Lent Basics
The Great Lent is the main fast of the Copts and lasts this many days.
55 days
This queen uncovered the Honorable Cross from under a pile at Golgotha in Jerusalem
Queen Helena (St. Helena)
Holy Week begins with this Sunday, when we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem.
Palm Sunday
This Coptic book of daily prayers is prayed seven times a day, especially during Lent.
The Agpeya
Christians make this gesture tracing the forehead and chest as a sign of faith and protection.
The Sign of the Cross
The 55 days consist of a week of preparation, 40 days commemorating Christ's fast, and this final week.
Holy Pascha Week / Passion Week
Queen Helena was the mother of this emperor
Emperor Constantine
The Coptic word for Easter, meaning Passover, used instead of the word Easter.
Pascha
Copts abstain from all food and drink from midnight until this time each fasting day.
Sunset
During the Feasts of the Cross, the church procession uses the same tune as this feast.
Palm Sunday (the Hosanna / Shannon-Hosanna tune)
During the Coptic fast, Christians avoid all of these food types.
All animal products — meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy
The Jewish leaders ordered people to dump dirt over the tomb of Jesus for over this many years, which is why the Cross was buried so deep.
200 years
On Holy Thursday, Jesus gave us this sacrament at the Last Supper.
Holy Communion
This is used in all seven sacraments — the priest makes its sign to receive God's blessing.
The Sign of the Cross
This fast, named after an Old Testament prophet who spent three days in a whale, comes just before the Great Lent
Jonah's Fast
After finding the Cross, Queen Helena built this on the site and consecrated it
A church (the Church of the Honorable Cross)
During Holy Pascha Week, the fast is strictest— on Good Friday and Bright Saturday Copts fast on only these three things.
Bread, salt, and water
Out of 365 days, Copts fast between this many days per year — more than any other Christian denomination
210 to 240 days
St. Paul says in Galatians 6:14 that he will only boast in this.
The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
These three things are the indispensable means of participating in the Great Lent
Fasting, prayer, and spiritual vigilance
The second Feast of the Cross falls on the 10th of Baramhat but is celebrated on 17 Toot instead for this reason.
Because the 10th of Baramhat always falls during fasting / the Great Lent
This apostle betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, remembered on Holy Wednesday.
Judas Iscariot
Fasting is described not as a goal but as a means to learn this, so one may overcome impulses that lead to sin.
To overcome the body's wants / control the flesh
The Cross is described as bridging the gap between these two things.
Heaven and Earth