Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα (Holy Week) from the early Christian centuries, was named the week before Easter because, according to the church teachings, great, secret, and salvific events occurred during it: the Holy Passion, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers (Konstantin Flavitsky, 1855).

 On this day in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the church commemorates the withering of the fruitless fig tree, a symbol of judgement that will befall those who do not bring forth the fruits of repentance. The hymns on this day also recall Joseph, the son of Jacob, whose innocent suffering at the hand of his brethren (Genesis 37), and false accusation (Genesis 39-40) are a type foreshadowing of the Passion of Christ.