Courtesy photo
Saint Job of Pochaiv News:
Saint Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Christian Church will host Blini Breakfast Saturday, Feb. 25. Traditional blini, a type of thin pancake, will be served in the traditional style with smoked salmon, herring, butter, and sour cream. Vegetable caviar, eggs, cheese and a variety of berry preserves will be available as well.
Blini are traditionally served in Slavic households during the week before the beginning of the Lenten Fast. The thin crepe-like pancakes are eaten together with fish, sour cream and butter in order to consume all these foods before the beginning of Great Lent.
These foods, that is, fish and dairy products, along with meat are not eaten during the 40-day Great Fast period preceding Easter, or Pascha, as it is called among Orthodox Christians. The practice of fasting, or abstaining from certain foods, dates to Judaism. The practice was recorded in Biblical times, Christ having fasted in the desert for 40 days.
“Lent” comes from the ancient English word for Spring – that time of natural rebirth which corresponds to the process of inner spiritual regeneration, which every Christian should strive to experience in his or her preparation for celebrating the feast of Christ’s Resurrection.
The practice of “fasting, together with prayer, almsgiving and the preparation that the additional services during Lent provide is the true readying for the great feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord,” Fr. Theophan explained.
The service rite of Mutual Forgiveness will be celebrated immediately following Divine Liturgy. On this last day before Great Lent, this rite of Mutual Forgiveness offers preparation for entering into the season of Great Lent through the spirit of forgiveness and repentance.
“Everyone asks pardon and forgiveness of each other in the church community,” said Elizabeth Bezzerides, a member of Saint Job Orthodox Church. “It is more than just a tradition, it is an opportunity for beginning the season of Lent with an opportunity for reconciliation with our brothers and sisters whom we may have offended. We rejoice that the Church in her wisdom gives us this yearly chance for undertaking a common cure together, for if we were left on our own, we would probably never make the effort by ourselves.”
The Blini Breakfast will be held with seatings at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday Feb. 25 at the church at 1319 Trinity Dr. (next to Natural Grocers). Reservations may be made by calling 505.412.6031.
There is a suggested donation of $12 for adults and $6 for children 6-12 years old. Additional information also is available by calling 505.660.9113.