The tradition dates as far back as 601 AD, when 64th leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Gregory cemented the Lent as ...

After six Fridays of not eating meat, Christians observing Lent are nearly at the finish line. The 40-day season of prayer comes to an end this week just ahead of the Easter holiday. The period ...

According to Britannica.com, Ash Wednesday is "a solemn reminder ... services where ashes are placed on their foreheads in the shape of a cross, often accompanied by fasting or prayer.