2026 TRIODION AND PASCHALION

The Last Supper from an Ancient Romanesque Breviary 

✠ THE WESTERN ORTHODOX PASCHALION FOR LENT 2026 ✠

According to the Use of the Ancient Church of the West

PRE-LENTEN SEASON

February 15 — Quinquagesima Sunday

The final Sunday before Lent. The Church prepares the faithful through the Gospel of charity and spiritual vision, calling believers to repentance, humility, and love as the foundation of the fast.

February 23 — Quadragesima Sunday (Triodion Sunday)

The threshold of the Great Fast. Themes of repentance, return to God, and spiritual warfare. The faithful begin intensified prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We have the Forgiveness Vespers, where all Christias ask one another for forgiveness for our past offenses with prayers and tears. 

February 24 — Shrove Tuesday

The traditional celebration with pancakes and games, held in the local parish, in preparation for Lent. This is also called “Carnival” in many Western Catholic nations, the last time they eat red meat or drink wine until Pascha. In our practice, since Lent has already started at the end of the Triodion liturgy, we celebrate it soberly, with pancakes, which are made in Lenten sobriety. 

February 25 — Ash Wednesday 

The customary Western Service for strengthening and penance in Lent, where ashes are applied to the head or forehead with the words, “Remember, O Man, that thou art but dust, and to dust thou shalt return.” Western Orthodoxy does not customarily smear the forehead with ash, but sprinkles it on the head, so that we do not “appear unto men to fast” while fully reminded of our mortality, sin and the need for repentance.

GREAT AND HOLY LENT

March 1 — The First Sunday in Lent

Christ’s victory over Satan in the wilderness. The Church begins the struggle against passions and temptations through grace. This is the “Sunday of Orthodoxy” and we will have the “Great Anathemas” after the Divine Liturgy. 

March 8 — The Second Sunday in Lent

Faith and perseverance. The healing of the paralytic reminds the faithful that forgiveness and healing are inseparable.

March 15 — The Third Sunday in Lent

The Cross set before the faithful as the strength of the fast. Mid-Lent encouragement to endure and overcome.

March 22 — The Fourth Sunday in Lent

The power of faith, prayer, and fasting. The Church emphasizes spiritual healing and purification of the heart.

March 29 — The Fifth Sunday in Lent (Passion Sunday)

The veil of the Passion begins. The Church contemplates the approaching suffering of Christ and intensifies ascetic effort.

SAINTS AND COMMEMORATIONS DURING LENT

February 23 — St. Polycarp of Smyrna

Apostolic martyrdom and fidelity to Christ unto death.

February 24 — St. Matthias the Apostle

Chosen to complete the Apostolic College; symbol of divine providence and apostolic succession.

February 28 — Mar Awa Catholicos

Witness to the missionary and theological heritage of the East Syriac tradition in East Asia and India. 

March 1 — St. David of Wales

Ascetic simplicity and missionary holiness in the Celtic West.

March 4 — St. Gerasimos of the Jordan

Desert asceticism and spiritual friendship with creation.

March 7 — Sts. Perpetua and Felicity

Courage in persecution and the sanctity of Christian family life.

March 10 — The Forty Manly Martyrs of Sebaste

Endurance in suffering and unity in faith.

March 12 — St. Gregory the Great

Pastoral leadership, liturgical renewal, and missionary zeal.

March 17 — St. Patrick’s Crosier (St. Patrick of Ireland)

Evangelization, monasticism, and the sanctification of nations.

March 18 — St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Catechesis and sacramental realism.

March 19 — St. Joseph the Caretaker of Christ

Righteousness, obedience, and guardianship of the Holy Family.

March 20 — St. Cuthbert

Contemplation and pastoral care.

March 21 — St. Benedict of Nursia

Stability, order, and the sanctification of daily life.

March 22 — St. Gregory the Illuminator

Conversion of Armenia and the apostolic mission to nations.

March 23 — St. Artemon

Faithful episcopal ministry.

PASSIONTIDE AND HOLY WEEK

April 5 — Palm Sunday (Western Calendar Easter)

The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. The faithful welcome the King with humility, knowing that His kingdom is the Cross.

✠ HOLY WEEK ✠

Monday in Holy Week

Christ cleanses the Temple. The Church calls the faithful to purification of heart.

Tuesday in Holy Week

Christ teaches in the Temple. Watchfulness and readiness for the coming Kingdom.

Wednesday in Holy Week

The betrayal of Judas. A day of repentance and examination of conscience.

April 9 — Maundy Thursday

The Mystical Supper. Institution of the Eucharist and Holy Priesthood. The commandment of love and the washing of feet. Altars Stripped, the candles put out, and vigil with the Pre-Consecrated Holy Gifts in another place, set with candles and flowers. Service of anointing. 

Good Friday

The Passion and Crucifixion of the Lord. The Church contemplates the saving sacrifice of Christ, fasting and silence. This Holy Day has a great and holy Vigil of Midday, the Lamentations, and a complete Black Fast (for those who can). The Holy Cross is wrapped in a black pall, and hidden in the “tomb” under the altar after veneration.

Holy Saturday

The Lord’s rest in the tomb and descent into Hades. No Eucharist. Complete Blackness. The victory over death begins in mystery. The Church is set for Pascha Midnight Service. 

PASCHA

April 11 — Easter Eve (Holy Saturday Night)

The Vigil of the Resurrection. Holy Fire. Light conquers darkness. The Church awaits the dawn of salvation. Great Dawning of the Lord. Hell is Broken. The Great Chant - “Christ is Risen from the Dead.” 

April 12 — Pascha (Easter Day)

The Resurrection of Christ. Dawn Liturgy of Triumph. The defeat of sin, death, and Satan. The renewal of creation and the hope of eternal life. Agape Vespers at Midday, the Gospel of the Resurrection declared in every language. 

THE GREAT FEAST OF LENT

March 25 — The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Incarnation of the Word. The union of divine and human natures in Christ begins in the womb of the Virgin.

Notes: 

This Paschalion reflects our Western Orthodox synthesis and standing Concordats with our Sister Churches:

• Ancient Western calendar structure

• Integration of Syriac, Celtic, Roman, and East Asian Orthodox saints commemorated in the One Church

• Strong sacramental and ascetical themes, focus on real fasting, rather than just symbolic vegan fasting with unlimited portions (the Byzantine way to “keep the fast” without actually keeping the fast according to the ancient and biblical definitions of fasting), and mutual accountability and love. If special Lenten food cannot be had, we skip at least one meal in black fast, and eat smaller portions with the other meals. If Lenten food can be made, we eat one large meal and two small meals a day, still trying to black fast on Fridays in Lent, as many meals as possible. If fasting is not possible, due to sickness, youth, pregnancy or old age, then we keep our meals with prayer and Bible reading, doing the best that we can for the love of God and His Glory! 

• Full Western Holy Week theology is demonstrated in our Orthodox Lenten Paschalion. 

• Alignment with our Ancient Divine Liturgy of St. James of Jerusalem, the oldest liturgy in Christendom.