Lent in the Ukrainian Lutheran Church

We follow Julian Calendar therefore we have entered Lent today. As our brothers in the West begin their celebrations with Ash Wednesday we begin our celebrations of Lent with Repentance Wednesday. Most Ukrainians believe in spiritual usefulness of fasting which consists of avoiding meats and other fats of animal origin. Any violation of such a fasting is often considered as a sin.  This challenges us, as confessional Lutherans, to respond that even though fasting can be a good preparation (and  preparation only) for the Day of the Lord, it is only the Means of Grace that renews our zeal in faith and life, brings us forgiveness, peace with God and life eternal. Nothing else can do it. In Lent we paraphraze ad fontes - in repentance to the healing sources of the Word and the Sacrament, and from there let us run to all the needy with bread of wheat  and with Bread of Life! (Isaiah 58:5-12).