Cheesefare: An Orthodox Tradition before Great Lent

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Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Cheesefare Sunday before diving into the strict Lenten Fast? Maybe this is your first time hearing about Cheesefare week, and you’re curious why Orthodox Christians can eat dairy products throughout this special week.

Stick around—I’ll walk you through all the must-knows about Cheesefare Week, from its meaning to how we practically observe it.

☦ The Journey into Cheesefare

Cheesefare Week, also known as Tyrini Week or Butter Week, marks the last full week of preparation before the onset of Great Lent. Throughout the past times and even the past year, local parishes around the world have kept this custom as a bridge between Meatfare Sunday (when we say goodbye to red meat and other heavier animal products) and the start of Great Lent on Clean Monday.

In this short post, we’ll explore how the Holy Church guides us to gradually ease into the Lenten season. You’ll learn about the meaning behind Cheesefare, the rules for the week, and some practical tips for a cheesefare week meal plan that fits your family’s tastes and spiritual needs.

Here is a post we recommend you read:

🧀 What Is Cheesefare Week?

1. Understanding the Basics

During Cheesefare Week, the last week before Great Lent, Orthodox Christians refrain from meat but continue to eat dairy products. This includes milk, cheese, yogurt, butter. But, eggs are allowed as well.

Meatfare Sunday—also known as the Sunday of the Last Judgment—has already passed, so we have stepped away from red meat. Yet, we’re not fully fasting from all animal products just yet.

Key Points:

Butter Week: Some Orthodox traditions nickname this Butter Week or Pancake Week, celebrating foods like crepes or pastries filled with cheese.
Last Sunday before Great Lent: Cheesefare Sunday is the final Sunday before we enter the Great Fast.
Gradual Transition: After Meatfare Sunday, we abstain from meat, but we keep dairy on the table.

2. The Meaning behind Cheesefare

Cheesefare Sunday—often called the Sunday of Forgiveness—is deeply tied to the theme of the expulsion of Adam from Paradise. We recall Adam’s expulsion (Adam’s lament) as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent (the eve of Great Lent).

This reflection reminds us how sinful desires led to the closed gate of Eden and the sound of the Lord God walking in the Garden, calling Adam and Eve to repentance.

Why It Matters:

Adam’s Expulsion: The second theme of this week, drawn from the Triodion services, focuses on Adam’s lament and the closed gate of Eden, urging us to repent and turn back to the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual Renewal: Cheesefare is about more than dairy. It sets the stage for the Lenten fast, inspiring us to return to our Heavenly Father, following God’s commandment.
Forgiveness: Forgiveness Sunday (sometimes called the Sunday of Forgiveness) prepares us for the Rite of Forgiveness in the Sunday evening Vespers of Forgiveness. We seek God’s forgiveness and offer it to one another, fulfilling the commandment of Christ to love our neighbor.

3. Rules for Cheesefare Week

Although Cheesefare week is more relaxed than the weeks to come, there are still guidelines. Our local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, the Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (under the guidance of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros in the City of New York, United States of America) share these customs to help us prepare mindfully.

Guidelines:

Attend Forgiveness Vespers: Also called Vespers of Forgiveness or the special ceremony of mutual forgiveness, this Sunday evening service encourages us to seek and offer forgiveness, guided by the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (O Lord, O Word of the Father, help us to see Thy face in each other).
No Red Meat: After Meatfare Sunday, we let go of meat for obvious reasons, shifting focus to simpler foods.
Enjoy Dairy: Animal products like cheese, milk, and eggs are allowed, even on traditionally strict fasting days (Wednesday and Friday). This is to help us ease into the stricter discipline of the Great Fast.
Focus on Prayer: Church services like the Divine Liturgy, Great Vespers, and the Prokeimenon of the day place special emphasis on Adam’s expulsion.

💡 Practical Tips and Insights

1. Creating a Cheesefare Week Meal Plan

Planning a cheesefare week meal plan helps you stay organized. You can include Greek cheeses, olive oil, butter, and other dairy products to make fasting simpler before the next week’s stricter regulations. Think about how your local parishes might share recipes, or check social media for ideas.

Meal Plan Pointers

Meal Plan Pointers:

Shrove Tuesday Twist: While Shrove Tuesday is more Western, you can still enjoy pancakes or blini during this pancake week.

Variety of Dairy: Incorporate yogurt, soft cheeses, and a drizzle of olive oil for taste.

Family-Friendly Dishes: Whip up crepes, baked ziti with cheese, or a breakfast casserole.

2. Embracing the Forgiveness Services

The Sunday of Forgiveness—Cheesefare Sunday—usually ends with the Rite of Forgiveness during a great vespers or forgiveness vespers on Sunday evening. This service powerfully sets the tone for the beginning of Great Lent.

What to Expect

What to Expect:

End of the Vespers: The service concludes with participants offering each other a kiss of peace, asking and granting forgiveness in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Mutual Forgiveness: Faithful also ask forgiveness from one another for any wrongdoings over the past year.

Memorial Service: Some local parishes may offer a memorial service for departed loved ones around this time of fasting.

For more guidance, listen to this podcast episode by Fr. Philip Hall, on Ancient Faith.

3. Engaging with Family & Friends

Cheesefare can be a fun, informative experience for the whole family. It’s the perfect time of year to talk with loved ones—especially younger members—about the mission of the Orthodox Church and the mission of the Archdiocese, which is to share the Gospel of Christ with disciples of all nations.

Ways to Connect

Ways to Connect:

Teach the Tradition: Show kids how Cheesefare helps us honor God’s commandment, bridging the gap from Meatfare Sunday to Clean Monday.

Host a Gathering: Invite others to a Cheesefare Sunday brunch or potluck. Limit secular music to create a prayerful atmosphere.

Offer Encouragement: Use social media to share lenten season reflections or local parish events, highlighting the spiritual needs of the Greek Orthodox Christian.

⛪ Final Take Away

Cheesefare Week is a beautiful bridge between the festive feasts of the past and the solemn journey into Great Lent—leading us toward Holy Week and the life of the Church in full. It’s the last day of Tyrini Week.

The final Sunday before we step onto the threshold of Great Lent. And a chance to reflect on Adam’s expulsion, practice God’s forgiveness, and prepare our hearts.

Whether you’re fine-tuning your cheesefare week meal plan or attending the Vespers of Forgiveness for the first time, this period encourages us to shed sinful desires, reconnect with our Heavenly Father, and enter Great Lent with open arms.

Curious to learn more about Cheesefare traditions and practices? Watch this YouTube video for a delightful and informative dive into this festive observance!

Ready to jump in? Try a new dairy recipe, visit your local parishes for services, or share this post on social media to invite friends to walk this path with you. By the time Clean Monday arrives, you’ll be spiritually renewed and ready to embrace the Lenten Fast with joy.

May we all find God’s forgiveness and grace as we begin this next week and step into the Great Fast together!

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Cheesefare Sunday?

It’s known as Cheesefare Sunday because it’s the last day Orthodox Christians traditionally eat dairy products before Great Lent. The term “fare” implies a “farewell.” So, we say goodbye to cheese (and other dairy items) while preparing for the stricter Lenten fast.

Can you eat meat on Cheesefare Sunday?

No. After Meatfare Sunday, which comes just before Cheesefare Sunday, Orthodox Christians abstain from eating meat in anticipation of the Great Fast. Cheesefare Sunday is specifically for enjoying dairy products and eggs before the more rigorous fasting rules take effect on Clean Monday.

Are eggs allowed during Cheesefare Week?

Yes. Eggs are considered permissible throughout Cheesefare Week. This interval is designed to help ease the faithful into the upcoming fast by gradually reducing animal products. While meat is no longer eaten after Meatfare Sunday, eggs and dairy remain part of the diet until the start of Great Lent.