As the Church transitions from pre-Lenten preparation into the solemn season of Great Lent, the faithful enter Clean Monday—the first day of the 40-day spiritual journey toward Pascha (Easter) in the Byzantine tradition of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. This day is a strict fasting day, inviting the soul and body to begin a disciplined ascent toward God through prayer, repentance, and restraint.
Clean Monday (sometimes called Pure Monday) immediately follows Cheesefare (Forgiveness) Sunday, the day of mutual forgiveness. While Cheesefare Sunday prepares the heart through reconciliation, Clean Monday initiates the fast of the body, marking the official beginning of Great Lent.
The name “Clean Monday” reflects the spiritual purpose of the day: to cleanse the soul of sin, the mind of distraction, and the body of indulgence. It is a call to live intentionally in a rhythm of prayer, fasting, and reflection.
Clean Monday is traditionally a strict fasting day, which in the Byzantine tradition includes:
No meat, dairy, eggs, or fish
Simple meals consisting primarily of vegetables, legumes, bread, and water
Minimal indulgence in food or drink, as a means of disciplining the body and focusing on the soul
Fasting is not an end in itself. The Church teaches that fasting without spiritual purification is incomplete:
“If you refrain from eating but do not purify yourself of the passions, then your fasting is in vain.”
The fast is a tool to restrain bodily desires, enabling the faithful to focus more fully on prayer, repentance, and acts of mercy.
Clean Monday is the first day of the 40-day Great Lent, a period of intense spiritual preparation for the Paschal mystery of Christ.
Prayer and repentance: The day calls us to examine our lives and confess sins, both privately and in the community.
Almsgiving and mercy: Fasting is complemented by acts of charity, helping the poor, and forgiving those who have wronged us.
Spiritual ascension: Just as Christ fasted in the wilderness, we enter a season of spiritual discipline, striving to conquer passions and grow in humility.
Traditionally, Clean Week (the first week of Lent) is marked by stricter observances:
Monday and Tuesday: Non-liturgical days; the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated.
Wednesday and Friday: Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts may be offered.
Saturday and Sunday: Divine Liturgy resumes, as weekends remain festive, yet penitential.
This structure emphasizes that the Eucharist is a sacred feast, to be approached with preparation and reverence during Lent.
The practice of Clean Monday and strict fasting has deep roots in Byzantine Christian tradition:
Dating back to at least the 8th–9th centuries, it was part of a gradual Lenten preparation after the three pre-Lenten Sundays.
Early Christians practiced ascetic disciplines, using fasting and prayer as a means of purifying the heart and body for Easter celebration.
The Church’s canonical guidelines ensure that fasting is intentional and communal, fostering solidarity among the faithful while preparing for spiritual renewal.
While strict fasting may seem challenging in our modern world, its purpose is transformative. Clean Monday invites each of us to:
Simplify meals and daily routines to make space for God.
Reflect on our spiritual lives, asking for forgiveness and seeking reconciliation.
Practice mercy and compassion, offering alms or prayers for those in need.
Prepare the heart for the full Lenten journey, remembering that restraint and discipline open the way to joyful renewal at Pascha.
Even small steps—like skipping a favorite indulgence, dedicating extra time to prayer, or performing a charitable act—can make Clean Monday a powerful beginning to Lent.
As we enter Clean Monday, let us remember:
“Let us set out with joy upon the season of the Fast… as we fast from food, let us abstain also from every passion… may we persevere with love, and so be counted worthy to see the solemn Passion of Christ.”
The day teaches us that Lent begins in the heart first, guiding our journey toward spiritual purification, reconciliation, and ultimate celebration of the Resurrection.
