At the beginning of February, we celebrate the Great Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, which itself brings to a conclusion a long, bright, deep winter festal period stretching from before Christmas to the leave-taking of the Meeting (Feb. 2). Things shift through the middle of the month as we prepare for Great Lent, which begins on Monday, March 6. Each of these weeks offer profound reflections on important spiritual themes as well as changes in diet in anticipation of Lenten fasting.

Fasting is, together with good works and prayer, a key discipline of Orthodox Christianity. It is a common and popular idea that, on a practical level, Lent is all about making some sacrifices and giving things up. It is about abstaining from this or that food, giving up select treats and comforts, cutting back on entertainment, avoiding social events and so on.