Journey to Pascha Series - Lesson #6: 1st Week of Lent; Adam & Eve Expelled from Paradise, Cheesefare Sunday & Forgiveness Sunday

Origins of the Selected Hymnography for the Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise

The hymnography for the Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise (also called Forgiveness Sunday or Cheesefare Sunday) marks the final preparatory Sunday before Great Lent. The hymns of this day focus on the themes of repentance, exile, and the loss of communion with God, drawing from Biblical accounts, Patristic teachings, and extra-biblical literature, including pseudepigrapha and apocrypha. The liturgical texts vividly depict Adam’s sorrow outside Eden, emphasizing both the tragedy of the Fall and the hope of restoration through Christ.

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1. Biblical Foundations

The primary scriptural basis for this Sunday is Genesis 2-3, which recounts the creation of Adam and Eve, their temptation by the serpent, their disobedience, and their expulsion from Paradise. The hymns of the day are filled with lamentation, echoing Adam’s sorrow as he stands outside the gates of Eden. Key biblical passages include:

• Genesis 3:22-24 – Adam and Eve are cast out of the Garden, and a cherub with a flaming sword is placed at the entrance.

• Psalm 137 (By the waters of Babylon) – Often associated with exile, this psalm reflects Adam's longing for Paradise and is incorporated into the hymnography.

• Romans 13:11-14:4 – A New Testament epistle reading exhorting believers to cast off sinful works and prepare for spiritual struggle.

• Matthew 6:14-21 – Christ’s teaching on forgiveness and fasting, highlighting the necessity of reconciliation before entering Lent.

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2. Pseudepigraphal and Apocryphal Influences

While the canonical Genesis account forms the basis of the hymnography, many of the dramatic elements in the hymns—Adam's weeping, his dialogue with Paradise, and the depth of his sorrow—closely resemble later Jewish and Christian expansions on the Fall narrative found in pseudepigraphal texts.

The First and Second Books of Adam and Eve (The Apocalypse of Moses)

The Life of Adam and Eve, commonly known as the First and Second Books of Adam and Eve, provides an expanded apocryphal account of Adam and Eve’s life after their expulsion from Paradise. Themes from these texts that appear in the hymnography include:

• Adam’s lament outside the gates of Paradise (1 Adam and Eve 3:1-6):

• The hymns describe Adam weeping at the closed gates of Eden, mirroring the apocryphal scene in which he throws himself to the ground in grief and prays for mercy.

• The longing for reunion with God (2 Adam and Eve 8:1-4):

• Adam recalls the splendor of Paradise and mourns his separation from divine light, themes echoed in the stichera of Vespers.

• The physical suffering of Adam and Eve after the Fall (1 Adam and Eve 5:5-9):

• The hymns portray Adam as experiencing hunger, thirst, and hardship in exile, akin to the penance described in the apocryphal accounts.

The Book of Enoch and Other Apocalyptic Texts

• 1 Enoch 32:3-6 – Describes a vision of the Garden of Righteousness, which bears similarities to the hymnographic portrayal of Paradise as a place of divine beauty, now lost to humanity.

• 4 Ezra (2 Esdras) 7:11-16 – Speaks of how Adam’s sin brought death into the world, a major theme of this Sunday’s hymns, which contrast the Fall with Christ’s redemptive work.

Other Apocryphal Parallels

• The Gospel of Nicodemus (Acts of Pilate) contains references to Christ’s descent into Hades, an early Christian development of the Adamic theme. This is crucial because the hymnography of Forgiveness Sunday not only mourns Adam’s exile but also foreshadows his redemption through Christ’s Resurrection.

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3. Liturgical and Patristic Development

The hymnography of Forgiveness Sunday developed over centuries, with contributions from early Byzantine hymnographers such as St. Andrew of Crete (7th-8th century), St. John of Damascus (8th century), and later hymnographers of the monastic tradition.

• The Lenten Triodion, compiled over time, incorporates these hymns to set the tone for Great Lent as a return journey to Eden.

• The Vespers hymns and stichera reflect Patristic interpretations of Adam’s exile and our own need for repentance.

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4. Spiritual and Theological Significance

• Adam as Every Person – The hymns are not merely historical reflections but existential prayers. Each Christian is Adam, standing outside of Paradise, longing to return.

• Repentance as the Path Back to Eden – Great Lent is presented as a time of ascetic struggle, mirroring Adam’s penitence in exile.

• Forgiveness and Reconciliation – The expulsion from Paradise was caused by disobedience and pride; re-entry requires humility and forgiveness, emphasized in the Gospel readings and Forgiveness Vespers.

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Conclusion

The hymnography of the Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise is a profound synthesis of Biblical, Apocryphal, and Patristic traditions, particularly influenced by Genesis, the Books of Adam and Eve, 1 Enoch, and other Jewish-Christian apocalyptic writings. These hymns emphasize the sorrow of exile, the necessity of repentance, and the hope of restoration—all central themes as the Church prepares to enter Great Lent.

Selected Hymnography from Forgiveness Sunday (The Sunday Before Lent, which begins on the Monday)

The Sunday of Forgiveness, also known as Cheesefare Sunday, is the last of the four preparatory Sundays before Great Lent and focuses on the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the proper approach to fasting. This day serves as a bridge between the pre-Lenten season and the beginning of the Lenten fast, emphasizing that true fasting must be accompanied by mutual love and reconciliation.

Key aspects of Forgiveness Sunday, as described in the sources and our conversation history, include:

• Themes: The main themes of the Sunday of Forgiveness are:

• Forgiveness and Reconciliation: This is the central theme of the day. The Sunday emphasizes that true fasting and reconciliation with God are impossible without also being reconciled with one another.

• Proper Approach to Fasting: The hymns and services of this day encourage the faithful to approach the Lenten fast with a spirit of love, compassion, and forgiveness. It is a reminder that fasting should not separate people but bring them closer.

• Repentance: The day also emphasizes the need for a change of heart and a turning back to God.

• Liturgical Elements:

• Vespers on Saturday Evening: Includes stichera from the Triodion that focus on themes of forgiveness.

• Mattins: Hymns emphasize the need for repentance and reconciliation with others before entering the fast.

• Vespers on Sunday Evening: This service includes a special ceremony of mutual forgiveness and penitential stichera. The service concludes with the priest saying, "At the prayers of our holy fathers...".

• The service is divided into two parts, with a change of atmosphere and vestments after the Great Prokimenon, transitioning to the penitential chants used on weekdays in Lent.

• The Great Prokimenon (Psalm 68) is sung, with the verse, "Turn not away Thy face from Thy servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily".

• Stichera of Repentance: Sung at Vespers on Sunday evening, these stichera are a key element of the hymnography. They are penitential and are sung in the tone of the week, calling for mercy and forgiveness. The stichera for the Sunday of Forgiveness include, "Let us all make haste to humble the flesh by abstinence, as we set out upon the God-given course of the holy Fast; and with prayers and tears let us seek our Lord and Savior...".

• The service includes a special ceremony of mutual forgiveness, which occurs at the end of Vespers on Sunday evening, as a reminder that a fast without love is the fast of demons and that the Lenten journey is not undertaken as isolated individuals, but as members of a community.

• Mutual Forgiveness:

• There is a special ceremony of mutual reconciliation at Vespers on the Sunday of Forgiveness, because without love towards others, there can be no genuine fast.

• This love should not be limited to formal gestures but should lead to acts of almsgiving, of giving not only money but also time and a part of oneself.

• Theological Significance:

• The day commemorates Adam's expulsion from Paradise, linking it to the theme of forgiveness. Lent is a time to weep with Adam and Eve for the sins that have deprived us of free communion with God, while also remembering that Christ's death and resurrection have reopened Paradise.

• The Gospel reading for the day (Matthew 6:14-21) underscores that true reconciliation with God requires reconciliation with one another.

• Thematic Connections:

• The Sunday of Forgiveness concludes the four preparatory Sundays for Lent. It builds upon the previous themes of humility, return to God, and compassion for others.

• It serves as a final reminder that asceticism and fasting should not separate individuals but rather link them together with stronger bonds.

• The Sunday of Forgiveness is a bridge to the Lenten fast, offering a foundation of forgiveness and reconciliation before entering the more intense period of fasting and prayer.

• Transition to Lent: The Sunday of Forgiveness marks the end of "Cheese Week," after which no more meat is eaten until Easter, though eggs, cheese, milk, and fish are permitted throughout the week. This transition to a more restrictive diet and increased spiritual discipline emphasizes the importance of internal preparation as well as outward observance.

In summary, the Sunday of Forgiveness is a critical juncture in the liturgical calendar. It provides a strong message about the necessity of forgiveness, love, and reconciliation as prerequisites for a meaningful Lenten fast. It is a call for the faithful to reflect on their relationships, seek forgiveness from others, and to begin the journey of Lent with a focus on both spiritual growth and communal harmony.