Editing Great Lent (section)

====Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday====
[[Image:5208-20080122-1255UTC--jerusalem-calvary.jpg|thumb|[[Icon]] of Christ ''The Bridegroom'' (Ό&nbsp;Νυμφίος) at Golgotha in the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]]]]

The first three days of Holy Week (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), the services all follow the same pattern and are nearly identical to the order followed on weekdays during the Great Forty Days; however, the number of [[Kathisma]]ta (sections from the Psalter) is reduced and the Old Testament readings are taken from different books. The Presanctified Liturgy is celebrated on each of the first three days, and there is a Gospel reading at each one (during the Forty Days there was no Gospel reading unless it was a feast day). There is also a Gospel reading at [[Matins]] on each day and the [[Canon (hymnography)|Canon]] chanted at Matins is much shorter, consisting of only three or four odes rather than the usual nine.

In addition to the Gospel readings at Matins and Vespers, there is a reading of all four Gospels which takes place during the [[Little Hours]] ([[Third Hour]], [[Sext|Sixth Hour]] and [[Ninth Hour]]) on these first three days. Each Gospel is read in its entirety and in order, beginning with {{bibleverse||Matthew|1:1|KJV}}, and continuing through {{bibleverse||John|13:30|KJV}} (the rest of the Gospel of John will be read during the remainder of Holy Week). The Gospels are divided up into nine sections with one section being read by the priest at each of the Little Hours.

The [[Prayer of Saint Ephrem]] is said for the last time at the end of the Presanctified Liturgy on Holy and Great Wednesday. From this moment on, there will be no more prostrations made in the church (aside from those made before the [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|epitaphios]]) until Vespers on the afternoon of [[Pentecost]].

In some churches, the [[Holy Mystery]] (Sacrament) of [[Unction]] is celebrated on Holy and Great Wednesday, in commemoration of the [[anointing]] of Jesus' feet in preparation for his burial ({{bibleverse||Matthew|26:6-13|KJV}}).

The [[triduum|remaining three days]] of Holy Week retain a smaller degree of Lenten character, but each has elements that are unique to it.