Great Fast in Eastern Christianity

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The Great Fast in Eastern Christianity is the principal Lenten season of prayer, fasting, and repentance leading up to Pascha (Easter), marked by strict ascetic practices and a rich cycle of liturgical services.

All labels observed (2)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (64)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Lenten fast
liturgical season
period of fasting
alsoKnownAs Great Lent
linked to: Lent

Holy Forty Days
associatedFeast Easter
Pascha
linked to: Feast of Pascha
beginsWith Forgiveness Vespers
linked to: Vespers

Sunday of Forgiveness
linked to: Forgiveness Sunday
canonicalBasis ancient canons of the Church
duration approximately forty days before Holy Week in Byzantine usage
forty days of fasting symbolically recalling Christ’s forty days in the desert
emphasis confession of sins
interior conversion
meditation on Scripture
participation in liturgical services
reconciliation with others
endsBefore Lazarus Saturday in Byzantine tradition
fastingRule abstinence from dairy
abstinence from eggs
abstinence from meat
abstinence from oil
abstinence from wine
increased almsgiving
reduced number of daily meals
hasComponent Akathists and canons of repentance
Cheesefare Week
linked to: Cheesefare Sunday

Commemoration of the departed
First Week of Great Lent
Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday as immediate pre-Paschal feasts
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Sundays of Great Lent
Weekdays of Great Lent
historicalDevelopment rooted in early Christian pre-Paschal fasts
liturgicalCharacter ascetical
penitential
liturgicalColor dark vestments
liturgicalService Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on certain weekdays
expanded use of prostrations
frequent reading of the Psalter
prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian
observedBy clergy
laity
monastics
preparatoryPeriod Cheesefare Sunday
Meatfare Sunday
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
Sundays before Lent
primaryPurpose ascetic discipline
intensified prayer
preparation for Pascha
repentance
religiousTradition Eastern Catholic Churches
Eastern Christianity
Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox Churches
linked to: Oriental Orthodoxy
symbolism imitation of Christ’s fasting
renewal of baptismal grace
spiritual journey to Pascha
theologicalTheme participation in Christ’s suffering and resurrection
restoration of the image of God in humanity
struggle against the passions

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Forty Martyrs of Sebaste associatedWith Great Fast in Eastern Christianity
Great Week in Eastern tradition partOf Lent in Eastern Christianity
linked to: Great Fast in Eastern Christianity