Lent

Definition and Meaning

The Korean term for Lent, sasunjeol (四旬節), means "a period of forty days." In the church year, it refers to the period from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter. The Sundays within this period are regarded as days commemorating the Resurrection and are not included in the count; excluding the Sundays, the season totals forty days. Because the date of Easter varies from year to year, the date on which Lent begins also changes annually. The liturgical color (the color that marks a season) is usually purple. The final week is Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday.

Biblical and Historical Background

The number forty is understood in connection with the forty days Jesus Christ fasted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2) and the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28). Scripture, however, does not directly command the observance of Lent.

The early church kept a short fast before Easter. Those who were to receive baptism at Easter also underwent a period of preparation at this time. These customs are believed to have developed into a forty-day period by about the fourth century. After the Reformation, the Lutheran and Anglican churches continued to observe Lent. By contrast, the Puritan tradition within the Reformed churches did not observe church seasons, holding that the only day Scripture commands to be kept holy is the Lord's Day.

Practice in Korean Churches

The extent to which Korean churches observe Lent varies by denomination and by individual congregation.

• The Anglican Church of Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea observe Lent according to the church year. On Ash Wednesday they hold a rite in which ashes are placed on the forehead.
• In the Korean Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, and the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap), many congregations worship according to the church year, and some hold Ash Wednesday services.
• Some Presbyterian churches that emphasize the Reformed tradition, as well as Baptist and Pentecostal churches, often center their observance on Holy Week rather than on the whole of Lent.

Across denominations, practices of self-denial such as reading Lenten devotionals, attending special early-morning prayer meetings, and reducing media use are widely observed.