negative emotions. Long-standing grievances spoil health, destroy relationships, drive into depression.
The main thing for a person on Forgiveness Sunday is sincere repentance for a committed evil deed in relation to another person and the forgiveness of their offenders. To forgive others means to approach Great Lent with a pure soul, to prepare spiritually.
Forgiveness Sunday – prayer on this day
On this day, you should also pray to God and sincerely ask for forgiveness for your sins:
In the hand of Your great mercy, O my God, I entrust my soul and body, my feelings and my words, my deeds, and my whole body, and the movement of my soul. My entrance and exit, my faith and dwelling, the course and end of my life, the day and hour of my exhalation, my repose, the repose of my soul and body. But you, O Most Merciful God, the whole world with sins, unconquerable Goodness, the Gentle Lord, me, more than all the most sinful people, accept in your hand your protection and deliver from all evil, cleanse a lot of my iniquities, grant correction to my evil and accursed life and from those to come Always protect me from the fierce falls of sin, but in nothing, when I anger Your Humanity, even cover my infirmity from demons, passions, and evil people. Prohibit the visible and invisible enemy, lead me on the saved path, bring me to Thee, my refuge and my desire to the edge. Grant me a Christian death, shameless, peaceful, keep from the air spirits of malice, at Your Terrible Judgment, be merciful to Your servant and count me at the right hand of Your blessed sheep, and with them to You, my Creator, I glorify forever. Amen.
