AHMEDABAD : Pulikkottil Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Metropolitan of Ahmedabad Diocese, had called upon the faithful to take part in the Great Lent with complete purity.

“Let us approach the Big Lent with complete purity and participate it wholeheartedly in the trouble of the Lord, mainly the crucifixion and resurrection of our saviour.”

In a Kalpana No 4/13 released before the Great Lent, the Metropolitan has put forth few changes to be adopted during the 40-day Lental period.

“Let us partake in this Great Lent and pray for a totally new experience. Let us oppose evil powers and defeat them, keep aside bad deeds and grow in truthful ways,” it notes.

While laying stress on observing lent, fasting, prayers must performed to transform ourselves without fail and calls upon to follow with dedication, the rules and approach the clergymen for confession without fail and utilise the season in a special way.

The Metropolitan has also called upon the parishes strictly not to conduct church annual elections for committee members (2013-14) during the Great Lent. This, the Metropolitan, added would bring disrespect to the Lent and results in Gods anger and curse. “If this is not possible, it is wiser to hold the elections before the beginning of the half Lent,” notes Dr Mar Yulios. During these meetings, involvement of women folk (Morth Mariya Samajam) in meetings after preparing a list will be appreciated.

The Kalpana was released from St Thomas Bishop’s House, Naroda, the Diocesan HQ in Ahmedabad.

The Metropolitan cautions that without taking part in a true confession and having Hoosoyo for namesake for Holy Eucharist is strictly not advisable. Those who confess at least once during the 40 day period are only eligible to take Holy Eucharist after having the Hoosoyo.”

The Kalpana explains that in many of our churches the Holy Eucharist is being practised during week days at evenings during Great Lent. But during Great Lent, Holy Eucharist is mainly observed on Saturdays and Sundays only. But the only exception being churches in the Arabian Gulf where Friday being a weekly holiday, the Holy Eucharist is being observed on Fridays like on Sundays in other parts of the world.

The main changes to be followed as per the Kalpana are:

1. Presently Holy Eucharist which is on Sunday evenings will henceforth be conducted on Saturday evenings. This will likely be continued even after the Great Lent. After completion of Sunday evening prayers, Holy Eucharist can also be offered.

2. As per the existing norms of practicing Lent without fasting on Saturdays and Sundays; henceforth the same can be observed on Fridays and Sundays.

Instead of fasting on Fridays, fasting and 40 prostrations can be observed on Saturdays.

3. Offering Holy Eucharist on weekdays should not be encouraged. But in unavoidable circumstances like for example the Ghala Morth Mariyam Malankara Orthodox Congregation, (in Muscat), half Wednesday, 3-day Lent, preparation for Wednesday’s 9th hour prayers and completing with 40 prostrations, Holy Eucharist can be offered. The next day’s evening prayers can be offered only after the Holy Qurbana. Then that day’s fasting, prostrations, will however not be affected. In short, under any circumstances the norms for following Lent should not be taken lightly, Dr Mar Yulios adds.