The naming of the week in relation to the Sunday is peculiar, and does
not follow, as in the West, a consistent rule. In some cases, the week
_preceding_ a Sunday is given its name: in other cases the week is called
after the Sunday with which it begins. And when the determination of
dates is in view the student should be on the alert. Thus, the week of
Apocreos (the last week of flesh-eating) precedes the Sunday Apocreos;
the week of Tyrine (when cheese, butter and milk are allowed) precedes
the Sunday of that name; and the first week of the Lenten fast precedes
the Sunday that is the first in Lent. On the other hand, after Antipascha
and on to the second Sunday after Pentecost the weeks are named from the
Sunday which they follow: while the naming the week from the Sunday which
follows is resumed at the latter date[174].
The period from the Sunday of the Publican to Easter Eve inclusive
is sometimes called the time of the Triodion (Τριῴδιον), because the
_propria_ for that time are contained in a service-book which bears
that name; while the period from Easter Day to the Sunday of All Saints
(first Sunday after Pentecost), both inclusive, is called the time of the
Pentekostarion (Πεντηκοστάριον) from the name of the service-book used at
that time.
A few words must be said on certain week-days observed with special
dignity, the position of which in the almanack varies with the position
of Sundays as affected by the incidence of Easter. It will be remembered
that in the East the Sabbath (Saturday) is reckoned as a day of special
religious observance; and some Sabbaths are distinguished by special
names. The Sabbath of Apocreos is a day for the solemn commemoration of
all the faithful departed; and vigils are kept during the night. It is
known as the Sabbath of the Dead. The next following Sabbath serves for
the commemoration of religious and ascetics; it is named the Sabbath of
Ascetics. On the Sabbath of the first week of Lent (known as the Sabbath
of Kollyba) there is a commemoration of St Theodore Tyro, martyr, who,
according to the legend, in the time of Julian the apostate, appeared
to the bishop of Constantinople, and ordered him in a great emergency
to make _Kollyba_ and distribute them to the people. The bishop said in
reply that he did not know what _Kollyba_ were, and the saint explained
that they were wheaten cakes. We need not pursue the story further. The
Sabbath before the fifth Sunday in Lent is the Sabbath of the Akathist.
A hymn, so called, in honour of the Virgin, was sung throughout the
night by the people, _not sitting down_. The Sabbath before the Sixth
Sunday commemorates the raising of Lazarus, and is called the Sabbath of
Lazarus. Easter Eve is the ‘Great Sabbath.’
It may be observed that while in the West the word _Parasceve_ is used
exclusively for Good Friday, in the East the word is used for every
Friday, and Good Friday is distinguished by the epithet _Great_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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