Editing Great Lent (section)

===Liturgical observances===
{{One source|section|date=March 2023}}
[[Image:Pope Gregory I.jpg|thumb|[[Saint]] [[Gregory Dialogus]], who is credited with compiling the [[Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts]]]]

Great Lent is unique in that, liturgically, the weeks do not run from Sunday to Saturday, but rather begin on Monday and end on Sunday, and most weeks are named for the lesson from the [[Gospel]] which will be read at the [[Divine Liturgy]] on its concluding Sunday. This is to illustrate that the entire season is anticipatory, leading up to the greatest Sunday of all: Pascha.

During the Great Fast, a special service book is used, known as the [[Triodion|Lenten Triodion]], which contains the Lenten texts for the [[Daily Office]] (Canonical Hours) and Liturgies.  The Triodion begins during the Pre-Lenten period to supplement or replace portions of the regular services. This replacement begins gradually, initially affecting only the [[Epistle]] and [[Gospel]] readings, and gradually increases until Holy Week when it entirely replaces all other liturgical material. During the [[Triduum]] even the [[Psalter]] is eliminated, and all texts are taken exclusively from the Triodion. The Triodion is used until the lights are extinguished before midnight at the [[Paschal Vigil]], at which time it is replaced by the [[Pentecostarion]], which begins by replacing the normal services entirely (during [[Bright Week]]) and gradually diminishes until the normal services resume following the [[Afterfeast]] of [[Pentecost]].

On the weekdays of Great Lent, the full [[Divine Liturgy]] is not celebrated, because the joy of the [[Eucharist]] (literally "Thanksgiving") is contrary to the attitude of repentance which predominates on these days. Since it is considered especially important to receive the [[Holy Mysteries]] (Holy Communion) during this season, the [[Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts]]—also called the Liturgy of [[Pope Gregory I|St. Gregory the Dialogist]]— may be celebrated on weekdays.

This service starts with [[Vespers]] during which [[Lamb (liturgy)|a portion]] of the [[Body of Christ|Body]] and [[Blood of Christ]], which was [[reserved Sacrament|reserved]] the previous Sunday, is brought to the [[Prothesis (altar)|prothesis table]]. This is followed by a solemn [[Entrance (liturgical)#Great Entrance|great entrance]] where the Holy Mysteries are brought to the altar table, and then, skipping the [[Anaphora (liturgy)|anaphora (eucharistic prayer)]], the outline of remainder of the divine liturgy is followed, including [[Eucharist|holy communion]]. Most [[parish church|parishes]] and [[monasteries]] celebrate this liturgy only on Wednesdays, Fridays and [[feast day]]s, but it may be celebrated on any weekday of Great Lent.

Because the divine liturgy is not celebrated on weekdays, the [[Typica#Liturgical service|Typica]] occupies its place in the [[Canonical hours#Byzantine Rite usage|canonical hours]], whether or not a liturgy is celebrated at vespers. On Saturday and Sunday the Divine Liturgy may be celebrated as usual. On Saturdays, the usual [[Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom]] is celebrated; on Sundays the longer [[Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great]] is used.

The services of the [[Canonical Hours]] are much longer during Great Lent and the structure of the services is different on weekdays. The usual evening [[Compline#Small Compline|small compline]] is replaced by the much longer service of [[Great Compline]].  While in the Russian tradition Great Compline is used on Friday night (though some parts are read rather than sung and some Lenten material is replaced by non-Lenten hymns), in the Greek practice, ordinary Compline is used together with, on the first four weeks, a quarter of the [[Akathist#Akathist to the Theotokos|Akathist to the Theotokos]]. On the fifth Saturday, known as the Saturday of the Akathist, everywhere, the entire Akathist is sung at Matins.

In “The Typikon Decoded”, Archbishop Job Getcha offers this comparison of the commemorations associated with the Sundays of Great Lent in the “Ancient Triodion”. These more ancient commemorations are retained in the hymnography still in use for the “Contemporary” Sundays of St Gregory Palamas, St John of the Ladder, and St Mary of Egypt.  On each of these, the troparia of the 1st Canon at Matins reference the more ancient commemoration, the Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan, and the Rich Man and Lazarus respectively.  

During Palm Week, between the Sunday of St Mary of Egypt and Lazarus Saturday, the 1st Canon at Matins on each weekday references the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus as a parallel to the Lazarus of Bethany who falls ill and is raised from the dead after four days in the tomb (John 11:1–45). <ref>Archbishop Job Getcha: ''The Typikon Decoded: An Explanation of Byzantine Liturgical Practice''. St Vladimir's Seminary Press: Yonkers, New York. ISBN 978-088141-412-7</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Ancient Triodia                      !! Contemporary Triodia
|-
| ''(Jerusalem Lectionary)''           || ''(Constantinople Lectionary)''
|-
| Sunday of the Holy Prophets          || Sunday of Triumph of Orthodoxy
|-
| Sunday of the Prodigal Son           || Sunday of St Gregory Palamas
|-
| Sunday of the Publican & Pharisee    || Veneration of the Cross
|-
| Sunday of the Good Samaritan         || Sunday of St John Climacus (of "The Ladder")
|-
| Sunday of the Rich Man & Lazarus     || Sunday of St Mary of Egypt
|-
| Palm Sunday                          || Palm Sunday
|}

==== Theme of Lenten joy ====
A difference between the Eastern and Western observances is that while in the West the chanting of [[Alleluia]] ceases during [[Lent]], in the East its use is increased. This is because for Christians, fasting should be joyous (cf. {{bibleverse||Matthew|6:16|KJV}}), and the sense of unworthiness must always be tempered with hope in God's forgiveness.<ref>{{Citation
 | last =Sokolof
 | first =Archpriest D.
 | contribution =Moveable Feasts and Fasts
 | year =1917
 | publication-date=2001
 | title =A Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services
 | page =98
 | place =Jordanville, NY
 | publisher =Printshop of St. Job of Pochaev
 }}</ref>

In fact, days which follow the Lenten pattern of services are referred to as "days with Alleluia". This theme of "Lenten joy" is also found in many of the hymns of the Triodion, such as the [[sticheron|stichera]] which begin with the words: "The Lenten Spring has dawned!..." ([[Vespers]] [[Aposticha]], Wednesday of ''[[Maslenitsa]]'') and "Now is the season of repentance; let us begin it joyfully, O brethren..." ([[Matins]], Second [[Canon (hymnography)|Canon]], Ode 8, Monday of ''Maslenitsa'').

The making of [[prostration]]s during the services increases as well. The one [[prayer]] that typifies the Lenten services is the [[Prayer of Saint Ephrem]], which is said at each service on weekdays, accompanied by [[poklon|full prostrations]]. One translation of it reads:

<blockquote><poem>
O Lord and master of my life! a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition and idle-talking, give me not. 
But rather, a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience and charity, bestow upon me Thy servant. 
Yea, my king and Lord, grant me to see my own failings and refrain from judging others: For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. 
</poem></blockquote>

The public reading of [[Scripture]] is increased during Great Lent. The [[Psalter]] ([[Book of Psalms]]), which is normally read through once a week, is read through twice each week for the six weeks prior to Holy Week.  Readings from the [[Old Testament]] are also increased, with the Books of [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]], [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs]] and [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] being read through almost in their entirety at the [[Sext|Sixth Hour]] and [[Vespers]]. During Cheesefare Week, the readings at these services are taken from [[Book of Joel|Joel]] and [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]], while during Holy Week they are from [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]], [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] and [[Book of Job|Job]].

Uniquely, on weekdays of Great Lent there is no public reading of the [[Epistle]]s or [[Gospel]]s. This is because the readings are particular to the divine liturgy, which is not celebrated on weekdays of Great Lent. There are, however, Epistles and Gospels appointed for each Saturday and Sunday.

====Prayer for the dead====
[[Image:MHS Sad Ostateczny XVII w Lipie p.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Last Judgment]] is a repeating theme of Great Lent (17th-century icon from Lipie, [[Poland]]).]]

During the Great Fast, the church also increases its [[prayer for the dead]], not only reminding the believer of his own mortality, and thus increasing the spirit of penitence, but also to remind him of his Christian obligation of charity in praying for the departed. A number of Saturdays during Great Lent are [[Saturday of the dead|Saturdays of the Dead]], with many of the hymns of the Daily Office and at the Divine Liturgy dedicated to remembrance of the departed. These Saturdays are:
*The Saturday of Meatfare Week
*The Second Saturday of Great Lent
*The Third Saturday of Great Lent
*The Fourth Saturday of Great Lent
In addition, the [[Memorial service (Orthodox)#Lity|Lity]], a brief prayer service for the departed, may be served on each weekday of Great Lent, provided there is no [[feast day]] or special observance on that day.

====Feast days====
[[Image:Ohrid annunciation icon.jpg|thumb|250px|An icon of the [[Annunciation]], the most important [[feast day]] on the [[Liturgical calendar of the Byzantine Rite|fixed calendar]] that can fall during Great Lent (Church of St. [[Clement of Ohrid]], [[North Macedonia]])]]

Since the season of Great Lent is moveable, beginning on different dates from year to year, accommodation must be made for various feast days on the [[Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar|fixed calendar]] ([[Menaion]]) which occur during the season. When these feasts fall on a weekday of Great Lent, the normal Lenten aspect of the services is lessened to celebrate the solemnity.

The most important of these fixed feasts is the [[Great Feast]] of the [[Annunciation]] (March 25), which is considered to be so important that it is never moved, even if it should fall on the Sunday of Pascha itself, a rare and special occurrence which is known as ''[[Kyrio-Pascha]]''. The fast is also lessened, and the faithful are allowed to eat fish, unless it is Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Whereas on other weekdays of Great Lent, no celebration of the Divine Liturgy is permitted, there is a Liturgy (usually the [[Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom|Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom]]) celebrated on Annunciation—even if it falls on [[Good Friday]].

When the [[feast day]] of the [[patron saint]] of the [[parish church]] or [[monastery]] falls on a weekday of Great Lent, there is no liturgy (other than the Presanctified), but fish is allowed at the meal.  In some churches the feast of a patron saint is moved to the nearest Saturday (excluding the Saturday of the Akathist), and in other churches, it is celebrated on the day of the feast itself.

When some other important feast occurs on a weekday, such as the [[First and Second Finding of the Head of John the Baptist]] (February 24), the [[Forty Martyrs of Sebaste]] (March 9), etc., it is usually combined with the Lenten service, and wine and oil are allowed at the meal.

Regardless of the rank of the feast being celebrated, the Lenten hymns contained in the Triodion are never omitted, but are always chanted in their entirety, even on the feast of the Annunciation.

[[Image:The Ladder of Divine Ascent Monastery of St Catherine Sinai 12th century.jpg|thumb|[[Icon]] depicting ''[[The Ladder of Divine Ascent]]'' (12th century, [[Saint Catherine's Monastery]])]]

On the Saturdays, Sundays, and a number of weekdays during Great Lent, the service materials from the Triodion leave no room for the commemoration of the [[feast day|Saint of the day]] from the [[Menaion]]. In order that their services not be completely forgotten, a portion of them (their canon at Matins, and their stichera from "Lord I Have Cried" at Vespers) is chanted at [[Compline]].