Editing Zacchaeus (section)

==Liturgical practices==
[[Image:33 Nedelya po 50ce 14.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Jesus invites Zacchaeus to come down from the sycamore tree, 11th century Veneto-[[Byzantine mosaics|Byzantine mosaic]] from Saint Mark's Basilica]]
In [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Greek-Catholic]] Churches, the Gospel account of Zacchaeus is read on the penultimate Sunday of the [[Pre-Lenten Season]] preceding the start [[Great Lent]], for which reason that Sunday is known as "Zacchaeus Sunday". It is the first commemoration of a new [[Paschal cycle]]. The account was chosen to open the Lenten season because of two [[exegesis|exegetical]] aspects: Jesus's call to Zacchaeus to come down from the tree (symbolizing the divine call to humility), and Zacchaeus's subsequent repentance. On years when Pascha, and hence Lent, falls very early the Sunday of the Canaanite woman is dropped and the Sunday of Zaccheaus falls immediately before Great Lent. However in some Eastern churches of the Greek/Byzantine tradition, Zacchaeus Sunday is instead dropped, and does not form part of the Lental cycle for that year. In the Russian tradition Zacchaeus Sunday always immediately precedes Great Lent having exchanged places with the Sunday of the Canaanite Woman.

In Western Christianity, the gospel pericope concerning Zacchaeus is the reading for a [[Dedication (ritual)|Dedication]] of a Church or its anniversary. In Southern [[Bavaria]], a red banner with a white cross may be flown outside a Church on its [[Kirchweih|anniversary]], which is consequently called the Zacchaeus flag.