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Because Great Lent is a season of [[repentance]], [[fasting]], and intensified [[prayer]], the Orthodox Church regards more frequent reception of communion as especially desirable at that time. However, the [[Divine Liturgy]] has a festal character not in keeping with the season. Thus, the Presanctified Liturgy is celebrated instead; the Divine Liturgy is only performed on Saturdays and Sundays. Although it is possible to celebrate this service on any weekday of Great Lent, the service is prescribed to be celebrated only on Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent, Thursday of the fifth week of Lent (when the [[Great Canon|Great Canon of St. Andrew]] is read), and Monday to Wednesday of [[Holy Week]]. Common [[parish]] practice is to celebrate it on as many as possible of these days.
During Lent, many Orthodox faithful [[fast]] sometimes from midnight and sometimes the entire workday, not eating anything after the morning meal, until they break the fast with Holy Communion at this evening service. They have this anticipation to help them with this somewhat difficult [[ascetic]] discipline.
==Presanctified Liturgy==
