Lent in the Middle East
The observance of Lent, and the celebration of Easter, is a time of profound spiritual reflection for many Christians around the world. Many of our friends and partners in the region belong to the Orthodox family of churches, which follows a different calendar from churches of the Western tradition, and for whom ‘The Great Lent’ begins on 7th March. Here, in their own words, some of our partners reflect on how Eastern Christians mark this holy season in parts of the region.
LENT IN EGYPT
Christians in Egypt predominately belong to the Coptic Church, a part of the Oriental Orthodox family of churches. Egypt is home to the largest Christian community in the Middle East, with 10-15% of the population identifying as such. Lent is therefore a significant period in the Egyptian calendar.
Fasting plays a significant role in the Coptic observance of Lent, or ‘the Great Lent’ as it is often known in Eastern Christianity. Orthodox Copts fast eight weeks before ‘the Feast of the Resurrection’, which always takes place after the Jewish celebration of Passover.
During this time, Copts maintain a vegan diet, eating only in the morning and abstaining from food in the afternoon. Mass is attended each day, at noon, whilst Sunday worship focuses on particular passages of scripture as follows:
Week 1, we read "Treasures in Heaven"
Week 2, we read "Temptation Sunday"
Week 3, we read "the Prodigal Son"
Week 4, we read "the Samaritan woman"
Week 5, we read "the Paralyzed Man"
Week 6, we read "the Man who was Born Blind"
Colourful eggs represent the rebirth of Christ
Week 7, we read "Palm Sunday"
During holy week, prayers are held three times a day, and on the night of Good Friday worshippers spend the entire night at church.
The day after Easter is known as Sham El-Nessim, which translates to ‘the Scent of the Breeze’. In ancient Egypt, this time marked the birth of a new harvest, and this has been adapted in the Coptic church into a religious celebration in which eggs are eaten as a reminder of the rebirth of Christ – the empty tomb is symbolised by the empty eggshell from which the chick hatches.
On Sham El-Nessim, a salty fish dish called Molohaa is eaten and is much appreciated after long days of fasting!
LENT IN LEBANON
Unlike in England, or other European countries, where Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, in Lebanon it starts on the Monday of that same week.
Like the Egyptian Orthodox, Lebanese Christians mark the first day of Lent with fasting and abstinence; a vegetarian or vegan diet is maintained, and breakfast is foregone.
Mamouul, a sweet treat made of semolina, fruit and nuts.
As for the rest of Lent, much like in the UK, for those outside the Orthodox Church it is up to the individual person to decide what they want to give up as penance. It could be giving up sweets, chocolate or taking up some spiritual reading or giving money to a charity.
On Fridays during Lent, however, Catholics refrain from eating meat. Orthodox Christians in Lebanon follow the same fast as in Egypt, maintaining a vegan diet throughout the period.
On Good Friday, Maronite Christians walk the passion trail of Jesus on his way to crucifixion, and commemorate his death in a special church service. According to the tradition, a man posing as Jesus carries a cross and walks the street in villages and towns escorted by worshippers enacting Christ’s journey on Good Friday.
Like in many churches in the UK, on Easter Saturday a vigil takes place in which the congregation attends a darkened church lit only by candles, and listen to readings of the story of salvation taken from the Old and New Testaments. The entire church is then illuminated, symbolising the light of the Resurrection. Special sweets made of semolina and nuts, known as Maamoul, are eaten in celebration.
LENT IN GAZA
As most Christians in the Gaza Strip are affiliated to the Greek Orthodox Church, the Lent traditions of this small but densely populated country follow the Orthodox calendar. As in Egypt, this involves a considerable time of fasting, with Orthodox Christians in Gaza specifically abstaining from meats, poultry, animal products such as cheese and eggs, and fish and seafood with backbones. Olive oil and wine, being viewed as luxury products, are also restricted. However, seafood such as shrimp, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, lobster and crab are allowed on all fasting days throughout the year.
This period of abstinence is viewed as a purifying practice that prepares the faithful to truly appreciate and enter into the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Each Friday throughout the period of Lent, the Church invites the community of believers to participate in the praises of the Holy Virgin Mary. In Lent’s final week, all Christians who are able attend church every day to hear the story of the Last Supper, the Path of the Passion and the Crucifixion.
During the last week of fasting Christians prepare themselves to celebrate Easter by cooking hand-made cookies made of dates, walnuts and semolina. They decorate their homes in readiness to host their relatives, neighbours and friends, and much like in the UK, families meet for Easter lunch, and children dye eggs all colours of the rainbow.
Gaza’s Christians may also put in submissions for an Israeli permit in the hope of visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem to take part in the Easter celebrations there.