Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Lenten Practices (Laodicea - Canon 49, 50, 51, 52)

During Lent the Bread must not be offered except on the Sabbath Day and on the Lord’s Day only.

The fast must not be broken on the fifth day of the last week in Lent,1 and the whole of Lent be dishonored; but it is necessary to fast during all the Lenten season by eating only dry meats.

The nativities of Martyrs are not to be celebrated in Lent, but commemorations of the holy Martyrs are to be made on the Sabbaths and Lord’s days.

Marriages and birthday feasts are not to be celebrated in Lent.


Lent was and is taught to be a time of fasting to prepare men for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ.  In view of that, any celebratory feast was not to be held.  The only exception was the Lord's Supper, which for this season of the year could only be observed on Saturday or Sunday.


1 I.e., on Maunday Thursday.

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