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The Lenten Spring: Readings for Great Lent

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The Lenten Spring wonderfully brings out the basic themes of prayer, fasting, repentance and almsgiving in several concise, yet thorough chapters.

Fr. Hopko does an excellent job of relating each of these themes both within the context of Christ's Passion, Descent into Hades, and Resurrection that we commemorate in the Lenten season, as well as in the everyday life of the Christian.

"In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest" [24]. "Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" [25]. [John 12, NJB translation, 1985]. Christ portends a morbid trek for Himself and anyone to follow, but only if you put stock in the way that many people outside the Church consider themes of sacrifice and death. Among us Christians, Hopko suggests, Christ promises both a transformed experience of suffering and an exalted final word about life unending [34 passim].

Father Thomas Hopko introduces repentance on the very first page, because repentance is a critical experience of Christian faith as well as holds a central place throughout the 40 days of Great Lent. However, Hopko dismisses any hint of doom and romantic piety, and discards ideas of "psychosomatic benefits" that others mistakenly associate with abstinence [10]. Abstinence from certain foods and social occasions prevails during Great Lent to stoke enthusiasm among Christians to run the race of faith harder and obtain the joy of union with the Holy Trinity.

The book's first sentences set a joyful tone for the journey in the lenten spring: "The Church welcomes the lenten [sic] spring with a spirit of exultation. She greets the time of repentance with the expectancy and enthusiasm of a child entering into a new and exciting experience" [9].

In fact, Hopko makes it clear that Christ having already accomplished the plan of salvation draws the faithful to the lenten spring in order to correct, purify, and enlighten the "...total person through the fulfillment of the commandments of the crucified God" [11]. In that way, Hopko saves readers from wasted pious charades in a common liturgical trap of medieval passion plays, which whip up a fine show of horrified tears without substance in faith.

Approaches to worship during Lent outside of Orthodoxy reward emotive displays in response to macabre "real life" reenactments of the Passion as necessary pathways to repentance. Hopko warns that histrionic displays in liturgical settings confuse and mislead worshipers who seek a fix or adrenalin rush by observing and/or participating in Christ dying year after year. To what end a frenzy as this? So that we might imitate Christ's agony? Instead, the sole imitation of the drama embedded in the Orthodox cycle of services is an honest and repeated acknowledgment that we sin just as Adam and Eve sinned before us [30].

Lest I fail to make Hopko's point as clearly as he, Hopko admits to an increase in mystical joy in annual repetitions of lenten-season hymns and chants. Even though joy might include emotion when sung or recited in Orthodox rubrics, just the same emotion is kept in its limited place of importance. The joy of Orthodox lenten services transforms the entire community, which is the overall focus of the lenten spring.

Communal transformation happens by way of words and graphic images grander than emotion and without requisite interaction with emotions to wit. Nevertheless, as Orthodox Christians intone rubrics of Lent in solemnity from the Typikon, they do not abstain from liturgical drama unfolding in the divine services of the lenten spring. Rather, the ancient verses and hymns are dramatic vessels that cover, protect and unite the faithful within. Together they head toward Pascha.

To state it in brief, "the lenten spring is welcomed by Christians in the Church not as the time for self-inflicted agony or self-improving therapy" [11].

Redoubling the joyous news, Hopko samples from the "Kanonion" (lectionary), liturgical responses, intervening Feasts of the Holy Theotokos, Apostles and Saints of the Church to portray how the Church introduces select themes early in Great Lent. Doubling back on these same themes several times more, worshipers are consoled and motivated to continue their observances. For example, midway through the road to Pascha, readings from the great Prophets, such as Isaiah, ask worshipers why they fast [118 passim]. The Prophet's questions are rhetorical and serve the purpose of provoking the mind's assent to not only abstain from certain foods, but also to rend the heart in true repentance.

Father Thomas' book is fitting to introduce in late teens as well as adults of any age. It is my recommendation to begin group preparation for Great Lent four weeks before the start of Great Lent. In fact, employing Hopko's book in Christian education before the start of Great Lent prepares individuals to devote one day to digest in prayer the meditation for each of 40 days contained herein, starting with the first day of Great Lent and concluding with the last meditation just prior to Pascha.

Dr. Thomas Hopko, the dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, professor of dogmatic theology, & author of many books about the Christian Orthodox faith & practice, writes a must read for Great Lent.

These days very few people in America practice or understand Great Lent. Most see it as a time of hardship, unnecessary discipline, old fashion, from the old world, or many other negative views. Another semi-unknown factor are the different pratices of the Western Church (Roman Catholic or some early Protestant) from the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Dr. Thomas Hopko does an excellent job in clarifying what Great Lent is all about for the Eastern Orthodox Church. That this season is a time of spiritual joy to act out the life, death, & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the book, Dr. Thomas Hopko uses the church's historical tradition from Biblical, Liturgical, & Patristic writings with modern teachings to give a well rounded guide to uplift & strength ones spiritual vision.

The book is designed with 40 short chapters to match the Lenten period to help the reader to meditate on a chapter a day. I don't know of any other book that is as well thought out with this in mind. Take the 40 day path to your own resurrection with the wisdom of the Ancient Christian Church by reading this book.

A good introduction and reflection on the Lenten journey within the Orthodox Church. As with some of Fr Hopko's other books, I would like more detail at times. Yet there is plenty from the hymography and Saints of the Orthodox Church to satisfy.

This book is such a wonderful series of thoughts and prayers for Lenten reading. It's something that you can read year after year, during the days of Lent. A friend recommended it to me. There's a new short reading for each day. Really a beautiful experience.

Father Hopko uses Scripture, the wisdom of the Church Fathers, and the verses of the services throughout Great Lent to help any Orthodox Christian clearly see what the season presents to the members of the Church. The short chapters are easily read and are even poetic; it was truly a joy to read!