Clean Monday

Date

Clean Monday is part of the paschal cycle, and as such it depends on the paschal computus which may differ between denominations and churches. Additionally, the date may also depend on the calendar used by the particular church, such as the (revised) Julian calendar used by Eastern Orthodox churches, the Gregorian calendar used by Eastern Catholics, and the Ethiopian or Coptic calendars traditionally used by some Oriental Orthodox churches. When Easter coincides in different calendars, Clean Monday is two days before Ash Wednesday (the day known in the West as Shrove Monday); otherwise it is in a different week.

Liturgical aspects

Liturgically, Clean Monday—and thus Lent itself—begins on the preceding (Sunday) night, at a special service called Forgiveness Vespers, which culminates with the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness, at which all present will bow down before one another and ask forgiveness. In this way, the faithful begin Lent with a clean conscience, with forgiveness, and with renewed Christian love. The entire first week of Great Lent is often referred to as "Clean Week", and it is customary to go to Confession during this week, and to clean the house thoroughly.

The theme of Clean Monday is set by the Old Testament reading appointed to be read at the Sixth Hour on this day (), which says, in part:

Traditionally, it is considered to mark the beginning of the spring season, a notion which was used symbolically in Ivan Bunin's critically acclaimed story, Pure Monday. The happy, springtime atmosphere of Clean Monday may seem at odds with the Lenten spirit of repentance and self-control, but this seeming contradiction is a marked aspect of the Orthodox approach to fasting, in accordance with the Gospel lesson () read on the morning before, which admonishes:

In this manner, the Orthodox celebrate the fact that "the springtime of the Fast has dawned, the flower of repentance has begun to open".

Observances

Eating meat, eggs and dairy products is traditionally forbidden to Orthodox Christians throughout Lent, which begins with Clean Monday. Fish is eaten only on major feast days, but shellfish is permitted in European denominations. This has created the tradition of eating elaborate dishes based on seafood (shellfish, molluscs, fish roe etc.).

Clean Monday is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus, where it is celebrated with outdoor excursions, the consumption of shellfish and other fasting food, a special kind of azyme bread, baked only on that day, named "lagana" () and the widespread custom of flying kites,

Notes

References

References

1. Fr. Daniel Findinyan. (7 March 2006). "Frequently-Asked Questions about Great Lent". St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
2. Menzel, Konstantinos. (2014-03-02). "Clean Monday, Everything You Need to Know". Greek Reporter.
3. Simon, Theresa. (2018-02-09). "Why Ash Monday and how is Lent forty days in the Maronite Church?".
4. Orthodox Christians, following the Old Testament practice, count the day as beginning at sunset ({{Bibleverse. Genesis. 1:5).
5. Wright, Sarah. (2018-02-13). "Eastern Orthodox Clean Week: Traditions and Tips".
6. Aposticha, [[Vespers#Eastern.2FOriental Catholic .26 Orthodox. Vespers]] on Wednesday of [[Cheesefare Week]]. ''The Lenten Triodion:Supplementary Texts.'' Tr. Mother Mary and Archimandrite Kallistos Ware (Monastery of the Veil, Bussy-en-Othe, France, 1979), p. 25.