THE CHURCH AT PRAYER

This video is not, as its title might indicate, about the Patriarch of the Russian Church...

It is instead an entry into the penitential worship of the Eastern Orthodox Faith in Russia...

This is from the Service of the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts the first week of Lent...

This is Clean Week, when the Church fasts from all food for the week, except for two small Lenten meals on Wed and Fri after this Service...

Normally, some bread and a small bowl of vegan soup...

Because Lent is Penitential, the Services carry great sorrow and remorse with its penitential deeds...

You may notice congregants are kneeling...

The Hymn being chanted is "Let My Prayer Arise"...

Let my prayer arise...
In Thy Sight as incense...
And let the lifting up of my hands...
Be an evening sacrifice...

This week is the beginning of our entry into the Great Fast of Lent...

It begins with no fasting for a week... [Meat-fare]

Then no meat but fish for a week... [Cheese-fare]

Then no food for a week... [Clean-week]

Then the Great Fast of two small Lenten meals per day for 40 days...

Then Holy Week...

Then Pascha...

Then Bright Week...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fSV9T-rK-E


Arsenios

Also note that the beauty of this prayer comes forth in an unheated Church...
At least not well heated...
Judging from people's warm clothing...
Which is so Russian...


Arsenios