Observing the Triodion & Preparing for Great Lent
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It is almost time, brothers and sisters! While Great Lent begins on Clean Monday, the Church gives us the three weeks prior to prepare our hearts and minds (and pantries) for the Great Fast. There are a huge number of resources available to help you and your family have a profitable fast, and it can quickly become overwhelming. We have gathered some of the ideas here for you; pick a few of the things to do with your family this year, and maybe try some different ones next year. We hope you find some helpful activities!
MORE LENT RESOURCES BY TOPIC:
Lent Preparation & Triodion Resources Dietary Fasting Resources for the Sundays of Lent Holy Week Resources Pascha Resources
General Resources
- Lent Resource Guide for Families from Ascetic Life of Motherhood
- Ways to Share Great Lent with Your Child from Antiochian Archdiocese of North America
- Journey to Pascha Poster from Illumination Learning
- Love at Lent Activity Cards by Michelle Bonanno Triant
- Great Lent & Pascha Family Lesson from Illumination Learning
- Getting Ready for Lent (from 2018) from Many Mercies
- Orthodox Kids Journal Pages for Great Lent from Orthodox Education
- Learning Lenten Vocabulary from Orthodox Christian Parenting
- Basics of Great Lent from Orthodox Pebbles
- Keeper of the Fast blog post from The Crafty Contemplative
- Personal Devotion List from Ascetic Life of Motherhood
- Prayer List and Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian printables from Parousia Press (free for newsletter subscribers)
- Triodion Resources from Orthodox Pebbles
- Figs from Thistles Lenten Planner and Study Guide and Candle from Parousia Press
- Lent, Wonderful Lent from Ancient Faith Store
- Publican and the Pharisee from Orthodox Pebbles
- Prodigal Son from Orthodox Pebbles
Products & Gifts
- Figs from Thistles Lenten Planner and Study Guide and Candle from Parousia Press
- My Path to Pascha Lenten Study Guide for Kids from Orthodox Mom
- Prayer Ropes from MonastiCraft (prayer rope featured above)
- Great Lent Activity Books from Orthodox Pebbles
- Triodion Learning Set from Orthodox Pebbles
- Great Lent Craft Kit from Orthodox Pebbles
- My First Coloring Books: Great Lent for the Youngest from Potamitis Publishing
- Orthodox Coloring Book: My Book of Great Lent from Potamitis Publishing
- Lenten Study Companion from Orthodox Mom
- Pascha Passports Family Resources from St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church
- Letterpress Prayer Card for the Departed by Poustinia Press
- Lenten Calendar from Draw Near Designs Marketplace
Traditions
- Lenten Psalter Groups from Orthodox Mom
- Lady Lent (Kyra Sarakosti) Poem and Coloring Page from Orthodox Education
- Lady Lent DIY Fabric Set from Orthodox Pebbles
- Kyra Sarakosti Cookie Recipe from Orthodox Mom
- Great Lent Festal Learning Basket from Charming the Birds from the Trees
Activities
- 40 Children's Activities for Great Lent from Orthodox Mom
- 40 Days of Gratitude Journaling from Orthodox Mom
- Lenten Almsgiving Family Project from Illumination Learning
- Lenten Activities for Kids from Many Mercies
- Great Lent Printables (Calendar, Lady Lent, and Services Cards) from Many Mercies
- Lenten Memory Verse Garden Printable from Many Mercies
- Downloadable Lent Workbook for Kids from Orthodox Christian Education
- First Day of Lent Craft from The Crafty Contemplative
- Great Lent lapbook from Orthodox Pebbles
- Great Lent Activity Packet from Draw Near Designs
Books
- Great Lent by Fr. Alexander Schmemann (Amazon/Bookshop)
- Season of Repentance: Lenten Homilies of St. John of Kronstadt (Ancient Faith/Bookshop)
- Pilgrimage to Pascha: A Daily Devotional for Great Lent by Archpriest Steven John Belonick with Michele Constable and Michael Soroka
- When You Fast: The Why and How of Christian Self-Discipline by L. Joseph Letendre
- Meditations for Great Lent: Reflections on the Triodion by Vassilios Papavassiliou
- First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew by Frederica Mathewes-Green (Amazon/Bookshop)
- Songs of Praise: A Psalter Devotional for Orthodox Women by Orthodox Mom, from Ancient Faith Store
- The Lenten Spring: Readings for Great Lent by Fr. Thomas Hopko
- A Journal of Thanksgiving: Record Three Years of Gratitude in a Sentence a Day by Nicole M. Roccas
- Figs from Thistles Lenten Planner and Study Guide from Parousia Press
- A Child's Guide to Confession by Ancient Faith Publishing
- Great Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha from Ancient Faith Store
- Lent, Wonderful Lent from Ancient Faith Store
- Pascha at the Duck Pond by Mother Melania
- Heaven Meets Earth: Celebrating Pascha and the Twelve Feasts by John Kosmas Skinas
- From I-ville to You-ville by Mersine Vigopoulou
Fasting
View our dietary fasting resources here.