In Orthodox Christian countries, individuals traditionally celebrate their nameday instead of their birthday. Since Orthodox Christians are usually named after a saint or feast day of the Church, all those having the same name celebrate together on that saint's feast or the particular feast of the Church.
DESCRIPTION OF FEAST:
In Orthodox Christianity, each Sunday within Great Lent is dedicated to the memory of a specific saint or event. In addition to the fasting and prayer that accompanies this time of year, these weekly themes assist the faithful in their Lenten journey toward Holy Week and Pascha.

On the Second Sunday in Great Lent we remember our holy father among the saints, St. Gregory Palamas. He lived in the 14th Century, and he taught that through strict prayer and fasting, anyone can become a participant in the uncreated light of God's divine glory.

March 18 - The Veneration of the Holy Cross

"Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance,
granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries,
and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross."
     - Apolytikion of The Veneration of the Holy Cross

DESCRIPTION OF FEAST:
In Orthodox Christianity, each Sunday within Great Lent is dedicated to the memory of a specific saint or event. In addition to the fasting and prayer that accompanies this time of year, these weekly themes assist the faithful in their Lenten journey toward Holy Week and Pascha.

On the Third Sunday in Great Lent we have reached the mid-point in our walk to Holy Week. The Church wants us to keep our focus toward Holy Week, Thus, this Sunday is called The Veneration of the Holy Cross. We are reminded in the Gospel of the words of Christ, "If anyone would come after Me; let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Mark 8:34)

March 25 - The Annunciation
"Today is the crown of our salvation,
and the revelation of the mystery planned from eternity;
the Son of God becomes the Virgin's Son,
and Gabriel the grace announces.
Therefore along with him,
to the Theotokos let us cry aloud,
'Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you.'"
     - Apolytikion of The Annunciation

DESCRIPTION OF FEAST:
In Orthodox Christian countries, individuals traditionally celebrate their nameday instead of their birthday. Since Orthodox Christians are usually named after a saint or feast day of the Church, all those having the same name celebrate together on that saint's feast or the particular feast of the Church. All those named after The Annunciation of the Virgin (i.e. Evangelos, Evangelia, etc.) celebrate their nameday on March 25. On March 25th parishes named after the Annunciation also celebrate their feastday today.

March 25 - St. John Climacus
"With the flow of your tears
you made the barren desert fertile;
and with your deep-felt sighs
you made your labors yield fruit a hundredfold;
and you became a beacon, shining throughout the universe
with your miracles, our holy father John.
Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved."
     - Apolytikion of St. John Climacus

DESCRIPTION OF FEAST:
In Orthodox Christianity, each Sunday within Great Lent is dedicated to the memory of a specific saint or event. In addition to the fasting and prayer that accompanies this time of year, these weekly themes assist the faithful in their Lenten journey toward Holy Week and Pascha.

On the Fourth Sunday in Great Lent we remember our holy father among the saints, St. John Climacus (translated as "St. John of the Ladder). He lived in the 8th Century, and he was the abbot of the now famous monastery, St. Katherine's on Mt. Sinai. The monastery was built in the 6th centry by the Emperor Justinian on the site where tradition says that God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-20). St. John lived as an ascetic for most of his life, and responded to many people's letters. One famous response is a book called The Ladder of Divine Ascent, in which he describes the life of ascetic holiness in 31 steps or "rungs".

April 1 - St. Mary of Egypt

"In you, Mother, the image was perfectly preserved.
For taking up the Cross, you followed Christ,
and taught by deeds: to disdain the body,
since it passes away, but to look to the soul, a thing immortal.
This is why your spirit, venerable Mary, rejoices with the angels."
     - Apolytikion of St. Mary of Egypt

DESCRIPTION OF FEAST:
In Orthodox Christianity, each Sunday within Great Lent is dedicated to the memory of a specific saint or event. In addition to the fasting and prayer that accompanies this time of year, these weekly themes assist the faithful in their Lenten journey toward Holy Week and Pascha.

On the Fifth Sunday in Great Lent we remember our holy mother among the saints, St. Mary of Egypt. She lived in the 5th Century, and she was a harlot who repented and left the world to live in the desert. She lived in the desert for 40 years fasting and praying, only leaving once to receive communion at the River Jordan from a priest-monk St. Zosimas. She passed away and was buried by St. Zosimas with the help of a lion.

April 8 - Palm Sunday
"Giving us before Your Passion an assurance of the general resurrection,
You have raised Lazarus from the dead, O Christ our God.
Therefore, like the children, we also carry tokens of victory,
and cry to Thee, the Conqueror of death: Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord!"
     - Apolytikion of Palm Sunday

DESCRIPTION OF FEAST:
In Orthodox Christianity, we end our 40-day Lenten Journey with two great feasts: The Raising of Lazarus and The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (otherwise known as Palm Sunday). These two feasts mark the beginning of the most intense week of the year: Holy Week.

The Palm Sunday is a significant feast because it marks the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem. He came after He had raised Lazarus from the dead. All the people who had seen it told many others and the fame of Jesus spread (John 12:18). So, when they heard that He was coming, they ran to meet Him holding palm branches as symbol of victory as they shouted, " Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord -- the King of Israel!" (John 12:13)

April 12 - Holy Thursday
"Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord --
and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher,
have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you."
     - John 13:12-14 (NRSV)

April 13 - Holy Friday
"The honorable Joseph took down Your pure Body from the Cross.
He wrapped it in clean linen and aromatic oils and laid it in a new tomb for burial.
But You rose in three days, O Lord, granting Your great mercy to the world."
     - Great and Holy Friday Vespers, 2nd Tone

May He Who endured the Cross and the Burial,
Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.

DESCRIPTION OF FEAST:
Today we are once again reverent witnesses to the undeserved suffering of Christ, to his terrible passion and death. Through liturgical commemoration and procession the faithfulness and love of Joseph of Arimathea are remembered in a special way - he who tenderly removed Christ's body from the Cross, wrapped it in clean linen, and carried it to his own unused tomb for burial. During the Thursday night service, Christ's body is symbolically removed from the Cross and laid in the tomb.