On February 15, the Armenian Apostolic Church will celebrate the Feast of the Great Barekendan, which will mark the start of Great Lent

Great Lent precedes the feast of the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ and lasts 48 days. During the liturgy on Barekendan itself, the curtains of the altars are closed and communion is not given throughout Lent, with the exception of a few feast days. On the first Wednesday of Great Lent, the church invites people to enter the fasting period with a special rite of penance. And on the last days of Lent, Maundy Thursday, the rite of absolution is performed, the curtain is opened and Holy Communion is given, because on that day Christ, sitting at the table with his apostles, established the mystery of Holy Communion.