Orthodox Christians will observe the Great Lent as of Monday, March 19. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II will officiate the first Great Lent service at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on Monday evening, a source at the Moscow Patriarchate told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

The patriarch will chant the great canon of repentance at the Epiphany Cathedral in downtown Moscow, then at the New Monastery of the Savior and at the Moscow residence of the Piuchtice Convent of the Dormition for the next three days.

On the Shrove Sunday Alexy urged all Christians to use the period of the Great Lent for the spiritual self-perfection: realize your sins and learn to pray. “The prayer is a great power, it helps on the way of life. If we pray for other people, this helps our next of kin to endure various difficulties, losses and trials,” the patriarch said. He recalled that the Great Lent is the time for special demonstrations of Christian love. “The God asks from us to do good deeds. This is the wealth that we will take beyond the threshold of eternity,” the high Orthodox hierarch said.

The patriarch also noted that extraordinary beautiful Orthodox services help during the Great Lent “to bring about feelings of repentance, flare up a warm prayer and attain the inner spiritual peace.” One of the best church choirs in Russia sings at the Christ the Savior Cathedral, where the major Great Lent services will be held.

During the Great Lent Patriarch Alexy II will deliver services almost every day. The Easter will culminate the Great Lent. Orthodox Christians celebrate the Easter on April 27, 2008.

MOSCOW, March 10 (Itar-Tass)