Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent in the christian church. While the service traditions date back to the 11th century CE, the tradition of receiving ashes as an outward sign of repentance dates back thousands of years. The ashes used during the Ash Wednesday liturgy are made by burning palm crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday liturgy, and mixing them with oil. The ashes are used by a priest to mark the sign of a cross on the foreheads of those attending the service (known as "imposition of ashes"). These words are often spoken: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
To find an Ash Wednesday service in a church near you within our diocese, CLICK HERE. All are welcome!
To watch a short Ash Wednesday sermon with Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee, click on the link below.
