As winter’s quiet embrace lingers over Alberta, the Church invites us into a season of preparation, reflection, and renewal. Cheesefare Sunday, also known as Forgiveness Sunday, marks the last Sunday before Great Lent in the Byzantine liturgical tradition of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. This day reminds us that the path of Lent begins not just with fasting, but with the heart—through mutual forgiveness.
Cheesefare Sunday concludes the four pre-Lenten Sundays: the Sundays of the Publican and Pharisee, the Prodigal Son, Meatfare, and finally Cheesefare. Each Sunday guides us spiritually from awareness of sinfulness toward the goal of transfiguration in Christ.
“On Cheesefare (or Forgiveness) Sunday, the Church calls us to take the first step in repentance—mutual forgiveness.” This step is simple in action but profound in meaning: we ask forgiveness of one another, saying, “Forgive me,” and respond, “God forgives.” Through this practice at Vespers and in our daily lives, we open our hearts to reconciliation, restoring relationships and nurturing community.
Liturgically, the Gospel reading (Matthew 6:14–21) reminds us: to receive God’s forgiveness, we must forgive others. The lesson of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from paradise emphasizes humanity’s need for reconciliation—a theme carried forward into the ascetic journey of Lent.
Fasting begins gently here: while meat is already set aside, dairy is still allowed (hence “Cheesefare”). Theological wisdom reminds us, “If you refrain from eating but do not purify yourself of the passions, then your fasting is in vain.” The fast is meant to discipline the soul, not just the body, helping us cultivate virtues of patience, humility, and love.
The very next day, Clean Monday, begins Great Lent (Tessarakoste, meaning “fortieth”), a 40-day spiritual journey toward Pascha (Easter). The first week, known as Clean Week, sets a tone of humility and compunction:
| Day | Features |
|---|---|
| Monday–Tuesday | Non-liturgical; no Divine Liturgy celebrated, emphasizing quiet preparation. |
| Wednesday/Friday | Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts may be celebrated, using previously consecrated Gifts. |
| Saturday/Sunday | Divine Liturgy permitted; weekends remain moments of spiritual festivity. |
This pattern reminds us that the Eucharist is a paschal triumph, not a routine act, while fasting and prayer help us refocus on God. Lenten Sundays (Orthodoxy, St. Gregory Palamas, Veneration of the Cross, St. John Climacus, St. Mary of Egypt) illustrate the spiritual ascent from repentance to purification, guiding the faithful through the seeds and summits of repentance.
Throughout Clean Week and Great Lent, the faithful deepen their spiritual lives through bows, prostrations, extended Offices, prayer, and fasting—preparing to walk with Christ through His Passion.
You may notice that Roman Catholics begin Lent on Ash Wednesday, while Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox start on Clean Monday after Cheesefare Sunday. Why the difference?
Roman Rite (Latin Catholics):
Lent begins abruptly on Ash Wednesday (~46 days before Easter), marked by ashes as a symbol of mortality and penance. Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of fasting, preserving them as festive days. This approach emphasizes a direct, universal call to penance.
Byzantine Rite (Eastern Catholics/Orthodox):
Lent begins with a gradual ascent: three pre-Lenten Sundays lead to Cheesefare Sunday, followed by Clean Monday (~48 days before Easter). The 40-day fast includes all weekdays and weekends, fostering a continuous rhythm of prayer, fasting, and repentance.
The perception that Eastern Lent “starts earlier every year” comes from this extended pre-Lenten period, giving the faithful extra time to prepare spiritually, even though strict fasting begins with Clean Monday. Both approaches, while different, aim toward the same goal: renewal of heart, soul, and body in anticipation of Christ’s Resurrection.
Cheesefare Sunday is more than a liturgical date—it is an invitation:
To forgive and be forgiven.
To reflect on our relationship with God and neighbor.
To enter Lent with joy, discipline, and hope.
As we journey from Cheesefare to Clean Week and beyond, let us remember that fasting, prayer, and charity are not burdens but tools for liberation from sin, helping us climb the spiritual ladder toward Pascha.
May this season inspire hearts ready for reconciliation, hands ready to serve, and spirits attuned to God’s grace.
