Orthodox Pebbles

Great Lent, Megali Sarakosti in Greek, is the period of our spiritual and physical preparation preceding Pascha, the glorious Resurrection of our Lord. It is a period of deep reflection into our inner self, repentance, confession and prayer, in view of our co-suffering the Passion of our Lord, but also of the joyous anticipation of His Resurrection. According to our Holy Fathers, it is especially during Great Lent when we can experience the so-called “joyful sadness” (χαρμολύπη), which comes from such strong and contrasting emotions.