Palm Sunday, also called the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, is celebrated on the Sunday before Pascha. It is one of the Twelve Great Feasts and stands at the threshold of Holy Week.
The crowd welcomes Christ with branches, but Orthodox worship does not treat the day as simple triumphal excitement. The Lord enters freely toward His Passion. The feast reveals a kingship that overturns worldly expectations.
Branches, joy, and judgment
Many parishes bless palms, pussy willows, or other branches depending on local climate and tradition. The branches are signs of welcome and victory, but the Church also knows how quickly human praise can become abandonment. Palm Sunday therefore carries joy and sobriety together.
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Date | The Sunday before Pascha. |
| Cycle | A movable feast tied to Pascha. |
| Customs | Palms, willows, or branches may be blessed depending on local practice. |
| Meaning | Christ enters Jerusalem voluntarily before His Passion. |
How to enter Holy Week
Palm Sunday should not be separated from the days that follow. It opens the way into Bridegroom services, the Passion, the Cross, the tomb, and Pascha. The faithful are invited not merely to carry branches, but to follow Christ with repentance and attention.
Because Palm Sunday is tied to Pascha, its civil date changes each year. Use your parish calendar for services and local customs.
Source note
This guide follows the Gospel accounts and Orthodox liturgical teaching on the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Local branch customs vary by region and parish.
Questions people ask
When is Orthodox Palm Sunday?
It is the Sunday before Pascha, so the civil date changes every year.
Why do Orthodox Christians hold branches?
Branches express welcome and victory, recalling Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
Is Palm Sunday part of Holy Week?
It stands at the threshold of Holy Week and leads directly into the services of Christ's Passion.
Before Holy Week
Follow the movement from joy to Pascha.
Orthodox Daily Prayer helps keep Holy Week, Scripture, prayer, and fasting awareness close during the most intense days of the Church year.