Orthodox Christians begin Great Lent on March 14.\n\nThe 40-day Great Lent is considered the main of the four multi-day fasts and is connected with the Gospel account of how the Lord fasted for 40 days in the desert. Immediately after Great Lent comes the fasting Holy Week - in memory of the last days of Jesus Christ's earthly life and his suffering.\n\nFasting, or abstinence, is the refusal not only of certain foods, but also of all bad habits and amusements. It is a time of repentance, reflection and diligent prayer. The goal of any fast is exercise in temperance, purification of the soul from passions and sinful thoughts, subordination of the body and soul - to the spirit.\n\nTherefore, for example, being angry or sad during fasting is just as sinful as drinking wine or eating meat. It is better to break the fast than in pride and arrogance to disdain communication with loved ones who do not strictly observe the fast.\n\nThe Holy Fathers of the Church, reflecting on the observance of bodily fasts, called themselves "not body-killers, but sin-killers." And in Rus, the seriously ill, pregnant women, nursing mothers, warriors, workers engaged in heavy physical labor, as well as people who were on a journey were exempted from fasting. But they especially strictly observed the spiritual fast, refraining from entertainment, and at confession brought repentance for breaking the fast.\n\nDuring the fast, from Monday to Friday, the Divine Liturgy is not served in churches (except for the feast of the Annunciation), but on Wednesday and Friday a special liturgy is held – of the Presanctified Gifts, at which parishioners who are fasting may receive communion.\n\nUsually believers dedicate one of the six weeks of the fast (most often the first) to especially diligent observance of it and regular attendance at church, after which on Saturday or Sunday they confess and receive communion.\n\nThroughout Great Lent, the Orthodox Church calls on believers to refrain from eating meat, milk, eggs and fish, among other things as part of various dishes. Fish is permitted only on the feasts of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). And on Lazarus Saturday, those fasting are permitted caviar.\n\nBased on materials from RIA "Novosti".