Utah Christians mark Ash Wednesday

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
Deacon Lynn Johnson and the Rev. Martin Diaz participate in the Ash Wednesday ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
A girl observes the interior of the cathedral during the Ash Wednesday ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rey Paguio prays during the Ash Wednesday ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
Interior of the Cathedral of the Madeleine during Ash Wednesday ceremonies March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Rev. Martin Diaz speaks with members of the congregation after Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
A girl carries a candle into the Cathedral of the Madeleine during the Ash Wednesday ceremony marking the beginning of Lent, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune
A man prays during the Ash Wednesday ceremony marking the beginning of Lent at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

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Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Deacon Lynn Johnson and the Rev. Martin Diaz participate in the Ash Wednesday ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Deacon Lynn Johnson and the Rev. Martin Diaz participate in the Ash Wednesday ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune A girl observes the interior of the cathedral during the Ash Wednesday ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Rey Paguio prays during the Ash Wednesday ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Deacon Lynn Johnson and the Rev. Martin Diaz participate in the Ash Wednesday ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Interior of the Cathedral of the Madeleine during Ash Wednesday ceremonies March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Interior of the Cathedral of the Madeleine during Ash Wednesday ceremonies March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune The Rev. Martin Diaz speaks with members of the congregation after Ash Wednesday ceremonies at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Interior of the Cathedral of the Madeleine during Ash Wednesday ceremonies March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune A girl carries a candle into the Cathedral of the Madeleine during the Ash Wednesday ceremony marking the beginning of Lent, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune A man prays during the Ash Wednesday ceremony marking the beginning of Lent at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, March 5, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· March 6, 2014 7:41 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah Christians marked the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday services at area churches, including the landmark Cathedral of the Madeleine in downtown Salt Lake City.

The day falls on the seventh Wednesday before Easter, the holiest season of the year for Christians.

Many believers — including Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Episcopalians, many Lutherans and increasingly other Protestants — follow the practice of having ashes put on their foreheads as an outward symbol of their "ashes-to-ashes" return to dust.