Great Lent is the greatest fasting period in the church year which is in preparation for the greatest feast of the church, Easter or Holy Pascha, where with His Holy Resurrection, the New Life started and the Gates of Paradise were opened.

Great Lent is a period of time when the people are more conscious of their spiritual character. It is observed by abstinence from meat and dairy, fish, wine and oil, intensified private and public prayer, and Almsgiving.

Before Great Lent itself, there is a Pre-Lent season considered as preparatory or a forerunner to Lent. The four weeks preceding Lent are known as:

1. Sunday of the Tax Collector and Pharisee - The Parable whose message is to replace evil and arrogance with the virtue of humbleness.
2. Sunday of the Prodigal Son - The Parable of the son who squandered his fathers property and in the end returned home for repentance, thus exemplifying the unconditional love and grace of God.
3. Sunday of Meat - Last day to eat meat before Great Lent and remembering the Last Judgment.
4. Sunday of Cheese - Last day to eat dairy products before Great Lent; this is also Forgiveness Sunday when the Orthodox recognize Adam's expulsion from Paradise and forgive each other in order to receive forgiveness from God.

During Great Lent every day the Great Compline is read, the Liturgy of the Prescanctied Gifts is officiated every Wednesday and Friday, and a fourth of the Akathist Hymn is read on four Friday evenings with the Hymn read in its entirety on the fifth Friday. Each of the five Sunday's during Lent has its own commeration:

1. First Sunday (Sunday of Orthodoxy) - Commerates the return of the Icons into the churches with a procession with the Icon of Christ around the inside of the church to call upon the Faithful to rededicate themselves to the deep meaning of their faith.
2. Second Sunday (St. Gregory Palamas) - Commerates St. Gregory Palamas for his dedication to the Orthodox faith, theological knowledge, and virtuous life.
3. Third Sunday (Adoration of Cross) - Commerates the venerable Cross and the Crucifixion of Jesus with a special service following Divine Liturgy in which the significance of the Cross is that it leads to the Resurrection of Christ.
4. Fourth Sunday (St. John of Climax) - Commerates St. John of Climax who is the writer of the book called The Ladder (climax) of Paradise that describes how to raise one's soul to as if on a ladder. There are thirty steps of the ladder, which correspond with the age of at His baptism and the beginning of ministry.
5. Fifth Sunday (St. Mary of Egypt) - Commerates St. Mary of Egypt who lived a sinful life for many years and changed her life from sin to holiness through repentance.

Great Lent continues through Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

References by Archdiocese of America, Monachos and the V. Rev. Archimandrite Alexander Kile.