Passion Week: What and What You Can Eat Before Easter.

Passion Week is the strictest and most important period of Lent that precedes Easter. During this week, people delve even deeper into spiritual preparation, prayer, and restraint, including restrictions on food.

This article discusses what products are allowed during Passion Week.

Banned Products During Lent

• Meat
• Eggs
• Milk
• Hard cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Butter
• Sour cream

During Lent, it is forbidden to consume any food of animal origin.

Allowed Products on Different Days of Passion Week

Great Monday

On this day, you can only eat bread, fruits, and vegetables.

Great Tuesday

The menu can include cereals, plant-based food, oil, and a little boiled fish. Bread and honey are also allowed.

Great Wednesday

The full ration of the day should consist of plant-based food without fats. Nuts, dried mushrooms, and dried fruits can be eaten.

Great Thursday

You can eat plant-based food without sunflower or other oils.

Good Friday

On this day, believers completely abstain from food until the removal of the Shroud. You can drink water, and in the evening, eat a little bread.

Great Saturday

You can eat bread, raw vegetables and fruits, honey, nuts, and drink a little wine. But other types of food must be abstained from.

List of Plant-Based Products

The list of plant-based products includes: potatoes, carrots, cabbage of any kind, beets, peppers, zucchini, eggplants, onions, greens, mushrooms, dried fruits, fresh fruits, candied fruits, nuts, beans, peas, and other legumes, compotes, jams, jellies, kissels, plant-based milk, tea, coffee.

It is also allowed to consume lean sweets, including halvah, dark chocolate, honey, and nuts.

Banned Products During Passion Week

• You cannot eat dairy or meat dishes, fish, and eggs.
• Any merriment, dancing, and singing are forbidden.
• It is considered a sin to satisfy intimate desires.
• It is forbidden to refuse help. It is believed that during Passion Week, the Lord himself in human form may ask for something.
• You cannot quarrel, get angry, envy, or lie.

Each day of Passion Week has its own meaning and is called 'Great'. During this period, no festive celebrations, weddings, or baptisms are held in the church, only solemn services and preparations for Easter take place.

Passion Week is a Time when believers prepare for Easter, practice restraint in eating, and focus on spiritual development. During this week, a number of dietary restrictions are in place, specifically prohibiting the consumption of meat, dairy, and egg products. All products that can be consumed must be of plant origin. In addition, there are also prohibitions on merriment, dancing, singing, and satisfying intimate desires. Helping others is also important, as it is believed that the Lord himself may refer to us with a request when we are in need of help. During this period, believers should not allow themselves anger, envy, lies, and other negative emotions. It is worth noting that each day of Passion Week has its own specifics and name, and only solemn services and preparations for Easter take place in the church.