Different Gospel for Sunday before the Triodion in Greek and Antiochian practice?

[Olympiada]

Hi Friends
I am in the OCA and I have a friend who is a priest in the Antiochian church. I am wondering why we have different scripture readings for the Sunday before the Triodion. The OCA has Zacchaeus Sunday well the Antiochian church, I think, has the Canaanite woman. What gives?
Thanks
Olympiada

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Dear Olympiada,

The reason for the difference is that the OCA follows the Russian tradition in which the Sunday reading before the Triodion begins would always be for Zaccheaus. In the Byzantine tradition however the reading is always for the Canaanite woman.

So it's just an interesting variation in the tradition which is responsible for the difference.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Doug Gwinn]

Olympiada, greetings--

We (Antiochan) did Zaccheaus the week before. So we got him in, too!

Doug