Great Lent & Passion Week

Written by Monachos.net Webmaster.

Great Lent is the lengthy period in the Church's annual liturgical cycle, when all Orthodox Christians are called to heightened attentiveness to the Christian life, through increased attendance at the divine services, an increase of almsgiving, severer fasting and other ascetical labours.

Each week in the Great Fast, including four weeks prior to it, has a specific theme and focus. The resources provided here in the Monachos.net Great Lent Area are aimed to relate to each of the weeks of preparation for Holy Pascha.

For daily use: A daily patristic reading plan for every day of Great Lent, with linked daily texts from the Fathers.

Lenten Calendar & Materials, 2012

This section contains detailed materials for each week of the Great Fast, 2012, as well as the pre-Lenten period. Click on the slider for the current week to find day-by-day resources, services, reflections, and other materials.

+ - Pre-Lenten Weeks Click to collapse

Pre-Lenten Weeks

Sundays before the Triodion, 2012
	16 / 29 January Tone VIII	Sunday of Zacchaeus On Zacchaeus - A homily by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh.
Pre-Lent, 2012
	23 January / 5 February Tone I	Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee 'Not like other men' - A reflection on the Gospel reading of the Publican & Pharisee and its application to the spiritual journey leading into Lent, particularly with regard to judgement. Homily by St Cyril of Alexandria on the Publican and the Pharisee - A homily by the saint on the day as revealing a single-minded virtue all Christians must obtain. Discourse of St Gregory Palamas on the Publican and the Pharisee. NOTE: In the week following the Sunday of the Publican & Pharisee, there is no fasting on any day, in remembrance of the Publican who was saved through his humility.
	30 January / 12 February Tone II	Sunday of the Prodigal Son Triodion hymns for the Prodigal Son - The hymns and texts from the Triodion for the services of this Sunday. Homily by St Cyril of Alexandria on the Prodigal Son. 'All to no purpose have I left my true home' - A reflection on the hymongraphy and meaning of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son as an entrance into Great Lent. The spirit of exile and the sin of man - A new reflection for this Lent, written in the past year, on the state of exile described in the account of the Prodigal Son, rather than a fall, as the Church's principal vision of man's sinful condition. NOTE: Normal fasting (i.e. on Wednesday and Friday) resumes this week; wine is permitted on both days, and fish on Friday
	2 / 15 February	Feast of the Meeting of the Lord
	5 / 18 February (Sat)	Commemoration of the Departed Texts from the services for the departed - A collection of texts from the hymongraphy of the day dedicated to the universal commemorated of the dead, with a brief reflection.
	6 / 19 February Tone III	Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meat Fare) Triodion hymns for the Last Judgement - The hymns and texts from the Triodion for the services of this Sunday. On the Christian fear of God: the Last Judgement - Reflection upon the references to fear, judgement, wrath and expectation in the hymns and services of the Last Judgement, and the place of these in the Lenten preparation. NOTE: From the Sunday of the Last Judgement, no meat is eaten until Pascha. However, in the week following this Sunday, all other foods are allowed on every day of the week (i.e. normal fasting rules for Wednesdays and Fridays are relaxed).
	12 / 25 February (Sat)	Commemoration of the Holy Ascetics
	13 / 26 February Tone IV	Forgiveness Sunday (Cheese Fare), which is properly the Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise Forgiveness Sunday: At the threshold of the Fast - Reflections on the Sunday of Forgiveness, starting from the day's main commemoration—the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise—and investigating the interrelatedness of the theme of exile with the need for mutual forgiveness before beginning the Fast. The Rite of Mutual Forgiveness - The hymns and texts service of Evening Vespers on Sunday, including the forgiveness rite. Quotations from the Fathers on Forgiveness Fr Alexander Schmemann on Forgiveness Sunday: 'Neither will your Father forgive you...' NOTES: This is the final weekend on which we sing 'By the rivers of Babylon...' until next year; and it marks the final celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom until the Sunday of Palms. It is also the final day on which we eat milk, cheese, eggs, and other dairy products until Holy Pascha.

+ - First Week Click to collapse

First Week

First Week of Great Lent, 2012 - Tone IV
	14 / 27 February (Mon)	Beginning of Great Lent (Clean Week) Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete, pt. 1
	15 / 28 February (Tue)	Tuesday in Clean Week Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete, pt. 2
	16 / 29 February (Wed)	Wednesday in Clean Week Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete, pt. 3
	17 February / 1 March (Thu)	Thursday in Clean Week Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete, pt. 4
	18 February / 2 March (Fri)	Friday in Clean Week Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Small Compline with Akathist (chairetismoi) Canon of the Great-Martyr Theodore
	19 February / 3 March (Sat)	Saturday of the Great-Martyr Theodore
	20 February / 4 March (Sun) Tone V	Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy 'Farewell homily' bt St Tikhon of Moscow, on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, 1907 - A new translation of St Tikhon's final sermon in America, given on the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Service of the Triumph of Orthodoxy - The text of the service commemoration the restoration of the holy icons, including the anathemas, memory eternal, and many years. Homily on the Triumph of Orthodoxy by St Tikhon - A sermon by St Tikhon the New-Confessor on the Triumph of Orthodoxy and the missionary zeal to which it calls every member of the faithful. On the Holy Icons - A text by St Gregory Palamas on the holy icons, from his larger New Testament Decalogue.

+ - Second Week Click to collapse

Second Week

Second Week - Tone V
	23 February / 7 March (Wed)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
	24 February / 8 March (Thu)	Commemoration of the Second Finding of the Precious Head of St John the Forerunner and Baptist
	25 February / 9 March (Fri)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Small Compline with Akathist (chairetismoi)
	26 February / 10 March (Sat)	Commemoration of the Departed (see text for first Saturday of the Departed)
	27 February / 11 March (Sun) Tone VI	Sunday of St Gregory Palamas New for 2012: Reading from the Synaxarion for St Gregory Sunday - The reading of the Saint's Life from the service books. St Gregory Palamas: Knowledge, Prayer & Vision - A study of the theology of St Gregory, one of the Church's greatest expositors of hesychast spirituality. St Gregory Palamas: An Historical Overview - A study of the historical activities of St Gregory's life, with a thorough timeline. New for 2012: A brief overview of the place of St Gregory Palamas in the cycle of Lenten commemorations - drawn from the Church books.

+ - Third Week Click to collapse

Third Week

Third Week - Tone VI
	1 / 14 March (Wed)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
	3 / 16 March (Fri)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Small Compline with Akathist (chairetismoi)
	5 / 17 March (Sat)	Commemoration of the Departed (see text for first Saturday of the Departed)
	5 / 18 March (Sun) Tone VII	Sunday of the Adoration of the Precious Cross Hymns on the Adoration of the Cross - A selection of texts from the hymnography for the day. New for 2012: Homily on the Sunday of the Cross by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh - tying together themes of universal forgiveness and an entry into the life of Christ.

+ - Fourth Week Click to collapse

Fourth Week

Fourth Week - Tone VII
	8 / 21 March (Wed)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
	9 / 22 March (Thu)	Commemoration of the Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
	10 March / 23 March (Fri)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Small Compline with Akathist (chairetismoi)
	11 March / 24 March (Sat)	Commemoration of the Departed (see text for first Saturday of the Departed)
	12 March / 25 March (Sun) Tone VIII	Sunday of St John Klimakos (John of the Ladder) St John Klimakos: On repentance that leads to joy - A glimpse into St John's Ladder of Divine Ascent, and especially his teaching on joy-creating sorrow and its place in the ascetic life of the Church.

+ - Fifth Week Click to collapse

Fifth Week

Fifth Week - Tone VIII
	15 March / 28 March (Wed)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts (AM) Matins (PM) with Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete (Full); reading of the Life of St Mary of Egypt
	17 March / 30 March (Fri)	Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Matins (PM) with Akathist to Mother of God (Full)
	18 March / 31 March (Sat)	Saturday of the Akathist Hymn (service generally done on Friday evening, as above)
	19 March / 1 April (Sun) Tone I	Sunday of St Mary of Egypt The Life of St Mary of Egypt - St Sophronius' Life of St Mary, the great desert ascetic and example of true repentance, to whose memory the Sunday of the fifth week of Lent is dedicated; also includes additional information on the saint.

+ - Sixth Week Click to collapse

Sixth Week

Sixth Week - Tone I
	22 March / 4 April (Wed)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts
	24 March / 6 April (Fri)	Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts All-Night Vigil for the Feast of the Annunciation (incorporating the hymnography of Matins (PM) for Lazarus Saturday, otherwise served on this day)
	25 March / 7 April (Sat)	Feast of the Annunciation to the Theotokos, combined in 2012 with Lazarus Saturday Kontakion on the raising of St Lazarus - The great Hymn of St Romanos the Melodist on the raising of Lazarus—one of the most moving reflections upon Christ's gift of new life to His friend and to all the faithful, by tending to the 'tears of Mary and Martha'.
	26 March / 8 April (Sun) Festal Tones	The Entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) About the services of Palm Sunday Matins (PM) of the Bridegroom

Passion Week

Passion Week - Festal Tones On the Services of Passion Week Special Reading for Passion Week: On the Passover by Melito of Sardis
	27 March / 9 April (Mon)	Great & Holy Monday Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Matins (PM) of the Bridegroom
	28 March / 10 April (Tue)	Great & Holy Tuesday Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Matins (PM) of the Bridegroom
	29 March / 11 April (Wed)	Great & Holy Wednesday Hours and Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts Sacrament of the Anointing Homily by St Leo the Great on the Passion of Christ - A homily by one of the great Fathers, on Christ's passion at the Cross, preached on this day.
	30 March / 12 April (Thu)	Great & Holy Thursday, with Washing of Feet Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil the Great Matins (PM) with Twelve Passion Gospels
	31 March / 13 April (Fri)	Great & Holy Friday (strict fast) 12 Passion Gospels & Royal Hours (read night before) Royal Hours Vespers & Epitaphios Service Matins & Burial Service
	1 / 14 April (Sat)	Great and Holy Saturday (wine allowed, but no oil) Lamentations and Acts of the Apostles Read a poem by Orthodox poet Timothy Jeffries Johnson for this day: 'Mother, Do Not Weep For Me.' Midnight Office Paschal Matins Paschal Midnight Liturgy
	2 / 15 April 2010	The Glorious Resurrection of Christ, the Pascha of the Lord

Lenten Calendar & Materials, 2012

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