One Last Bite Before Lent!

When we first began exploring Orthodoxy, there was so much to learn. From the services and traditions to the Church calendar and fasting practices, it sometimes felt like we were discovering an entirely different world.

Back in November, we had begun incorporating fasting into our weekly routine, starting with abstaining from meat on Wednesdays. (our priest asked us if we were ready for that- we started attending the first Sunday of August) By mid-to-late December, we had added Fridays as well, along with abstaining from dairy and eggs on our fasting days. It was a small beginning, but it helped us gradually become familiar with a practice that would soon become a much bigger part of our lives.

And then February arrived.

I had never heard the term Meatfare before.

From the name, I vaguely assumed it was some sort of feast involving meat. I didn't really understand what we were supposed to do or why. As it turns out, Meatfare Sunday marks the last day Orthodox Christians traditionally eat meat before Pascha (Easter). The following week is a transitional period when meat is set aside, but dairy and eggs are still permitted.

Of course, I understand that now. At the time, we were still figuring things out!

It was our first experience with the preparatory weeks leading up to Great Lent, and I don't think we fully appreciated how quickly everything was approaching.

Then came Cheesefare.

At first, I didn't entirely understand that one either. I kept wondering if all we were supposed to eat was cheese! But when I came across its Russian name, something clicked. Maslenitsa! (Масленитца!) Now, that was familiar! Well, familiar in the sense that I'd heard of it, not that I'd actually experienced it. (maybe partially)

Growing up with Russian culture, I knew of Maslenitsa as a popular celebration associated with blini (Russian-style crepes), butter, dairy, and the farewell to winter. From what I'd seen on television and social media, it always seemed like quite a festive occasion in Russian culture, although it wasn't something I had personally participated in. Of course, the cultural traditions surrounding Maslenitsa and the Orthodox observance of Cheesefare aren't exactly the same. Russian folk celebrations have their own history and customs, while Cheesefare has a particular purpose within the Church's preparation for Great Lent.

Still, it was interesting to recognize something from my cultural background in a new context.

Unfortunately, Cheesefare presented a rather unexpected challenge for me.

I'm lactose intolerant, and dairy products, particularly milk, don't always agree with me. Eggs, thankfully, aren't a problem! And a week traditionally associated with cheese, butter, milk, and other dairy products isn't exactly ideal for someone whose digestive system doesn't appreciate them!

While the idea of enjoying all those delicious dairy-rich foods sounds wonderful, the reality wasn't quite so pleasant. I actually found Cheesefare rather difficult, not because of the fasting itself, but because of my dietary restrictions and health issues. I ended up spending much of that week in pain, but I certainly learned my lesson!

So, a little heads-up to anyone else navigating Cheesefare with lactose intolerance or dairy sensitivities: you don't have to eat something simply because it's permitted!

That's something I learned from this experience. And, of course, it's always a good idea to speak with your priest about fasting when you have dietary restrictions or health concerns.

Just because certain foods are allowed during a fasting season doesn't mean I need to fill my plate with them, especially when I know they don't agree with my body. Fasting isn't supposed to harm our health.

Next year, I'll approach Cheesefare a little differently, focusing more on foods I can comfortably enjoy, such as eggs, rather than relying so heavily on cheese and milk.

After all, the purpose of fasting isn't to make ourselves physically miserable!

As Cheesefare drew to a close, we were approaching another important milestone.

On the final Sunday before Great Lent, our family was entering the catechumenate.

Well, most of us were. You see, my situation was a little unusual. Just before the New Year, I contacted my birthmother and discovered something I hadn't previously known: I had actually been baptized in the Orthodox Church as a baby! That changed things. Although I had grown up outside Orthodoxy and spent much of my life in a different Christian tradition, I wasn't approaching the Church in quite the same way as someone who had never been Orthodox.

I still had plenty to learn. In fact, I was learning right alongside my family, discovering the teachings, traditions, and practices of the Church. But because of my baptism, our priest approached my situation differently. So when the day of our catechumenate service arrived, my family participated in the formal prayers and reception into the catechumenate.

And me? I got a thumbs-up from Father. 😂 Awesome!

While everyone else went through the service, including the renunciation of Satan (yes, even spitting in rejection of the devil!), my own participation was considerably less ceremonial.

Of course, different priests may approach situations like mine differently, depending on the circumstances. This was simply how our priest handled mine. It was a rather amusing moment, but also a meaningful one. I had spent so much of my life outside the Orthodox Church, only to discover that my connection to it had begun long before I could even remember. And now, here I was, learning about the faith of my baptism alongside my husband and children.

Interestingly enough, looking back, I think some of the ways I've approached faith and understood certain things throughout my life were already surprisingly close to Orthodox thinking.

For example, even while growing up Baptist, I believed in guardian angels. Although I was raised outside the Orthodox Church, I was raised by someone who had once been Orthodox, and I wonder how much of that influenced my understanding without my realizing it.

There was even a particular car accident in my past that I now find myself reflecting on differently, especially when it comes to guardian angels.

But that's a reflection for another time.