70+ Happy Sunday: beautiful postcards, pictures

Forgiven Sunday is one of the brightest and most touching days in the Orthodox calendar, when it is customary to ask for forgiveness from relatives and friends in order to enter Lent with a pure heart and peace of mind. Izvestia has prepared more than 70 postcards and greetings specially for this date.

The history and traditions of the Forgiven Sunday: when to celebrate and how to spend this day

Forgiven Sunday completes the Maslenitsa week and the period of spiritual preparation for Lent, which will last until Easter, on April 12. In 2026, Forgiveness Sunday falls on February 22.

The tradition of mutual forgiveness dates back to early Christian times. In the fourth and fifth centuries, monks of the Egyptian deserts spent 40 days fasting in the desert following the example of Jesus Christ. Before that, they asked for forgiveness from the brethren, as they knew that they might not return to the monastery anymore. Over time, this custom spread among all believers.

On Forgiven Sunday, Vespers is celebrated in churches with the rite of forgiveness: the priest first asks the congregation for forgiveness, and then the parishioners bow to each other with the words: "I'm sorry." The answer is: "God will forgive, and I forgive." It is also customary in the family to ask for forgiveness from relatives, to forgive offenses and to reconcile before the beginning of the fast. Believers on this day can enjoy dairy products, pancakes and eggs for the last time.

Forgiveness Sunday is a day when the church reminds us that forgiveness begins with ourselves. If we forgive others, the Lord will forgive us, and Lent will be a time of true spiritual renewal and joy. It is especially important not to postpone reconciliation for later. Sometimes just one call, a short message, or sincere words at a meeting are enough to melt a long-standing grudge. Many people choose postcards with warm wishes and send them to their relatives, friends and colleagues — in person, in family chats or via messengers.

You can add a few sincere phrases to the postcard, thank you for your support, ask for forgiveness for inattentiveness or harsh words. Below are examples of sincere congratulations in prose and short messages to send on Forgiveness Sunday.

"Happy Sunday! I sincerely ask you to forgive me for anything that may have upset me. May peace reign in your heart and the bright joy of reconciliation settle in your soul!"

"Today I ask your forgiveness for all the insults and misunderstandings. May the Lord strengthen us in love, patience and good deeds!"

"On this special day, I want to say: forgive me. May there be no shadow of resentment between us, and there will only be peace and harmony ahead!"

"Happy Forgiven Sunday! May this day bring relief to the soul and open the way to inner renewal!"

"I'm sorry if I was unfair or inconsiderate. May the Lord grant us the wisdom to forgive and be forgiven!"

"Happy Reconciliation Day! May all worries remain in the past, and there will be a blessed path to Easter ahead!"

"Today it is important to let go of the old and say the main thing — forgive me. I wish you peace of mind and warmth. Happy Sunday!"

"May this day be the beginning of a new page without resentment and regrets! I sincerely apologize."

"Happy Sunday! I wish you peace in your family, harmony in your soul, and strong faith."

"I'm sorry for the harsh words and hasty decisions. May there be only goodness in our hearts!"

"May the Lord cleanse our hearts of all that is superfluous! I'm sorry for everything."

"Happy Sunday! I sincerely ask you to forgive me for anything that may have upset me. May peace reign in your heart and the bright joy of reconciliation settle in your soul!"

"Today I ask your forgiveness for all the involuntary insults and misunderstandings. May the Lord strengthen us in love, patience and good deeds!"

"On this special day, I want to say: forgive me. May there be no shadow of resentment between us, and there will only be peace and harmony ahead!"

"Happy Forgiven Sunday! May this day bring relief to the soul and open the way to inner renewal!"

"I'm sorry if I was unfair or inconsiderate. May the Lord grant us the wisdom to forgive and be forgiven!"

"Happy Reconciliation Day! May all worries remain in the past, and there will be a blessed path to Easter ahead!"

"Today it is important to let go of the old and say the main thing — forgive me. I wish you peace of mind and warmth"

"Happy Sunday! May this day be the beginning of a new page without resentment or regrets! I sincerely apologize."

"Forgiveness Sunday reminds us of the most important thing — forgiveness and love. Forgive me for everything that went wrong, and accept my warmest wishes for peace in your heart."

"Happy Sunday! On this bright day, I apologize for every careless word and inattentive act. May the Lord unite us in love and mutual understanding!"

"Happy Sunday! I want all grievances to melt away like winter snow, and real kindness and mutual support to blossom in their place."

"Today is the day of the great miracle of forgiveness. Please forgive me for anything I might have done to hurt you. I wish you lightness and joy in your heart before Lent"

"May the Forgiven Sunday purify our hearts and help us begin the fast with peace and joy! Forgive me for all my voluntary and involuntary insults."

"On this day, I apologize and I forgive you from the bottom of my heart. May there be only love, understanding and mutual support between us! Happy Sunday!"

"Forgiveness Sunday is the time to say the most important thing: forgive me. Thank you for your patience and kindness. May the Lord keep us in peace and harmony!"

"Today I want to purify my soul and heart. I'm sorry for everything I was wrong about. I wish you peace and light on this special day."

"Happy Sunday of Forgiveness! May this day take away from us all the burden of resentment and open the way to spiritual renewal and joy!"

"Forgive me for every moment when I was cold. May warmth and mutual respect always reign in our relationship!"

"On Forgiven Sunday, I apologize and wish your heart to be filled with peace, and your soul with light and hope for the best"

"May this day help us let go of all that is superfluous and keep only the good and bright! I sincerely apologize and hug you tightly."

"Today is the day when you can and should say: forgive me. Thank you for being here. May the Lord bless us on the path of love and forgiveness!"

"Happy Sunday! I want all the misunderstandings to disappear, and sincere friendship and mutual understanding to blossom in their place."

"May the Forgiven Sunday be the beginning of a clean and bright path! Forgive me for anything that might have hurt, and accept my gratitude for your kindness."

"On this special day, I apologize for my impatience and brusqueness. I wish you peace of mind and joy on the eve of Lent."

"Forgiveness Sunday teaches us the most important thing — to forgive and be forgiven. Please forgive me and know that you are very dear to me."

"Today I want to say simple and sincere words to you: forgive me. May there always be only love and mutual respect between us!"

"Happy Forgiven Sunday! May this day purify our hearts and help us celebrate Lent with peace and hope."

"I'm sorry for anything that might have upset or hurt me. Thank you for your affection and understanding. I wish you an easy and bright soul"

"May the Forgiven Sunday lift all burdens from the soul and give a feeling of freedom and joy! I sincerely apologize and hug you."

"Happy Sunday! On this day, I apologize for every mistake and weakness. I want our relationship to be filled with only kindness and warmth."

"Forgiven Sunday is the time to say the main thing and hear kind words in response. Please forgive me and accept my most sincere gratitude."

"Happy Sunday! Today I apologize and I am happy to forgive myself. May this day be the beginning of a new, clean and bright stage in our lives!"

"Happy Sunday! I want all the grievances to be in the past, and only peace, love and mutual understanding await us ahead."

"May this good day cleanse our hearts and help us begin Lent with ease and joy! Forgive me for everything, darling!"

"On Forgiven Sunday, I apologize for my pride and inattention. Thank you for your patience and love. I wish you peace of mind!"

"Today I especially want to be honest: forgive me for everything that could hurt. May there always be only light and warmth between us!"

"Happy Sunday! Forgive me for all the times when I was distant or inattentive! May the heart be cleansed, and the soul be filled with peace and quiet joy!"

"Today is the day of great forgiveness. Please forgive me for every word and deed that could hurt. I wish you lightness and light in your soul!"

"On Forgiveness Sunday, I would like to say simply and from the bottom of my heart: forgive me. Thank you for your kindness and patience. May there always be only warmth between us!"

"May this day take away all the burden of resentment from my heart! I sincerely apologize for anything that may have upset you. I hug you tightly and with love!"

"Happy Forgiven Sunday! Let all the misunderstandings disappear, and in their place, mutual understanding and deep tenderness will blossom!"

"Happy Sunday! Today I apologize for my impatience, pride and inattention. You are very dear to me, and I want only peace in our relationship."

"Forgiveness Sunday reminds us that the most important thing is love and forgiveness. I'm sorry for everything that went wrong. Thank you for being here."

"On this good day, I want to purify my soul and say to you: I'm sorry. May the Lord keep us in harmony and mutual support!"

"May the Forgiven Sunday be the beginning of a clean and bright path! Forgive me for all the mistakes and weaknesses. I wish you peace and joy!"

"Happy Reconciliation Day! Forgive me for every careless word and coldness! I want only kind and warm days ahead of us!"

"Today it is especially important to say: forgive me. Thank you for your affection and understanding. May my heart be filled with peace and gratitude!"

"On Forgiven Sunday, I apologize for my harshness and selfishness. You are very dear to me, and I want to be better for you."

"May this day cleanse us of all unnecessary and difficult things. Please forgive me and accept my most sincere gratitude!"

"Today is the day when you can and should say the most important thing — forgive me. Thank you for your patience and kindness. I hug you from the bottom of my heart"

"Forgiven Sunday is the time to let go of the old and start from scratch. I'm sorry for anything that could hurt. I wish you spiritual light!"

"On this bright day, I apologize for my carelessness and coldness. May there always be only warmth and mutual understanding between us!"

"May the Forgiven Sunday help us to become closer and kinder to each other. I'm sorry for all the mistakes. You are very important to me."

"Happy holidays! Today I tell you sincerely: forgive me. Thank you for your love and support. May the Lord keep us in peace and harmony!"

"Forgiveness Sunday reminds us of the most important thing — forgiveness. Forgive me for everything I could have done to upset you."

The postcards and greetings were prepared by Izvestia using artificial intelligence.