Just before Great Lent, on the road to Pascha (the Orthodox Easter), there is a pre-lenten period in the calendar.  It lasts three weeks and uses a liturgical text called the Triodion.

The Triodion contains the readings for the Sundays before Great Lent, as well as other readings from Scripture during Great Lent.  The Pre-Lenten readings include those for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, Luke 18:10-14, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32, and the Parable of the Last Judgment, Matthew 25:31-46.  Finally, the last day before the start of Great Lent is Forgiveness Sunday, or Cheesefare Sunday.  On the eve of this Great Fast, we read Matthew 6:14-21, where our Lord, Jesus Christ, teaches us about forgiveness.

In 2020, these fall on the following dates:

Feb 9: Publican and Pharisee (beginning of the Lenten Triodion), Luke 18:10-14
Feb 16: Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32
Feb 23: Meatfare (Sunday of the Last Judgment), Matthew 25:31-46
Mar 1: Cheesefare (Forgiveness Sunday), Matthew 6:14-21

We hope you read these parts of Scripture to edify yourself during your journey to our Lord's Crucifixion and Resurrection.

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