# Paschal cycle

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Cycle of feasts in Eastern Orthodoxy

This article is about the cycle of days before and after Easter in Eastern Orthodoxy. For the cycle of days before and after Easter in Western Christianity, see [Easter cycle](/source/Easter_cycle).

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The **Paschal cycle**, in [Eastern Orthodox Christianity](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Christianity), is the cycle of the [moveable feasts](/source/Moveable_feast) built around [Pascha](/source/Easter) (Easter).[a] The cycle consists of approximately ten weeks before and seven weeks after Pascha. The ten weeks before Pascha are known as the period of the *[Triodion](/source/Triodion)*, referring to the [liturgical book](/source/Liturgical_book) that contains the services for this liturgical season. This period includes the three weeks preceding [Great Lent](/source/Great_Lent), the "pre-Lenten period", the forty days of Lent, and [Holy Week](/source/Holy_Week). The 50 days following Pascha are called the *[Pentecostarion](/source/Pentecostarion)*, also named after the liturgical book.

The Sunday of each week has a special commemoration, named for the [Gospel reading](/source/Gospel_(liturgy)) assigned to that day. Certain other weekdays have special commemorations of their own. The entire cycle revolves around Pascha. The weeks before Pascha end on Sunday, i.e., the Week of the Prodigal Son begins on the Monday that follows the Publican and the Pharisee. This is because everything in the Lenten period is anticipatory of Pascha. Starting on Pascha, the weeks again begin on Sunday, i.e., Thomas Week begins on the Sunday of St. Thomas.

While the Pentecostarion closes after All Saints Sunday, the Paschal cycle continues throughout the year, until the beginning of the next Pre-Lenten period. The [Tone of the Week](/source/Octoechos_(liturgy)), the [Epistle](/source/Epistle) and [Gospel](/source/Gospel_(liturgy)) readings at the [Divine Liturgy](/source/Divine_Liturgy), and the 11 [Matins Gospels](/source/Matins_Gospels) with their accompanying hymns are dependent on it.

## Pre-Lent

Main article: [Pre-Lenten Season](/source/Pre-Lenten_Season)

- **[Zacchaeus](/source/Zacchaeus) Sunday** (Slavic tradition) or **Sunday of the Canaanite** (Greek tradition): 11th Sunday before Pascha[1]

- **The [Publican and the Pharisee](/source/Pharisee_and_the_Publican)**: 10th Sunday before Pascha (70 days)

- **The [Prodigal Son](/source/Prodigal_Son)**: 9th Sunday before Pascha (63 days)

- **The [Last Judgment](/source/Last_Judgment)**; also, **Meat-Fare Sunday** (the last day meat may be eaten): 8th Sunday before Pascha (56 days)

- **Sunday of Forgiveness**; also, **Cheese-Fare Sunday** (the last day dairy products may be consumed — during Great Lent fish, wine, and olive oil will be allowed only on certain days): 7th Sunday before Pascha (49 days)

## Great Lent

Main article: [Great Lent](/source/Great_Lent)

- **[Clean Monday](/source/Clean_Monday)**, the actual beginning of Great Lent: 48 days before Pascha

- **[Theodore](/source/Theodore_of_Amasea) Saturday**—1st Saturday in Great Lent—commemorating of the "miracle of the [kolyva](/source/Kolyva)" (boiled wheat) by [Theodore of Tyro](/source/Theodore_of_Amasea) during the reign of [Julian the Apostate](/source/Julian_the_Apostate)

- **[Triumph of Orthodoxy](/source/Triumph_of_Orthodoxy)**—1st Sunday of Lent—commemoration of the restoration of [icons](/source/Icons) after the defeat of the [iconoclast](/source/Iconoclasm) [heresy](/source/Heresy) in 843: 6th Sunday before Pascha (42 days)

- **Memorial Saturdays**—2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays of Great Lent—commemorative [Divine Liturgies](/source/Divine_Liturgy) and [memorial services](/source/Memorial_service_(Orthodox)) for the dead are celebrated

- **Saint [Gregory Palamas](/source/Gregory_Palamas)**—2nd Sunday of Lent—5th Sunday before Pascha (35 days)

- **[Adoration of the Cross](/source/Feast_of_the_Cross)** 4th Sunday before Pascha and 3rd Sunday of Lent (28 days)

- **Saint [John of the Ladder](/source/John_Climacus)**—3rd Sunday before Pascha and 4th Sunday of Lent—(21 days)

- **Saturday of the [Akathist](/source/Akathist)**—5th Saturday of Great Lent

- **Saint [Mary of Egypt](/source/Mary_of_Egypt)**—5th Sunday of Lent—2nd Sunday before Pascha (14 days)

## Great and Holy Week

Main article: [Holy Week](/source/Holy_Week)

- **[Lazarus Saturday](/source/Lazarus_Saturday)**, the beginning of Holy Week (8 days before Pascha)

- **[Palm Sunday](/source/Palm_Sunday)**, or the Triumphant Entry of [Christ](/source/Christ) into [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem): last Sunday before Pascha (7 days)

- **[Great and Holy Monday](/source/Holy_Monday)**: [Joseph the All-Comely](/source/Joseph_(Genesis)) (from the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament)), who was sold into slavery by his brethren, and the withering of the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22)[b] (6 days)

- **[Great and Holy Tuesday](/source/Holy_Tuesday)**: [Parable of the Ten Virgins](/source/Parable_of_the_Ten_Virgins) (5 days)

- **[Great and Holy Wednesday](/source/Holy_Wednesday)**: Anointing of Jesus with [myrrh](/source/Myrrh) by Mary of [Bethany](/source/Bethany_(Jerusalem)) (Sister of Lazarus and Martha) in the house of [Simon the Leper](/source/Simon_the_Leper) in [Bethany](/source/Bethany_(Jerusalem)); also, the Holy [Unction](/source/Unction) (4 days)

- **[Great and Holy Thursday](/source/Maundy_Thursday)**: The washing of the disciples' feet, the institution of the Holy [Eucharist](/source/Eucharist), the "Marvelous Prayer", and the betrayal by [Judas Iscariot](/source/Judas_Iscariot) (3 days)

- **[Great and Holy Friday](/source/Good_Friday)**: The holy, saving and lifegiving [Passion](/source/Passion_(Christianity)) of Christ; [Joseph of Arimathea](/source/Joseph_of_Arimathea) (2 days)

- **[Great and Holy Saturday](/source/Holy_Saturday)**: The [Sepulchre](/source/Sepulchre) of Christ, his descent into [Hades](/source/Christian_views_on_Hades) to raise up mankind and defeat the powers of death (last day before Pascha)

## Great and Holy Pascha

Main article: [Easter](/source/Easter)

- **The [Resurrection](/source/Resurrection) of Jesus Christ**: very late Saturday night (with the [procession](/source/Crucession) starting at midnight)

- **[Agape](/source/Agape) [Vespers](/source/Vespers)**: Proclamation of the [Gospel](/source/Gospel) to all the ends of the Earth, symbolized by the reading of the Gospel in various languages from the four corners of the Church building (Sunday afternoon)

## Pentecostarion (Paschaltide)

Main article: [Pentecostarion](/source/Pentecostarion)

- **[Bright Week](/source/Bright_Week)**: Week commencing on Pascha (counting Pascha as Day 1 for 8 Days)

- **[Thomas Sunday](/source/Thomas_Sunday)** (Sunday of Saint Thomas): 2nd Sunday of Pascha (counting Pascha as 1st Sunday)

- **The Holy [Myrrhbearers](/source/Myrrhbearers)**: 3rd Sunday of Pascha (counting Pascha as 1st Sunday) (15 days)

- **The Paralytic**: 4th Sunday after Pascha (22 days) (counting Pascha as 1st Sunday)

- **[Mid-Pentecost](/source/Mid-Pentecost)**: 4th Wednesday after Pascha (25 days)

- **The [Samaritan Woman](/source/Samaritan_woman#The_woman_at_the_well_in_Samaria) ([Photini](/source/Saint_Photini))**: 5th Sunday of Pascha (29 days) (counting Pascha as 1st Sunday)

- '*The Blind Man* 6th Sunday of Pascha (36 days) (counting Pascha as 1st Sunday)

- **The [Leave-Taking (Apodosis)](/source/Afterfeast)** of Pascha (39 Days)

- **The [Ascension of Jesus Christ](/source/Ascension_of_Jesus_Christ)** (40 days)

- **The Fathers of the [First Ecumenical Council](/source/First_Ecumenical_Council)**: 7th Sunday of Pascha (43 days) (counting Pascha as 1st Sunday)

- **[Pentecost](/source/Pentecost)**, when the [Holy Spirit](/source/Holy_Spirit) descended on the [Apostles](/source/Twelve_Apostles): 7th Sunday after Pascha (50 days)

- **[All Saints](/source/All_Saints'_Day)**: 8th Sunday of Pascha (57 days)

## Gallery of icons of the Paschal cycle

		- 16th century [Russian Orthodox](/source/Russian_Orthodox_Church) [icon](/source/Icon) of the [Resurrection of Jesus](/source/Resurrection_of_Jesus) [Christ](/source/Christ)

		- Icon of [Lazarus Saturday](/source/Lazarus_Saturday)

		- Icon of [Palm Sunday](/source/Palm_Sunday)

		- Icon of Christ washing the feet of the Apostles (16th century, [Pskov](/source/Pskov) school of [iconography](/source/Iconography))

		- Icon of [Pentecost](/source/Pentecost)

## See also

- [List of movable Eastern Christian observances](/source/List_of_movable_Eastern_Christian_observances)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** For [fixed feasts](/source/Fixed_feast), see [Eastern Orthodox Church calendar](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church_calendar). For this year's date for Pascha, see [Easter](/source/Easter). For the method used to calculate the date of Pascha, see [Computus](/source/Computus).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Matthew 21:18–22](https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Matthew%2021:18–22&version=nrsv)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Denysenko, Nicholas (2023). [*This Is the Day That the Lord Has Made: The Liturgical Year in Orthodoxy*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hai_EAAAQBAJ&dq=Orthodox+paschal+cycle&pg=PR8). Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. p. 12. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781666717778](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781666717778). Retrieved February 5, 2024.

v t e Easter and its cycle Lent Pre-Lent Septuagesima Sexagesima Quinquagesima Carnival (Shrovetide) Fat Thursday Tsiknopempti Shrove Monday Rosenmontag Shrove Tuesday Mardi Gras Holy Face of Jesus Fastelavn Maslenitsa Lent proper Ash Wednesday Great Lent Temptation of Christ First Sunday of Lent Ember days Laetare Sunday (Mothering Sunday) Passiontide Passion Sunday (Lenten veil, Lenten shrouds) Friday of Sorrows Music Ave Regina caelorum Passion (music) Passion hymns Stabat Mater Holy Week Palm Sunday Triumphal entry into Jerusalem Gloria, laus et honor Hosanna filio David "Singt dem König Freudenpsalmen" Ferias Holy Monday Holy Tuesday Holy Wednesday Triduum Tenebrae Maundy Thursday Chrism Mass Last Supper Crotalus Art Farewell Discourse Mass of the Lord's Supper Foot washing Stripping of the Altar Good Friday Passion of Jesus Arma Christi Stations of the Cross Crucifixion of Jesus Descent from the Cross Lamentation Epitaphios Encomia Pietà Burial of Jesus Tomb of Jesus Easter Sepulchre Good Friday prayer for the Jews Gorzkie żale Holy Saturday Harrowing of Hell Święconka Easter Vigil Paschal candle Holy Fire Lumen Christi Exsultet Artos Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Traditions Burning of Judas Processions By location Colombia Popayán Guatemala Italy Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto Ruvo di Puglia Malta Mexico Taxco Philippines Portugal Braga Spain Cuenca Málaga Salamanca San Cristóbal de La Laguna Santa Cruz de La Palma Seville Valladolid Viveiro Zamora Easter Day Resurrection of Jesus Art Myrrhbearers Road to Emmaus appearance Paschal Homily Sunrise service Date List of dates Calculation Season Liturgical features Alleluia Pentecostarion Trikirion Octave Bright Week Easter Sunday Easter Monday Śmigus-dyngus Easter whip Easter Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Second Sunday of Easter Doubting Thomas Divine Mercy Sunday Radonitsa Third Sunday of Easter Fourth Sunday of Easter Mid-Pentecost Fifth Sunday of Easter Rogation days Ascensiontide Ascension of Jesus Art Feast of the Ascension Cenacle Novena Matthias the Apostle Traditions Basket Bonnet Bunny Bilby Cavallo di fuoco Easter seals Food Greeting Parade Pace Egg play Postcard Rouketopolemos Saitopolemos Scoppio del carro Virvonta Easter witch Easter eggs Dance Decorating in Slavic culture Rolling Hunt Osterbrunnen Tapping Tree Tossing By country Croatia Poland Ukraine By country Ethiopia and Eritrea Italy Latvia Poland Pre-Christian Ēostre Music Easter Oratorio I Will Mention the Loving-kindnesses Russian Easter Festival Overture Salzburg Easter Festival Liturgical Regina caeli Troparion Victimae paschali laudes Cantatas Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6 Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 Der Friede sei mit dir, BWV 158 Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31 Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß, BWV 134 Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66 Ich lebe, mein Herze, zu deinem Ergötzen, BWV 145 Hymns Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Jesus Christ Is Risen Today O filii et filiae The Strife is O'er, the Battle Done Choral music Surrexit a mortuis Film and TV Films Television episodes Pentecost Season Octave Pentecost Sunday Whitsun Whit Monday Whit Tuesday Ember days Feast of Christ the Priest Trinity Sunday Feast of Corpus Christi Feast of the Sacred Heart

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Paschal cycle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paschal_cycle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paschal_cycle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.