Great and Holy Lent

Every year, Orthodox Christians prepare for the great feast of Pascha by observing the 40-day Lenten fast. Great Lent, or the Great Forty Days begins on the fourth Monday of Triodion, otherwise known as Clean Monday, and goes until the Friday before Palm Sunday. (This year, March 3rd through April 11th). The period is marked not only by fasting, but a general increase in the spiritual disciplines. Great Lent is sometimes described as a three-legged stool, supported by the three "legs" of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving. It is the most penitential season of the Church year, and the greatest (both in length and in scope) of the four great fasts.

Great Lent is also marked by additional services, many of which are unique to the season. These include Great Compline, the Presanctified Liturgy, and the Akathist Hymn/Salutations to the Theotokos. 

Great Lent is forty days, but is only part of the Orthodox "Journey to Pascha." After Great Lent, we begin Great and Holy Week with the commemoration of the Saturday of Lazarus (April 12th) and Palm Sunday (April 13th), followed by a day-by-day commemoration of the Lord's Passion culminating in the "Feast of Feasts," Great and Holy Pascha!

For the Lenten service schedule, click here.

For the Holy Week service schedule, click here.

For more information and resources for Great Lent, click here.