Today is:

9 September 2010 (Gregorian)	27 August 2010 (Julian)	1 Tishri 5771 (Hebrew)	2nd day 8th month 4708 (Chinese)
30 Ramadan 1431 (Islamic)	18 Bhadra 1932 (Saka)	9 Kanyayon 2553 (Thai)	2 'Izzat 167 (Baha'i)
18 Shahrivar 1389 (Persian)	4 Quaggimi 2002 (Ethiopian)	24 Chingam 1186 (Malayalam)	4 Pi Kogi Enavot 1726 (Coptic)
24 Aavani 107/24 Viruti (Tamil)		The Moon is Waxing

YESTERDAY:
Wednesday, 8 September

TODAY:
Thursday, 9 September

TOMORROW:
Friday, 10 September

Feast of the Nativity of Mary (R.C.)

Rosh Hashanah (Israel and Jewish)

Eid-Ul-Fitr (Islam)
Hari Raya (Malaysian Islam, (Eid ul-Fitr))

Great Lent

by Frann Leach

Great Lent is the Eastern Orthodox equivalent of the Western Lent. It is the period of 40 days leading up to Holy Week, concluding on the eve of Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday. In the Eastern Orthodox Church fasting continues through Holy Week, up to Easter Sunday or Pascha.

Great Lent is only one of three "Lents" in the Orthodox church. The other two are called Apostolic Lent (or the Apostles' Fast) and Dormition Lent.

During Great Lent adherents give money to the poor, pray more often, both publicly and at home, and fast by abstaining from many foods, including meat, fish, dairy products, olive oil and wine, although wine and oil are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays. If the Feast of the Annunciation falls during Great Lent, then wine, oil and fish are allowed on that day.

Great Lent Sundays are called:

First Sunday:	Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy
Second Sunday:	The memory of St Gregory Palamas
Third Sunday:	The Veneration of the Cross
Fourth Sunday:	St John Climacus (John of the Ladder)
Fifth Sunday:	St Mary of Egypt

and each has different observances associated with it. The Liturgy of St Gregory the Dialogist may also be celebrated on Wednesdays and Fridays.

If you're looking for a way to commemorate this event, you might be interested in this article: Commemorations with Cross Stitch

If you would like to publish this article on your site, please click here

Frann ("Tiggsy") Leach is the webmistress and owner of Which Day and TheWebsiteDesign.co.uk. She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Great Lent

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