Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare Sunday)

Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare Sunday)

Forgiveness Sunday is the final Sunday before Great Lent in the Orthodox Church.

It is also known as Cheesefare Sunday and, in the Lenten Triodion, as the Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam from Paradise.

The day brings several major themes together:

• Forgiving other people
• Asking forgiveness
• Preparing to fast
• Remembering Adam's exile from Paradise
• Choosing spiritual treasure over earthly attachment
• Entering Great Lent

The Gospel reading is Matthew 6:14–21.

Christ teaches about:

• Forgiveness
• Fasting without hypocrisy
• Treasure on earth and treasure in heaven

On Sunday evening, many Orthodox parishes celebrate Forgiveness Vespers.

During the Rite of Forgiveness, clergy and faithful ask forgiveness from one another before beginning the Lenten journey.

The next civil day is Clean Monday, the first day of Great Lent.

The central idea is simple:

We should not begin a season of repentance while refusing reconciliation with the people around us.

Forgiveness Sunday at a Glance

What Is Forgiveness Sunday?

Forgiveness Sunday is the final day of the Orthodox Church's pre-Lenten preparation.

The weeks before it have gradually taught Christians:

• Desire for Christ
• Humility
• Repentance
• Mercy
• Love

Now the Church adds another essential element:

Reconciliation.

Why Is Forgiveness Sunday Immediately Before Lent?

Great Lent is a season of repentance.

But repentance cannot be reduced to private religious exercises.

Christ directly connects receiving forgiveness with our willingness to forgive others.

So before Lent begins, Orthodox Christians are asked to confront broken relationships.

What Gospel Is Read on Forgiveness Sunday?

The appointed Gospel is:

Matthew 6:14–21.

The passage contains three closely connected teachings:

• Forgive others
• Do not make fasting a performance
• Store treasure in heaven rather than on earth

Why Are These Three Teachings Read Together?

They summarize much of the spiritual work of Lent.

Lent involves:

Forgiveness → right relationship with others.

Fasting → discipline of desire.

Treasure in heaven → reordering what we value.

What Does Jesus Teach About Forgiveness?

Christ teaches that forgiveness cannot be separated from the Christian relationship with God.

We cannot sincerely ask God for mercy while deliberately refusing mercy to others.

Does This Mean Forgiveness Is Optional?

No.

Forgiveness is presented as a central Christian obligation.

That does not mean every damaged relationship can instantly return to its former condition.

But hatred, vengeance, and refusal to forgive are incompatible with the direction of Lent.

What Does Forgiveness Mean?

Forgiveness means refusing to make revenge, resentment, or another person's wrongdoing the final ruler of our heart.

It can involve:

• Releasing vengeance
• Praying for the other person
• Seeking reconciliation when possible
• Admitting our own wrongdoing
• Choosing not to nurture hatred

Does Forgiveness Mean Saying That Nothing Wrong Happened?

No.

Forgiveness does not require calling evil good.

A real wrong can remain a real wrong.

Forgiveness concerns how we respond to it.

Does Forgiving Someone Mean Trusting Them Again Immediately?

No.

Forgiveness and trust are related but not identical.

Trust may need to be rebuilt over time.

In some situations, appropriate boundaries may remain necessary.

Does Forgiveness Mean Staying in an Unsafe Situation?

No.

Christian forgiveness does not require someone to remain exposed to violence, abuse, exploitation, or serious danger.

Forgiveness can coexist with:

• Boundaries
• Distance
• Accountability
• Legal protection
• Pastoral guidance

Is Reconciliation the Same as Forgiveness?

Not always.

Forgiveness may be possible even when full reconciliation is not.

Reconciliation normally requires participation from both sides.

One person can choose not to hate; one person cannot single-handedly create a healthy restored relationship.

Why Do Orthodox Christians Ask Each Other for Forgiveness?

Because Lent is not only a private relationship between an individual and God.

Our relationships with other people are part of our spiritual life.

The Rite of Forgiveness makes this visible.

What Is Forgiveness Vespers?

Forgiveness Vespers is traditionally celebrated on the evening of Forgiveness Sunday.

It forms the liturgical transition into Great Lent.

The service begins with the atmosphere of an ordinary Sunday and gradually moves into the more penitential character of Lent.

Does Great Lent Begin During Forgiveness Vespers?

Liturgically, Forgiveness Vespers marks the Church's entrance into the Lenten season.

On the civil calendar, the following day is Clean Monday, traditionally identified as the first full day of Great Lent.

What Is the Rite of Forgiveness?

At the conclusion of Forgiveness Vespers, clergy and faithful commonly ask forgiveness from one another.

Exact forms vary by parish and jurisdiction.

A simple exchange may include:

“Forgive me.”

and a response such as:

“God forgives. Forgive me.”

What Should I Say During the Rite of Forgiveness?

There is no need for a complicated speech.

A simple request is enough:

“Forgive me.”

or:

“Please forgive me for anything I have done to hurt you.”

Local parish practice may use traditional wording.

What Does “God Forgives” Mean?

It places human forgiveness within God's mercy.

The phrase does not mean:

“I refuse to forgive you, but maybe God will.”

It is meant to express humility and shared dependence on divine forgiveness.

Why Do Both People Ask Forgiveness?

Because the Rite is not designed to divide a parish into:

• Guilty people
• Innocent people

Everyone enters Lent needing mercy.

Even when one person cannot remember a specific offense, the act expresses humility and a desire for peace.

Do I Have to Confess Specific Personal Sins to Everyone?

No.

The Rite of Forgiveness is not a substitute for sacramental Confession.

Private sins do not need to be publicly disclosed to the entire parish.

Is Forgiveness Sunday the Same as Confession?

No.

Sacramental Confession involves repentance before God within the sacramental life of the Church.

The Rite of Forgiveness is a communal act of reconciliation among Christians.

Should I Apologize Specifically If I Know I Hurt Someone?

Yes, when appropriate.

If a specific offense is known, a sincere direct apology may be more meaningful than relying only on the general Sunday ritual.

Does Asking Forgiveness Require Explaining Myself?

Not necessarily.

An apology can become less sincere when it turns into a long explanation of why the other person is actually responsible.

Sometimes the clearest form is simply:

“I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

What If Someone Refuses to Forgive Me?

You cannot force another person to forgive.

Your responsibility is to:

• Repent honestly
• Apologize sincerely
• Repair harm where possible
• Respect appropriate boundaries
• Continue praying for peace

What If I Am Not Ready to Forgive Someone?

Forgiveness can be difficult, especially after serious harm.

Forgiveness Sunday does not require pretending difficult emotions disappear instantly.

A real beginning may simply be:

“God, I want to stop hating this person. Help me.”

Can Forgiveness Be a Process?

Yes.

For small offenses, forgiveness may come quickly.

For deep wounds, it can require time, prayer, pastoral care, and repeated decisions not to return to hatred.

Why Is Forgiveness Connected With the Lord's Prayer?

Christians repeatedly pray:

“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Forgiveness Sunday forces Orthodox Christians to take those words seriously before beginning Lent.

Can I Ask God to Forgive Me While Refusing to Forgive Others?

Matthew 6 directly warns against separating those two movements.

The Christian life requires both:

Receive mercy → Give mercy.

Why Is Forgiveness Hard?

Forgiveness can feel like surrendering justice.

It can also threaten the story we have built around being wronged.

But Christian forgiveness does not erase justice.

It refuses to let resentment permanently possess the heart.

What Does Jesus Teach About Fasting on Forgiveness Sunday?

Christ tells His followers not to fast in a way designed to attract admiration.

The teaching is especially important because Great Lent begins immediately afterward.

Why Does Jesus Warn Against Looking Miserable While Fasting?

Religious discipline can become performance.

A person may want others to notice:

• How strictly he fasts
• How difficult his Lent is
• How spiritually serious he appears

Christ warns against turning fasting into a public advertisement of holiness.

Does This Mean We Must Hide the Fact That We Are Orthodox?

No.

The teaching concerns spiritual exhibitionism, not secrecy about one's faith.

There is a difference between:

Living your faith openly

and:

Performing religious discipline to receive admiration.

Can People Talk About Orthodox Fasting?

Yes.

Teaching, planning meals, helping children, and explaining Orthodox practice are legitimate.

The danger begins when fasting becomes a competition.

Why Is This Gospel Perfect for the Day Before Lent?

Tomorrow Christians begin a stricter fast.

Today Christ warns:

Do not become proud of it.

What Does Christ Teach About Treasure?

The Gospel continues by contrasting treasure on earth with treasure in heaven.

Earthly possessions can be:

• Lost
• Destroyed
• Stolen

Christ calls His disciples toward a different treasure.

What Is Treasure in Heaven?

The phrase refers to the spiritual value of a life oriented toward God.

It includes realities such as:

• Faith
• Love
• Mercy
• Generosity
• Repentance
• Communion with God

Does This Mean Christians Cannot Own Property?

No.

The Gospel is not a prohibition against all material possessions.

It asks what possesses the heart.

What Does “Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be Also” Mean?

Our priorities shape us.

What we value most receives:

• Attention
• Time
• Energy
• Desire

Lent becomes a season for examining where the heart has been invested.

Why Is Cheesefare Sunday Also About Adam and Eve?

The Triodion commemorates the Expulsion of Adam from Paradise on this Sunday.

This gives the beginning of Lent a powerful biblical frame.

What Is the Expulsion of Adam From Paradise?

Genesis describes Adam and Eve losing life in Eden after disobedience.

They leave the Garden and enter a world marked by:

• Death
• Labor
• Suffering
• Separation

Why Remember Adam Right Before Great Lent?

Adam represents humanity outside Paradise.

Great Lent then becomes a journey of return.

The movement is:

Exile → Repentance → Return → Pascha.

Is Great Lent a Punishment for Adam's Sin?

No.

The liturgical connection is symbolic and theological.

Lent invites each Christian to recognize his or her own experience of separation from God and begin the journey back.

Why Is Adam Sometimes Shown Weeping Outside Paradise?

Orthodox Lenten texts often present Adam sitting outside Eden and lamenting what has been lost.

The image communicates:

• Recognition of loss
• Repentance
• Longing for Paradise

How Is Adam Similar to the Prodigal Son?

Both become images of exile.

The Prodigal Son leaves his father's house.

Adam leaves Paradise.

Both stories make the Lenten journey understandable as:

Return home.

How Is Adam Different From the Prodigal Son?

They belong to different biblical narratives.

The Church places their themes near each other because both illuminate separation and return.

What Does Paradise Mean in Orthodox Christianity?

Paradise is associated with communion with God, life, and the original vocation of humanity.

Lent looks toward restoration that reaches its center in Christ.

Is Pascha the Return to Paradise?

Pascha proclaims Christ's victory over death and the opening of life to humanity.

For this reason, the Lenten journey from Adam's exile toward Christ's Resurrection carries a profound return-to-life theme.

Why Is the Cross Connected With Paradise?

Orthodox hymnography frequently places Adam's fall and Christ's Cross in theological relationship.

The tree associated with disobedience is answered by the life-giving Cross of Christ.

Why Is Forgiveness Sunday Called Cheesefare Sunday?

The name comes from the fasting calendar.

It traditionally marks the farewell to dairy products before Great Lent.

What Can Orthodox Christians Eat During Cheesefare Week?

In traditional Byzantine practice:

• Meat is no longer eaten
• Dairy remains permitted
• Eggs remain permitted

Then Great Lent begins with the stricter fasting discipline.

Why Does Meat Stop One Week Before Dairy?

The gradual transition helps prepare the body for the Great Fast.

But it also emphasizes that Orthodox fasting develops step by step rather than suddenly.

Is Cheese the Main Point of Cheesefare Sunday?

No.

The food name describes the fasting calendar.

The main spiritual themes are:

• Forgiveness
• Repentance
• Exile from Paradise
• Proper fasting
• The beginning of Lent

Can Orthodox Christians Eat Meat on Cheesefare Sunday?

Under the traditional Byzantine fasting discipline, meat has already been removed after Meatfare Sunday.

Cheesefare Sunday is therefore meat-free.

Can Orthodox Christians Eat Dairy on Cheesefare Sunday?

Yes, traditionally.

Cheesefare Sunday is the final day before the Great Fast when dairy and eggs are normally eaten.

Does Everyone Follow Exactly the Same Fasting Rule?

No.

Orthodox fasting is adapted pastorally when necessary.

Factors may include:

• Health
• Age
• Pregnancy
• Medication
• Work
• Family circumstances

When appropriate, Christians should follow guidance from their parish priest or spiritual father.

Why Is Fasting Not a Competition?

The Church has already taught this through the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee.

The Pharisee fasts but turns fasting into pride.

Forgiveness Sunday now repeats Christ's warning against performing fasting for admiration.

What Is Clean Monday?

Clean Monday is the first weekday of Great Lent.

It follows Forgiveness Sunday.

Why Is It Called Clean Monday?

The name expresses the desire to begin Lent with:

• Repentance
• Forgiveness
• Purification
• A renewed spiritual life

Does “Clean” Mean People Become Perfect Overnight?

No.

It describes the direction of the Lenten beginning, not instant moral perfection.

What Happens During the First Week of Great Lent?

The first week typically has an especially strong penitential character.

Depending on the parish and jurisdiction, services may include:

• Great Compline
• Portions of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete
• Presanctified Liturgies later in the week
• Additional prayer and fasting

Why Is the Transition From Forgiveness Sunday So Powerful?

The Church moves directly from:

Forgive one another

to:

Begin repentance.

The message is that reconciliation is not an optional extra added to Lent.

It is the doorway.

What Comes Before Forgiveness Sunday?

The immediate sequence is:

1. Zacchaeus Sunday
2. Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
3. Sunday of the Prodigal Son
4. Meatfare Sunday / Sunday of the Last Judgment
5. Forgiveness Sunday / Cheesefare Sunday
6. Clean Monday

The Spiritual Logic of the Pre-Lenten Sundays

Why Does Forgiveness Come After the Last Judgment?

Meatfare Sunday reminds Christians that their treatment of other people matters.

Forgiveness Sunday then makes that teaching immediate and personal.

The question changes from:

“Do I believe in mercy?”

to:

“Whom do I need to forgive?”

Why Does Forgiveness Come Before Fasting?

Because a strict food rule cannot compensate for hatred.

The Church asks Christians to repair relationships before intensifying ascetic discipline.

Can I Fast While Refusing to Speak to Someone Out of Hatred?

A person may technically follow food rules while spiritually contradicting the purpose of Lent.

Forgiveness Sunday is designed to expose that contradiction.

Can Forgiveness Replace Fasting?

No.

The Orthodox Church teaches both.

The goal is:

Forgiveness + prayer + fasting + almsgiving + repentance.

Can Fasting Replace Forgiveness?

No.

Matthew 6 makes that clear immediately before the fast begins.

Forgiveness Sunday and the Lord's Prayer

The day strongly echoes the prayer Christians say constantly:

Forgive us as we forgive.

Lent turns this from familiar words into a practical challenge.

Forgiveness Sunday and the Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son returns to the Father and receives forgiveness.

Forgiveness Sunday asks us to extend mercy outward.

The sequence becomes:

Receive mercy → Become merciful.

Forgiveness Sunday and the Last Judgment

The Last Judgment Gospel teaches that our treatment of other people has eternal significance.

Forgiveness Sunday gives one immediate application:

Do not enter Lent carrying deliberate hatred toward your brother or sister.

Forgiveness Sunday and Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus demonstrates that repentance becomes concrete.

He does not merely feel regret; he tries to repair harm.

Forgiveness Sunday continues that principle through reconciliation.

Forgiveness Sunday and the Publican

The publican asks God for mercy.

Forgiveness Sunday teaches that someone asking mercy from God must also learn mercy toward others.

When Is Forgiveness Sunday in 2027?

In 2027, Forgiveness Sunday falls on:

Sunday, March 14, 2027.

Great Lent begins the next day:

Monday, March 15, 2027.

Orthodox Pre-Lenten Calendar 2027

What Is the Icon of Forgiveness Sunday?

The liturgical theme of this Sunday is traditionally associated especially with the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.

Icons may show:

• Adam
• Eve
• The Garden of Eden
• An angel
• The gate or boundary of Paradise
• Adam and Eve leaving Eden

Why Is an Angel Shown at Paradise?

Genesis describes cherubim guarding the way to the Tree of Life after Adam and Eve leave Eden.

The icon may visually represent this biblical boundary between Paradise and exile.

Why Are Adam and Eve Sometimes Shown Weeping?

Their sorrow expresses the recognition of what has been lost through separation from God.

That makes the image particularly appropriate before Lent.

Why Is Paradise Often Bright?

Iconographic contrasts may distinguish:

Paradise → communion and life.

Exile → separation and sorrow.

Does the Icon Show Forgiveness Vespers?

Not necessarily.

The traditional theological icon for the Sunday often emphasizes Adam's expulsion rather than a modern parish scene of people asking forgiveness from one another.

Why Is Adam More Important Than Cheese in the Icon?

The word “Cheesefare” describes the fasting calendar.

The deeper liturgical subject is humanity's exile and the journey back toward God.

How to Read an Icon of the Expulsion From Paradise

1. Find Adam and Eve

They represent humanity leaving the original communion of Paradise.

2. Look at Paradise

It may appear lush, ordered, bright, or enclosed.

3. Look for the Angel

The angel marks the boundary after the expulsion.

4. Look at Adam and Eve's Posture

Their bowed or grieving appearance communicates repentance and loss.

5. Follow Their Direction

They move away from Paradise.

Great Lent will spiritually reverse this movement:

Exile → Return.

Forgiveness Sunday Icon Symbolism Quick Guide

Forgiveness Sunday for Children

Forgiveness Sunday can be explained to children very simply.

The basic lesson is:

Before Lent begins, we say sorry, forgive each other, and start again in peace.

What Should Children Learn First?

• Everyone makes mistakes
• We should apologize when we hurt someone
• We should forgive people who sincerely ask forgiveness
• Lent is about becoming closer to God
• We should not carry unnecessary anger into Lent

How Can I Explain Forgiveness Vespers to a Child?

You can say:

“Before Lent starts, everyone at church asks each other to forgive them so we can begin the journey to Pascha together in peace.”

How Can I Explain Adam's Expulsion to a Child?

A simple explanation is:

“Adam and Eve lost their life in Paradise when they turned away from God. Lent reminds us that God calls us to turn back toward Him.”

A Simple Forgiveness Sunday Practice for Families

Before bedtime or before attending Forgiveness Vespers, family members can take turns saying:

“Please forgive me for the ways I have hurt you.”

The response can be simple:

“I forgive you. Please forgive me too.”

Why Is This Good for Children?

Children learn that saying sorry is not humiliation.

It is part of restoring relationships.

Should Parents Also Ask Children for Forgiveness?

Yes, when appropriate.

Forgiveness Sunday is not meant only for children to apologize to adults.

Adults also make mistakes and can model genuine repentance.

A Simple Forgiveness Sunday Practice

1. Remember

Think honestly about people you may have hurt.

2. Ask

Where appropriate, ask forgiveness directly.

3. Forgive

Choose not to nourish hatred toward someone who hurt you.

4. Repair

If an apology requires practical restitution, make a plan to correct what can be corrected.

5. Enter Lent in Peace

Begin the fast without turning fasting into a substitute for reconciliation.

Questions for Reflection on Forgiveness Sunday

• Whom am I still angry with?
• Whom have I hurt?
• Do I owe anyone an apology?
• Do I secretly enjoy holding a grievance?
• Am I willing to forgive without denying what happened?
• Do I use religious discipline to avoid dealing with relationships?
• What earthly treasure controls my heart?
• How can I enter Lent more peacefully?

What If Asking Forgiveness Would Reopen a Dangerous Relationship?

Christian wisdom matters.

In situations involving abuse, stalking, violence, serious manipulation, or danger, direct contact may not be appropriate.

Forgiveness can still begin internally through prayer and the refusal to pursue revenge.

Pastoral or professional guidance may be appropriate.

Can I Forgive Without Contacting Someone?

Yes, in some circumstances.

Direct reconciliation is ideal when it is safe, appropriate, and genuinely helpful.

But forgiveness does not always require renewed contact.

What If the Person Who Hurt Me Has Died?

A person can still work toward forgiveness through:

• Prayer
• Confession
• Speaking honestly with a priest
• Letting go of the desire for vengeance

Does Forgiveness Mean Forgetting?

No.

Human memory does not disappear on command.

The phrase “forgive and forget” can therefore be misleading.

Christian forgiveness concerns the relationship of the heart to the injury, not forced amnesia.

Can I Remember an Injury Without Hating the Person?

Yes.

That can be part of mature forgiveness.

What If Someone Keeps Hurting Me?

Forgiveness does not require providing endless opportunities for repeated harm.

Boundaries and accountability may be necessary.

Does Forgiveness Cancel Justice?

No.

A victim can forgive and still support appropriate legal or social accountability.

Can Christians Seek Restitution?

Yes.

The story of Zacchaeus in the same pre-Lenten cycle shows that repentance can include repairing material harm.

Forgiveness and Restitution

These are related but distinct.

If someone stole money, for example:

Forgiveness concerns releasing hatred and vengeance.

Restitution concerns restoring what was taken where possible.

Why Is This Important?

Without this distinction, forgiveness can be misunderstood as pretending consequences do not matter.

Orthodox repentance takes both mercy and responsibility seriously.

Can I Forgive Myself?

Christian language more commonly emphasizes receiving God's forgiveness and accepting the possibility of restoration.

Some people continue punishing themselves long after repentance.

Forgiveness Sunday also reminds Christians not to turn endless self-condemnation into another obstacle to returning to God.

Is Endless Guilt the Same as Repentance?

No.

Repentance has direction.

It moves toward:

• Confession
• Change
• Restoration
• Hope

Why Does Great Lent Begin With Hope?

The Lenten journey is demanding, but it is directed toward Pascha.

The destination is not guilt.

The destination is the Resurrection.

Common Misconceptions About Forgiveness Sunday

Myth: Forgiveness Sunday is mainly about eating cheese.

No.

“Cheesefare” refers to the fasting calendar, while forgiveness and preparation for Lent are the deeper themes.

Myth: Great Lent begins on Sunday morning.

Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday evening marks the liturgical transition, while Clean Monday is the first full weekday of Great Lent.

Myth: Forgiveness means pretending nothing bad happened.

No.

Myth: Forgiveness means trusting someone immediately.

No.

Myth: Forgiveness means allowing abuse to continue.

No.

Myth: Forgiveness eliminates legal accountability.

No.

Myth: Asking forgiveness at church replaces a direct apology.

No.

If you know you have specifically harmed someone, direct repentance may also be appropriate.

Myth: The Rite of Forgiveness is sacramental Confession.

No.

Myth: People must publicly tell everyone their private sins.

No.

Myth: Fasting is the main point of Lent.

No.

Fasting serves a larger spiritual movement of repentance, prayer, mercy, and return to God.

Myth: Jesus condemns fasting in Matthew 6.

No.

He warns against hypocritical fasting performed for human admiration.

Myth: Orthodox Christians believe meat and dairy are sinful foods.

No.

They are temporarily restricted as part of ascetic discipline.

Myth: Meat and dairy stop on the same day.

No.

In traditional Byzantine practice, meat stops after Meatfare Sunday, while dairy and eggs remain permitted through Cheesefare Week.

Myth: Adam and Eve have nothing to do with Forgiveness Sunday.

No.

The liturgical Sunday also commemorates their expulsion from Paradise.

Myth: Great Lent is mainly punishment for sin.

No.

It is a journey of repentance, healing, and return toward communion with God.

Myth: If I cannot forgive instantly, I should not begin Lent.

No.

The desire and struggle to forgive can itself become part of the Lenten work.

Forgiveness Sunday Terms to Know

Forgiveness Sunday FAQ

What is Forgiveness Sunday?

Forgiveness Sunday is the final Sunday before Great Lent and a day when Orthodox Christians prepare for the fast through forgiveness and reconciliation.

Is Forgiveness Sunday the same as Cheesefare Sunday?

Yes.

The two names emphasize different aspects of the same Sunday.

Why is it called Cheesefare Sunday?

It traditionally marks the final day for eating dairy products and eggs before the Great Lenten fast.

When did Orthodox Christians stop eating meat?

Meat is traditionally removed after the previous Meatfare Sunday.

What Gospel is read on Forgiveness Sunday?

Matthew 6:14–21.

What does Jesus teach in the Gospel?

He teaches about forgiving others, fasting without hypocrisy, and storing treasure in heaven.

Why do Orthodox Christians ask one another for forgiveness?

Because reconciliation with other people is an essential part of repentance and preparation for Lent.

What is Forgiveness Vespers?

It is the Sunday evening service that marks the Orthodox Church's liturgical transition into Great Lent.

What is the Rite of Forgiveness?

It is the practice in which clergy and faithful ask forgiveness from one another at the beginning of the Lenten journey.

What should I say when asking forgiveness?

A simple “Forgive me” or “Please forgive me” is sufficient.

What do I say when someone asks me to forgive them?

A common Orthodox response is “God forgives. Forgive me.” Local wording varies.

Do I have to confess private sins to everyone?

No.

Is the Rite of Forgiveness the same as Confession?

No.

Does forgiveness mean trusting someone again?

Not necessarily.

Does forgiveness require returning to an unsafe relationship?

No.

Why is Adam's expulsion from Paradise remembered?

Adam's exile provides a biblical image of humanity separated from God, while Great Lent becomes a journey of repentance and return.

What is the icon associated with Forgiveness Sunday?

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise is a major traditional iconographic theme for the Sunday.

What happens after Forgiveness Sunday?

Great Lent begins, with Clean Monday as the first weekday.

When is Forgiveness Sunday in 2027?

March 14, 2027.

When does Great Lent begin in 2027?

March 15, 2027.

What is the main lesson of Forgiveness Sunday?

We should not begin a season of asking God for mercy while deliberately refusing mercy and reconciliation to other people.

Forgiveness Sunday: The Short Answer

Forgiveness Sunday is the final Sunday before Orthodox Great Lent.

It is also called:

• Cheesefare Sunday
• Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam from Paradise

The Gospel reading is Matthew 6:14–21.

Christ teaches:

• Forgive others
• Fast without hypocrisy
• Store treasure in heaven

On Sunday evening, many Orthodox parishes celebrate Forgiveness Vespers.

During the Rite of Forgiveness, Christians ask one another for forgiveness before entering the Great Fast.

The Sunday is also called Cheesefare because it traditionally marks the final day for dairy products and eggs before Lent.

Meat has already been removed after Meatfare Sunday.

The Church also remembers Adam and Eve leaving Paradise.

This gives the entire Lenten season a powerful direction:

Humanity is in exile, and Lent is a journey of return.

The full pre-Lenten sequence is:

Zacchaeus — desire.

Publican and Pharisee — humility.

Prodigal Son — return.

Last Judgment — love and responsibility.

Forgiveness Sunday — reconciliation.

Great Lent — repentance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Pascha — Resurrection.

The final lesson before Great Lent is therefore not about food.

It is about relationships:

Before changing what is on the table, the Church asks us to change what we are carrying in the heart.

Explore the Journey to Great Lent at Mercy Fold

Continue with Mercy Fold's related Orthodox calendar and Lenten guides:

• Zacchaeus Sunday
• Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
• Sunday of the Prodigal Son
• Meatfare Sunday and the Last Judgment
• Great Lent in the Orthodox Church
• Clean Monday
• Orthodox Fasting Calendar
• Orthodox Calendar
• Orthodox Calendar 2027
• Palm Sunday in the Orthodox Church
• Orthodox Pascha (Easter): Meaning, Traditions and Dates
• Orthodox Easter 2027
• Orthodox Liturgical Year Explained
• The Resurrection Icon Explained
• Prayer Corner FAQ

Use this guide as the final step in Mercy Fold's pre-Lenten sequence, then continue with Clean Monday and Great Lent as the Church begins the journey through fasting, prayer, repentance, Holy Week, and Pascha.