Rite of the Saturdays and Sundays of the Great Lent

The Great Lent carries the meaning of redemption and participation in the sufferings of the Lord Christ, and its hymns are characterized by reverence and depth. Its duration is 55 days, as follows:

• The Preparation Week (the first week)

• The 40 days fasted by Our Savior (Matthew 4:2)

• The Holy Week (Passion Week) (the final week)

Rite of the Saturdays and Sundays of the Great Lent

• Vespers (Evening Prayer) is prayed only on Saturday. On Sunday, the Evening Prayer is prayed instead.

• The hymns follow the Lenten rite, and the tambourine (daf) is used only on Saturdays and Sundays.

• The Verses of the Cymbals (Arba‘ al-Naqous) for Lent are said.

• The Supplications (Talabat) are not said, and prostrations (metanias) are not done in Matins.

• The Doxologies are chanted in the tune “Blessed are the merciful toward the poor”, and the Gospel response “Ji Pen Yot” is also used.

The Liturgy (Mass)

• The Lamb (offering) is presented after the Psalms of the Third and Sixth Hours.

• Then the hymn “Alleluia Ji Efmefvi” is chanted.

• After the Prayer of Thanksgiving, the hymn “Sotīs Amīn” is said, followed by “Ti Shori”, the Intercessions (Hitenyat), the Praxis response, the hymn “Megalou”, and “Apin Shoys”.

• After the Gospel, the response “Ji Pen Yot” is said.

• The Aspasmos (Adam or Watos, or both) is chanted as desired.

• During the Distribution, the annual Alleluia is said, and Psalm 150 is completed in the tune “Blessed are the merciful toward the poor”, followed by Onishti verses, and the Liturgy concludes with “Amen Alleluia”, including the special Lenten phrase.

Sunday Evening Prayer

• The Sunday evening prayer during Lent is not considered Monday Vespers, because its Gospel completes the Sunday Liturgy Gospel, unlike Vespers, where the Gospel relates to the following day.

• The Midnight Praise (Tasbeha) follows the same rite as Vespers praise.