The Sunday of Zacchaeus/Sunday of the Canaanite Woman is almost here. For relevant dates see Triodion & Pentecostarion 2020, which we published earlier today.

Hierarchs, priests, deacons, monastics, laymen and laywomen, and teens are invited to write a Lenten Reflection for Orthodoxy in Dialogue’s readers.

You may wish to focus on the theme of one of the Sundays preparatory to or during Great Lent, or more generally on a theme which captures something of the spirit of Lent as a time for drawing closer to God and to our neighbour through the joyful ascesis of intensified prayer, fasting, liturgical worship, almsgiving, and repentance. Inspire us.

(It seems unfortunate that the naming of the Sundays of Lent has the unintended consequence of deflecting our attention from each Sunday’s primary Scripture readings, which have nothing to do with the historical event or saint to which the Sunday is dedicated, but rather with encouraging us in our ascetical efforts before transitioning mid-Lent to the coming Passion of Christ. Check your preferred church website for each Sunday’s Scripture readings.) 

Please adhere to a strict 750-word limit for your Reflection. You may wish to email us first to ensure that someone else has not already proposed the theme that you have in mind. For general submission guidelines check our Write for Us page. Christians of other ecclesial affiliations are welcome to contribute to this series.

We look forward to hearing from many of you!