Forgiveness Sunday

Today is Forgiveness Sunday and the beginning of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church. We attended our first ever Forgiveness Vespers today. It was a beautiful vespers service that ended with a extremely touching moment between parishioners. At the end of the service our Priest begins by asking all those in the church for forgiveness and get on his knees and makes a prostration. The congregation then goes through the line doing prostrations and asking forgiveness of each and every member present and responding to those who are asking forgiveness, "God forgives and so do I". It was very touching to see and to ask everyone to forgive me if I have offended them in any way. Also, I must say that my body will remind me of this service for days to come. I am very sore after doing at least 50 prostrations. It is a great reminder for me to ask those who were not with me today in church for forgiveness as well. May you all have a blessed Lent.