The season of Lent is a rich and beautiful time of the liturgical year, and as the Church looks forward to the joys of Easter, she calls the final week of Lent by a variety of different names to bring out rich themes of meditation. While most call this week "Holy Week," it is also called by at least four other names.
1Holy Week
One of the most enduring names for this week is, "Holy Week." Simply put, this is a reference to the holiness of the mysteries celebrated during this week, and reflects another ancient tradition of calling each day of the week Holy, such as Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, and Holy Thursday.
It is the holiest week of the Church's liturgical year.
2Great Week
Many Eastern Christians call this week, "Great Week," which reflects another ancient tradition, explained by St. John Chrysostom in one of his homilies.
3Painful Week
One of the lesser known names for this week is, "Painful Week," which is not a very popular name for this week of Lent, but reflects the intense pain felt by Jesus, as well as the Church as she watches her savior suffer and die.
4Week of Indulgences
Another curious name for this week is the "Week of Indulgences," which reflects a former tradition of welcoming back the penitents, who at the beginning of Lent were barred from the Church. With their penance now completed, the Church opens the doors back-up to them and welcomes them into the flock.
5Week of the Bridegroom
Another Eastern Christian name for this week is the, "Week of the Bridegroom." This primarily refers to the first three days of Holy Week, where in the Byzantine tradition the liturgy recites the following words:
Jesus himself spoke of the events of Holy Week in these terms, recalling how, "the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day" (Mark 2:20).
