Date: February 19, 2026
This is one of those moments in the history of humanity when a significant percentage of the world is committed to some form of abstinence. The great Christian festival of Lent and the great Muslim month of Ramadan coincide. God is being acknowledged in a shared way of surrender. Ramadan started on Tuesday night; and Lent started with Ash Wednesday.
I found this exchange between a local council in the UK – Bedford Council – a local resident fascinating. The local resident is complaining that Ramadan should not have been mentioned first.
The point is well made. History determines the dates of these occasions.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.Â