Great Lent
Pre-Lenten Sundays
Holy Week
Pascha
Fun Ben Facts
100

All Orthodox Christians are called to do this during Great Lent: not eating certain foods for the entire Lenten period, in an effort to draw closer to God.

Fast

100

The first pre-Lenten Sunday has this gospel reading, which shows how two men pray differently in the temple

The Publican and the Pharisee

100

Palm Sunday is the first Sunday of Holy Week, and it remembers when Jesus entered this city, and the children laid down a certain plant before him on the road

Jerusalem

100
Before Jesus was crucified, the Jews brought him before this man, who was the Roman governor of the area, so that they could condemn Jesus to death

Pontius Pilate

100

Left or right?

Right

200

Great Lent lasts for this many days, which is the same number of days that Jesus Christ fasted in the desert while being tempted by the devil during his life

40

200

The second pre-Lenten Sunday has this Gospel Reading, in which a man leaves his father's house for a faraway country.

The Prodigal Son

200

On the day before Palm Sunday: the day in which Jesus raised this man, Mary and Martha's brother, who was dead in the tomb for four days

Lazarus

200

These two men were crucified next to Jesus -- one on his right, and one on his left

Thiefs

200

Up or down?

Down

300

This service is served on Wednesday nights during Great Lent.

Presanctified Liturgy

300

The third pre-Lenten Sunday has this Gospel reading, in which Jesus says that He was among the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, and the needy that the people saw for their entire lives. This is also the last Sunday to eat meat before Lent. 

Sunday of the Last Judgment/Meatfare Sunday

300

On Holy Thursday, during the Passion Gospels service, we hear the story of how Jesus was betrayed by this disciple.

Judas

300

The first people to discover that Jesus had risen from the dead were these women, who were carrying a certain spice with them to anoint the body of Jesus.

Myrrhbearing Women

300

Fast or slow?

Slow

400

During the Divine Liturgy on Sundays, the priest prepares this, both for the faithful to partake in on Sunday, and for the faithful to partake in during the Wednesday service of Presanctified Liturgy

The Eucharist

400

The fourth and final pre-Lenten Sunday is called this, because the congregation goes around the church and ask one another for forgiveness. It is also the last day to eat dairy before Great Lent.

Forgiveness Sunday or Cheesefare Sunday.

400
In the first days of Holy Week, the church serves a Matins in the evening called this, which remind us that Christ loves the church, and that the heavenly kingdom will be like a bridal chamber.

Bridegroom Matins

400

Pascha, the Orthodox Word for Easter, comes from the same word as this word, which is a Hebrew holiday starting with the letter "P" that Jesus and the disciples were celebrating before he was crucified.

Passover

400

Day or night?

Night

500

Besides fasting, these two other disciplines are also prescribed to practicing Orthodox Christians during Great Lent

Increased prayer and almsgiving

500

This is the name of the first day of Great Lent, the Monday immediately following Forgiveness Sunday

Clean Monday

500

On Holy Wednesday, this sacrament of the church is practiced in some churches. In this sacrament, the body is anointed with oil to heal infirmities and forgive sins.

Holy Unction

500

During the Pascha service, the Paschal sermon written by this famous saint (who also wrote the Divine Liturgy) is read. 

St. John Chrysostom

500

Hot or cold

Cold