Interfaith Days: February 15, Parinirvana, Quinquagesima, Meatfare Sunday, Transfiguration

from http://rkina.org/wh115_nirvana.html

Today is Parinirvana, a Mahayana holiday commemorating the death of Siddhartha the Buddha, and his entry into Nirvana. As this website indicates, "Nirvana Day is a time for contemplation of the Buddha’s teachings. Some monasteries and temples hold meditation retreats. Others open their doors to laypeople, who bring gifts of money and household goods to support monks and nuns."

It is the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday, or Quinquagesima, the fiftieth day (hence the name) before Easter. The three named pre-Lent Sundays have been eliminated from the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, although a few Anglican provinces still mark these days.

In many Christian denominations, this is also Transfiguration Sunday, commemorating the event, recorded in the Synoptic gospels, where Jesus transformed into his glorified appearance along with Moses and Elijah atop Mount Tabor in Galilee. Peter, James, and John were the frightened disciples at the experience.

Today is also Meatfare Sunday, or the Sunday of the Last Judgment. For Orthodox Christians, it is the third Sunday of the pre-Lenten period. Typically it is the last Sunday before Easter for eating meat. The Scripture lesson is the parable of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46), where we are enjoined to serve Christ via serving one another. This site explains more about the day and is the source of the icon below.