April: Russian Easter is not for the faint of heart

We were in the village the week before Easter and while we've been in the village during Easter before, we had never attended a service.  After attending one service, I decided that one really needs to train like it's a marathon to really ready oneself for Easter.  They have two services a day the week before and the week after Easter.  Each service lasts as least an hour and a half and there are no pews in their church.  You have to stand throughout the entire service.  Now I like to think of myself as still young and in relatively good shape, but my legs were tired by the end of one service.  My legs would be screaming abuse if they had to do that twice a day for two weeks.  They do it all while going through Russian lent - which is definitely not for the faint of heart.  I think the only meat they can eat for those 40 days is fish, but I'm not sure.  I know they can't have any red meat, which is a very long time to go without bacon.  They also do not eat cheese, eggs, sweets, or pretty much any of the things that make food so wonderful and there are several days when they do not eat at all, but fast through the day.  Easter in the village is like the ultimate endurance test.  All of it, though, is done to keep the focus on what Christ did for us.  When you want to whine about what you're giving up, you remember how much He gave up for us and appreciate it all the more.