As Syriac Orthodox Christians, we are all (hopefully) partaking in what the church calls the "Great Lent". This lent consists of 50 days where we restrain ourselves from eating certain foods in remembrance of the sufferings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Since we all live in a society where there are so many different cultures and faiths it is quite common for us to lose the meanings behind why we do things a certain way. For example, why does our "Great Lent" consist of 50 days while other faiths only fast for 40? Hopefully with a little background on the practice of lent, this and other questions will be clarified.
Lent (40 Days of Fasting)
This lent was instituted in the third century A.D. and was added to the beginning of Passion Week in the fourth century. With the addition to Passion Week this lent was commonly called "The Great Lent" and lasted seven weeks in total.
Why do we partake in this lent/fast?
The forty days lent/fast was instituted as a reminder of the struggle of Jesus Christ and of His fasting in the wilderness. Jesus, who was in no need of fasting, started his public divine service in the flesh by fasting.
"He fasted forty days and forty nights. He was afterwards hungered." (Saint Matthew 4:2).
Why did Jesus fast?
He did this in order to teach us the practice of fasting and the spiritual struggle against Satan. He triumphed over Satan and endowed us with the power to do the same thing. Moreover, he revealed to us the mystery of spiritual triumph saying:
"Howbeith this kind goeth not outbut by prayer and fasting."(Saint Matthew 17:21).
"But this kind of demon won't leave except by prayer and fasting." (Saint Matthew 17:21). [NIV]
During this lent, it is said to give alms to the poor.
"Oh faithful, fast Lent and give your bread to the poor as alms. Pray seven times daily as taught by David." (Saint Ephrem, the Syrian).
In the past, laws stipulated that all the faithful should observe Holy Lent and strict church sentences were imposed on violators. Therefore it is highly favored that all partake in this Holy Lent.
Easter Fast/Passion Week
The Easter Fast was the first lent/fast instituted by the Holy Church. It is also commonly known as the "Passion Fast". During this period, believers would abstain from eating and drinking from Good Friday through Easter morning.
Why do we partake in this lent/fast?
We partake in this lent/fast in sympathy with the life-giving passion undergone by our Lord Jesus Christ for our sake and for the salvation of humanity in fulfillment of Saint Paul's words:
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." (Romans 6:3-5).
The Holy Church used to practice this lent/fast and celebrate once every 30 years. However, because so many people lived and died before being able to partake in this commemorative observance the Holy Church began celebrating this lent/fast annually, eventually adding four days to the beginning of this lent/fast forming an entire week, better known as "Passion Week".
During "Passion Week", we should abstain from eating or drinking until noon and then eat fasting foods free from meat and animal products.
"Fasting" by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zaaka I Iwas (Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
