THE TRIODION (GR "three odes") is the service book of the Orthodox Church that provides the texts for the divine services for the pre-Lenten weeks of preparation, Great Lent, and Holy Week.    The pre-Lenten season is bounded by four Sundays. Each has its own distinct theme which is

KOLLYVA (Greek (kólliva); Ukrainian and Russian:Kutya(or Kutia) is made according to different traditions for memorials, typically on Saturdays of the Souls, the day of a Funeral, the 40th day after death, 3rd month, 6th month, 9th month, annually, and even sometimes just on “big” anniversaries only, such as

In addition to the stikharion, the epitrachelion, the cuffs and the zone, the Priest wears a long sleeveless garment, called a PHELONION (GR feloni[on]; SL felon). Short in front, with an elongated back, and an opening for the head, it is one of the most ancient vestments of the

The zone is a belt worn around the waist over the sticharion and epitrachelion. It is a sign of the strength given to the priest by the Holy Spirit to lead the community in prayer. It denotes the priest’s readiness to serve the Lord and is also a sign

The EPITRACHELION or stole which literary means “around the neck”, is a liturgical vestment shaped like a band, worn around the neck over both shoulders as a sign of ordained ministry. It is stitched together at various intervals in front of the body, and reaches all the way down to

Equal-to-the-Apostles - Saints Constantine and Helen

Because the Divine Liturgy is the "Banquet of Christ", a festive, triumphant celebration, the ancient discipline of the Church came to regard it as out of harmony with the penitential climate, "the bright sadness", of Great Lent. Thus, during Lent, the Eucharistic Divine Liturgy is not