Great Lent & Holy Week
The original purpose of the pre-Pascha fast (now known as Great Lent) was the fasting of catechumens who were being prepared for baptism and entry into the Church. However, it quickly became a time for those who were already Christian to prepare for the feast of the Resurrection of Christ. It is a time of renewed devotion: of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a time of repentance, a real renewal of minds, hearts and deeds in conformity with Christ and his teachings. It is the time, most of all, of return to the great commandments of loving God and all others.
Great Lent is a time Orthodox Christians are dedicated to spiritual and physical preparation preceding Pascha (Easter). It is a period of deep reflection into our inner self, repentance, confession and prayer, in view of our co-suffering the Passion of our Lord, but also of the joyous anticipation of His Resurrection.
For more information, follow this link: GOARCH Great Lent