Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday on sixth Sunday of Lent

The Orthodox Christians observe Palm Sunday on April 12. The feast commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in the days before his Passion. Having anticipated his arrival and having heard of the miracle, the people when out to meet the Lord and welcomed him with displays of honor and shouts of praise, Info-Prim Neo reports. Palm Sunday is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year, and is the beginning of Holy Week. The day before is known as Lazarus Saturday, and commemorates the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Palm Sunday is not considered to be a part of Lent, the Eastern Orthodox Great Fast ends on the Friday before. Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and Holy Week are considered to be a separate fasting period. On Lazarus Saturday believers often prepare palm fronds by knotting them into crosses in preparation for the procession on Sunday. According to the Gospels, before entering Jerusalem, Jesus was staying at Bethany and Bethphage, and had dinner with Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha. While there, Jesus sent two disciples to the village over against them, in order to retrieve a donkey that had been tied up but never been ridden, and to say, if questioned, that the donkey was needed by the Lord but would be returned. Jesus then rode the donkey into Jerusalem. The people there lay down their cloaks in front of him, and also lay down small branches of trees. On Palm Sunday, churches are decorated with branches from willow trees and palm trees. These branches are blessed and distributed together with candles either during the All-Night Vigil on the Eve of the Feast (Saturday night), or before the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. The Great Entrance of the Divine Liturgy commemorates the "Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem", and so the meaningfulness of this moment is punctuated on Palm Sunday as everyone stands holding their branches and lit candles. The faithful take these branches and candles home with them after the service, and keep them in their icon corner as a blessing.