memorial services for the dead are celebrated on the Saint Gregory Palamas—2nd Sunday of Lent—5th Sunday before Pascha (35 days) Adoration of the Cross 4th Sunday before Pascha and 3rd Sunday of Lent (28 days) Saint John of the Ladder—3rd Sunday before Pascha and 4th Sunday of Lent—(21 days) Saturday of the Akathist—5th Saturday of Great Lent Saint Mary of Egypt—5th Sunday of Lent—2nd Sunday before Pascha (14 days) Great and Holy Week Lazarus Saturday, the beginning of Holy Week (8 days before Pascha) Palm Sunday, or the Triumphant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem: last Sunday before Pascha (7 days) Great and Holy Monday: Joseph the All-Comely (from the Old Testament), who was sold into slavery by his brethren, and the withering of the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22) (6 days) Great and Holy Tuesday: Parable of the Ten Virgins (5 days) Great and Holy Wednesday: Anointing of Jesus with myrrh by Mary of Bethany (Sister of Lazarus and Martha) in the house of Simon the Leper in Bethany; also, the Holy Unction (4 days) Great and Holy Thursday: The washing of the disciples' feet, the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the "Marvelous Prayer", and the betrayal by Judas Iscariot (3 days) Great and Holy Friday: The holy, saving and lifegiving Passion of Christ; Joseph of Arimathea (2 days) Great and Holy Saturday: The Sepulchre of Christ, his descent into Hades to raise up mankind and defeat the powers of death (last day before Pascha) Great and Holy Pascha The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: very late Saturday night (with the procession starting at midnight) Agape Vespers: Proclamation of the Gospel to all the ends of the Earth, symbolized by the reading of the Gospel in various languages from the four corners of the Church building (Sunday afternoon) Pentecostarion (Paschaltide) Bright Week: Week commencing on Pascha Thomas Sunday (Sunday of Saint Thomas): 1st Sunday after Pascha (8 days; counting Pascha as day 1) The Holy Myrrhbearers: 2nd Sunday after Pascha (15 days) The Paralytic: 3rd Sunday after Pascha (22 days) Mid-Pentecost: 4th Wednesday after Pascha (25 days) The Samaritan Woman (Photini): 4th Sunday after Pascha (29 days) The Blind Man: 5th Sunday after Pascha (36 days) The Leave-Taking (Apodosis) of Pascha (39 Days)The Ascension of Jesus Christ (40 days)The Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council: 6th Sunday after Pascha (43 days)Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles: 7th Sunday after