Cheesefare / Forgiveness Sunday
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Today is also called Forgiveness Sunday. In our Byzantine-Ruthenian tradition, the superior of the house in monasteries always asks forgiveness every night at Compline from the monks or nuns. In return they both grant forgiveness and ask it of their superior. This is done for the parishes on this day, with the mutual ceremony taking place between pastor and people. There can be no true fasting or repentance if we persist in holding on to our anger and refuse to be reconciled with each other.
We remember the tragedy of Original Sin by meditating on the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Humanity is burdened with the desire to sin as a result, called concupiscence, or the desire to do things which reason should tell us not to do. In icons of Cheesefare Sunday, Adam and Eve are expelled from Paradise. They are clothed in rough animal skins and leave barefoot, a sign of their degradation. Previously they lived naked and innocent. In the Bible, those who are holy wear fine linen. Adam and Eve are deprived of that, and even of the comfort of sandals. They are lower than slaves because of their rebellion against God. Even so, God does not thrust them into the now-broken world without some protection against the elements. He still shows His love to them.