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6 unusual facts about Great Lent


Church tabernacle

A smaller tabernacle, sometimes referred to as a pyx, is used during Great Lent.

Great Lent

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.

Readings from the Old Testament are also increased, with the Books of Genesis, Proverbs and Isaiah being read through almost in their entirety at the Sixth Hour and Vespers (during Cheesefare Week, the readings at these services are taken from Joel and Zechariah, while during Holy Week they are from Exodus, Ezekiel and Job).

At Great Compline during the first four days of the Fast (Monday through Thursday) the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is divided into four parts and one part is chanted each night (for further information about the Great Canon, see Fifth Week, below).

In the Greek practice, the priest will strew the entire church with fresh bay leaves, symbolizing Christ's victory over death.

In the evening, instead of the normal Compline (the final service before retiring at night), the much longer service of Great Compline is chanted.



see also

Pre-Lenten Season

Since the liturgical day begins at sunset, and Great Lent begins on a Monday, the point at which Great Lent begins is at Vespers on the night of the Sunday of Forgiveness, with a "Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness" (in some monasteries, this ceremony is performed at Compline instead of Vespers).