Joshua Bennett
Ash Wednesday is observed by numerous denominations within Western Christianity, including Latin Church Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Moravians. However, Byzantine Rite Catholics, or Eastern Catholics, do not practice the distribution of ashes as it is not part of their ancient tradition. Instead, they observe Clean Monday, which marks the beginning of the Great Lent, a period of fasting and abstinence from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, and olive oil. While Byzantine Catholics do not receive ashes, they still share many customs and traditions with other Catholics during the season of Lent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Observance of Ash Wednesday | Byzantine Rite Catholics do not observe Ash Wednesday. |
| Customs | Byzantine Rite Catholics observe "Clean Monday" instead of Ash Wednesday. |
| Calendar | Byzantine Rite Catholics follow the Gregorian calendar, which is the same as the Roman Catholic rite. |
| Distribution of Ashes | Byzantine Rite Catholics do not practice the distribution of ashes as it is not part of their ancient tradition. |
| Fasting Practices | Byzantine Rite Catholics focus on abstaining from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, and olive oil during the entirety of Lent. |
| Duration of Lent | Byzantine Rite Catholics start Lent on Clean Monday and continue for 40 days until "Holy Week." |
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What You'll Learn
Byzantine Catholics do not observe Ash Wednesday
Byzantine Rite Catholics do not observe Ash Wednesday. Instead, they start the season of Great Lent on Clean Monday, which is forty days before Holy Week. This first day technically starts at sundown on the preceding Sunday evening, as the Church counts the new day from sundown, not midnight.
Ash Wednesday is observed by Christians of the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican (Episcopalian), and United Protestant denominations, as well as some churches in the Reformed tradition. It is the first day of Lent, and many Christians mark this day by praying, making a Lenten sacrifice, and attending special church services where they receive ash on their foreheads or the tops of their heads.
The Byzantine Rite, however, developed in the Christian East, where the Monday that begins the Great Lent is called Clean Monday. This name reflects the tradition of cleaning pantries of non-fasting foods and preparing one's heart to be free from sin, thus beginning the liturgical season with a pure heart and a disposition focused on God.
While Byzantine Catholics do not receive ashes at the beginning of Lent, they do have a rich tradition of fasting and abstinence. Their fasting period is more focused on abstaining from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, and olive oil throughout Lent. Fasting is considered a private spiritual matter, and children are not expected to fast in the same way as adults.
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Byzantine Catholics observe Clean Monday instead
Byzantine Rite Catholics do not celebrate Ash Wednesday, which is a custom that developed in the Christian West. Instead, they observe Clean Monday, which marks the beginning of the Eastern Christian Great Lent. The name "Clean Monday" refers to the purification of the body and the removal of non-fasting foods from one's pantry and, for those who are able, a fast from all food. It is also a reference to the Old Testament reading appointed to be read on this day (Isaiah 1:1–20), which says, "Wash yourselves and ye shall be clean; put away the wicked ways from your souls before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well".
Clean Monday is a joyful occasion, marking the beginning of spring and the "flower of repentance". The day is celebrated with outdoor excursions, the consumption of shellfish and other fasting foods, and the baking of a special kind of azyme bread called "lagana". The widespread custom of flying kites symbolises "trying to reach the Divine". Byzantine Catholics traditionally abstain from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, and olive oil during the entirety of Lent.
The date of Clean Monday depends on the paschal computus and the calendar used by the particular church. When Easter coincides in different calendars, Clean Monday falls two days before Ash Wednesday. Liturgically, Clean Monday and Lent itself begin on the preceding Sunday night with a special service called Forgiveness Vespers, which includes a Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness where participants bow down before one another and ask for forgiveness.
The Lenten fast for Byzantine Rite Catholics differs from that of Roman Catholics, who abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Byzantine Catholics have aliturgical weekdays during Lent, with the Divine Liturgy celebrated on Saturday and Sunday.
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Byzantine Catholics do not receive ashes at the beginning of Lent
Byzantine Rite Catholics do not receive ashes at the beginning of Lent. This is because the tradition of Ash Wednesday developed in the Christian West, whereas Byzantine Catholics follow Eastern Christian traditions. In the Eastern Christian tradition, the Monday that begins Great Lent is called "Clean Monday". This is because pantries are traditionally cleaned of non-fasting foods, and adherents hope that their hearts are clean from sin, too, so they can begin the sacred liturgical season with pure hearts and a disposition that focuses on God.
While Byzantine Catholics do not receive ashes, they do still fast. Byzantine Catholics traditionally focus on abstaining from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, and olive oil during Lent. Fasting is considered a very private spiritual matter, and children are not expected to fast in the same way that adults do. Byzantine Catholics also have aliturgical weekdays during Lent. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Saturday and Sunday, and after the Sunday Liturgy, the Eucharist is reserved for distribution at the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts during the week. On most weekdays, the Gospel is not read in the Liturgy. Instead, readings are taken from the books of Genesis, Exodus, Proverbs, Job, and Isaiah.
The Byzantine Catholic Lent is longer than the Latin Catholic Lent. While Latin Catholics have forty days of Lent, Sundays are not counted, and Holy Week is, adding up to a total of forty-four days. Byzantine Catholics start their Lent on Clean Monday and go until Holy Week, a total of forty days. Holy Week then lasts for another eight days until the great feast of Pascha (the Eastern word for Easter).
The exact origins of Ash Wednesday are unclear. While it is now observed by Christians of many denominations, including Catholics, Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans, and United Protestants, it is not observed by all Christian churches. For instance, the Eastern Orthodox churches generally do not observe Ash Wednesday, although there are some Western Orthodox parishes that do.
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Byzantine Catholics fast during Lent
Byzantine Rite Catholics do not celebrate Ash Wednesday, which is observed by Christians of the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican (Episcopalian), and United Protestant denominations. Ash Wednesday is not part of the ancient traditions of Byzantine Catholics. Instead, Byzantine Catholics observe Clean Monday, which is the Monday that begins the Eastern Christian Great Lent. By the time Ash Wednesday comes around, Byzantine Catholics have often already been observing Great Lent for two days.
The Byzantine Catholic Lent is different from the Roman Catholic Lent. Roman Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, and Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence from meat, where only one full meal and two smaller meals are consumed. Byzantine Rite Catholics, on the other hand, abstain from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, and olive oil during the entirety of Lent. Fasting is a private spiritual matter for Byzantine Catholics, and spiritual guidance is recommended. Children are not expected to fast like adults, and adjustments are made for those with medical, psychological, or spiritual reasons.
Byzantine Catholics start the Great Fast 40 days before Holy Week, and Clean Monday is considered the first day. Holy Week then lasts for eight days until the feast of Pascha (Easter). Byzantine Catholics have aliturgical weekdays during Lent, and the Divine Liturgy is celebrated on Saturdays and Sundays. During the week, priests wear purple or wine-red vestments for liturgical services.
Fasting is one of the key differences between Eastern and Western practices during Lent. Byzantine Catholics in the East abstain from meat, dairy, and wine every day during Great Lent, and some also avoid fish and vegetable oils. In the West, abstinence from meat is only required on Fridays during Lent, and some traditionalist Catholics also abstain on Wednesdays.
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Byzantine Catholics do not count Sundays in their 40 days of Lent
Lent, also called the Great Fast, begins with a 40-day period from Clean Monday up until Lazarus Saturday, which is the Saturday before Palm Sunday. Although Saturdays and Sundays are counted as part of the 40 days, the disciplines are relaxed on those days. Lazarus Saturday and Holy Week, also known as Great and Holy Week, are not technically part of the Great Fast itself.
Byzantine Catholics do not receive ashes at the beginning of Lent, but this is not a critique of Ash Wednesday, which is a praiseworthy practice that reminds the faithful to prepare for Lent. Instead of focusing on Ash Wednesday, Byzantine Catholics place importance on "Clean Monday", which marks the start of their Lenten journey.
It is important to note that the calculation of the 40 days of Lent can vary depending on how the days are counted. Some consider it as six weeks of six days each, which totals 36 days. Then, by adding the four days from Ash Wednesday to the following Sunday, the count reaches 40 days. However, Sundays are not included in the count for Byzantine Catholics, resulting in a 40-day Lenten season that includes Saturdays and ends on Lazarus Saturday.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Byzantine Rite Catholics do not observe Ash Wednesday.
Byzantine Rite Catholics do not practice the distribution of ashes as it is not part of their ancient tradition. Instead, they observe Clean Monday, which is the beginning of the Great Lent.
Clean Monday is the day that begins the Eastern Christian Great Lent. On this day, Byzantine Rite Catholics traditionally clean their pantries of non-fasting foods and prepare their hearts for the sacred liturgical season.
During the Lenten fast, Latin Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays, while Byzantine Rite Catholics abstain from meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, and olive oil throughout the entirety of Lent.
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence from meat for Catholics. It marks the beginning of Lent for most Catholics and many Protestants.
