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Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Cheesefare Sunday

Photo: http://kanew.wordpress.com

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks on March 13 Cheesefare Sunday (Forgiveness Sunday). The feast falls on the seventh Sunday before Orthodox Easter. By practicing forgiveness with one another, Orthodox Christians hope to invite God’s forgiveness and to begin Lent with a spirit of humility. Young Bulgarians bow to the elderly ones asking forgiveness for their offences. Chessefare Sunday is the last day before the start of the Great Lent. On this day strictly observant Orthodox Christians eat cheese, milk and other dairy food. Forgiveness Sunday marks the end of the Cheese Week, when meat products are forbidden, but dairy food may still be consumed. According to a popular egg custom performed in Bulgaria, people use a string or a thread to suspend a boiled egg from the ceiling. The family members circle round the thread and start knocking it with their foreheads to make it swing. Each one participating in the custom tries to catch the egg with their mouths. Sometimes a piece of cheese or halva (sweet made of sesame seed and sugar or other nut butters and sugar) substitute the boiled egg. On Forgiveness Sunday all eparchies with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church serve solemn morning and evening liturgies. 




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