Great Lent at Holy Ghost

A Season of Prayer, Repentance, and Renewal

Great Lent is a sacred journey of forty days in which we prepare our hearts for the joy of Pascha. During this holy season, the Church calls us to return to Christ through Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving and Spiritual Reading—the four pillars of the Lenten life

Parish Life During The Great Fast

Our parish offers the following opportunities and resources to help all ages walk this holy path together:

Prayer

Prayer is the foundation of Lent. Through increased personal prayer, participation in the Church’s services, and intercessory prayer for one another, we grow closer to God and to each other.

Private -

Establish/Re-Establish/Strengthen Your Daily Prayer Rule –

Corporate

Make an effort to increase your attendance at Divine Services from your current level -

strive to make attendance at Sunday Liturgy more regular,

come to one or more special Lenten Services, Vespers,

Prepare thoroughly to take part in the Holy Mystery of Confession at the beginning of Lent and again before Holy Week

Lenten Worship Schedule

The services of Great Lent guide us through repentance, reflection, and hope. All parishioners are encouraged to attend as many services as they are able.

First Week of Great Lent

Lenten Hours Monday at 9:00 AM
Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 7:00 PM
Presanctified Liturgy
Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 PM

Remainder of Great Lent

Presanctified Liturgy Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:30 pm
Vespers Saturday evenings at 4:00 PM
All Souls Saturdays Divine Liturgy on appointed Saturdays for the commemoration of the departed

Lenten Prayer Partner Program

During Great Lent, parishioners are invited to participate in our Lenten Prayer Partner Program, a meaningful way to pray intentionally for one another.

How it works:

A basket with cards containing the names of parishioners will be available. Each participant selects one card and commits to praying for that person throughout Lent. Prayer partners remain anonymous during Great Lent. After Pascha, participants may choose whether or not to reveal their identity to the person they prayed for.

This practice strengthens our sense of community and reminds us that we are united in Christ through prayer.

Fasting

Fasting teaches us self-control, humility, and dependence on God. It is not about restriction alone, but about making room in our hearts for Christ.

We must realize that without fasting, there is no Lent! To that end, the Fathers of the Church established in ancient times through their collective experience the guidelines for Lenten Fasting. Essentially, the rule of the Church for Lent is to "Strict Fast" - abstaining from meat and dairy products from the First Monday of Lent until Pascha. This time includes both Saturdays and Sundays, which in the Orthodox reckoning are considered a part of Lent, unlike the reckoning of the Western Churches. All parishioners are wholeheartedly encouraged to partake of this practice as much as they are able. On the other hand, the Fathers of the Church have also put forth that a light and steady rule that is kept is preferable to a difficult one that is soon broken and forgotten. With the realization that not everyone is able to strict fast for the whole of Lent, one might consider simply fasting from meat. And if it is not possible to fast entirely from meat, perhaps fasting from meat during the weekdays of Lent, may be a more manageable discipline. It is suggested, as has been the practice of many in the Diocese over the years, that the following fasting discipline be observed as a minimum baseline upon which to build with each passing year: A strict fast from meat and dairy products on the first day of Lent, Good Friday and Holy Saturday and abstinence from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the entire Holy Week. I encourage you to speak to me for guidance in determining a fasting regimen that makes sense for your personal and family life situation, that sufficiently challenges you, yet is not detrimental to ones physical and spiritual health. Please keep in mind the elderly and infirm are not bound by the physical fast. Also, fasting without increased prayer and acts of charity is merely a “diet” and will have no spiritual benefits.

Begin or Increase your Fasting Regiment
Try to fast from Meat during entire Lenten Season or at Least Mon, Wed & Fridays. If you already abstain from meat, consider reducing/eliminating dairy consumption if you are of good health.
Fast at least 3 hours before Receiving the Eucharist at Presanctified Liturgy or from Lunch if able.
Eliminate/reduce your Screen Time - ie TV, Internet, Texting, etc.

Almsgiving Opportunities

Great Lent is a time to grow in generosity and compassion. Almsgiving is love in action. Through generosity, service, and compassion, we reflect Christ’s mercy and care for those in need.

During this season it is a holy practice to set aside the money you save from eating lesser quantities and simpler foods aside and decide as a family how to donate these funds to help others.

Suggestions:

Donate to the Church for a special project or need
Donate to the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)
Donate to Orthodox Christian Fellowship Campus Ministry
Donate to Orthodox Christian Mission Center OCMC – support a specific missionary or mission
Donate to Diocesan DDD Program to support Camp Nazareth and other important Ministries
Help an elderly neighbor with yard work or some other task
Send cards to the shut ins of the parish
Offer some time to help clean up the Church and Church Grounds , assist with baking, or other administrative tasks
Food pantry and meal assistance programs - assist Focus North America in its efforts to feed the hungry of Philadelphia and Norristown. More details to follow.

Spiritual Reading/ Educational Classes

Great Lent is a time for us to grow in our knowledge of the Faith through spiritual Reading of Scripture, including daily prescribed scripture reading from the Old and New Testament, lives of the saints, and books explaining the faith. Also attending religious Education classes, retreats and other venues of learning.

Daily Scripture Readings

Read one or more of the daily readings as found on the Church Calendar – Take part in the Read the Entire Psalter During Lent Initiative as printed in the weekly bulletin.

Seminars, classes, retreats

Orthodoxy 101: Preparing for Great Lent

All are welcome to attend Orthodoxy 101: Lent Preparation Class, especially those new to the faith or seeking a deeper understanding of the Lenten season.

Wednesday, February 11
Location: Social Center

Topics include:

The meaning and purpose of Great Lent How to approach fasting, prayer, and worship Practical guidance for living Lent faithfully

Lenten Book Club

Join us for our Lenten Book Club, featuring:

6 Hours, 7 Lessons: How Christ’s Crucifixion Transcends Our Darkness
by Rev. Dr. Nicholas Louh and Dr. Roxanne Louh

Through guided discussion and reflection, we will explore Christ’s Passion and how His sacrifice brings light and hope into our own darkness.

Meeting dates and times will be announced.

Eastern Regional Diocesan Adult & Youth Lenten Retreat

Our parish is pleased to share this regional opportunity for spiritual renewal during Great Lent.

Saturday, March 14, 2026
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, Phoenixville, PA

Retreat Themes & Speakers

Teens & Adults
Theme: “Steadfast in the Storm: Keeping the Faith in Times of Turmoil”
Speaker: Archpriest Timothy Hojnicki

Youth (Ages 6–12)
Theme: “Your First Liturgy: Finding Peace”
Speaker: Fr. Andrew Wythe

Cost (Includes Continental Breakfast & Lenten Lunch)

Adults: $25.00 Students (through college): $20.00 Children (ages 6–12): $10.00 Children (ages 0–5): Free

Walking the Lenten Journey Together

Great Lent is not about perfection, but about turning our hearts back to Christ—again and again. Through prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and life together in the Church, may this holy season lead us to repentance, healing, and the radiant joy of Pascha.

“Let us begin the Fast with joy…”