Lent

Today marks the commencement of the Great Lent, or the Great Fast a period of profound significance in the Christian calendar. It is a time for repentance, prayer, and humility as believers prepare themselves to meet the greatest Christian holiday, the Resurrection of Christ - Easter (Pascha) - with dignity.

The initial feedback regarding the "Lenten Basket" initiative is encouraging, as per reports from Ministry of Development officials.

Prices for the most essential items that typically feature on the Lenten menu are either lower or comparable to last year's figures.

The Lenten Basket of lower-priced goods for the Clean Monday holiday and the period of Orthodox Lent will be available as of Wednesday.

The special basket, which will be available until May 4, will include products such as legumes, rice, pasta and frozen vegetables, halva, frozen seafood and Lenten salads.

The decision regarding the so-called "basket" of basic goods with reduced prices was published in the Government Gazette on Friday, making the price tags effective from March 13 until May 4.

The Lenten Basket - with lower prices of goods consumed during the period of Lent - will be available from Wednesday, March 13 until May 4, according to the ministerial decision signed on Tuesday by Development Minister Kostas Skrekas.

The Lenten Basket with lower prices of goods consumed during the period of Lent - will be available from Wednesday,  March 13 until May 4, according to the ministerial decision signed on Tuesday by Development Minister Kostas Skrekas.

It's no secret that we Greeks love Easter ("Pascha"). In the Orthodox Christian Church, it is the most important religious holiday of the year, a time of intense spiritual reflection and solemnity.

The Household Basket is a successful measure that, in combination with the Market Pass, has helped to lower inflation, Development and Investment Minister Adonis Georgiadis asserted in a press conference held on Wednesday.

Today is Lazarus Day (Lazarovden/Лазаровден), the first of three major holidays associated with the miracle of the resurrection along with Palm Sunday (Tsvetnitsa/Цветница) and Easter (Velikden/Великден). Name day is celebrated by Lazar, Lazarin and Lazarinka.

The name has ancient Jewish origins and means "God's help".

Pope Francis led the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics into Lent on Ash Wednesday, as they scaled back a centuries-old ritual to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Francis, who normally marks the start of the penitential season with an outdoor procession between two ancient churches in Rome, instead said a Mass for about 120 people in St. Peter's Basilica.