Sawma Rabba

This article is about the East Syriac Christian Liturgical Calendar. For Great Fast, see Great Lent.

Sawma Rabba (Syriac: ܨܲܘܡܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ) is the East Syriac liturgical season that begins seven weeks before Easter, falling during Great Lent, and culminates on Resurrection Sunday. It begins with Pētūrtta Sunday and extends precisely seven weeks until Easter. Among the descendant Churches of the Church of the East in India, the Sawma Rabba is popularly known as the Fifty days' fast, since Resurrection Sunday occurs at its fiftieth day.^[1][2]

Season of Great Fast
Icon depicting the theme of Season of Great Fast
Observed by	East Syriac Christians
Type	Christian, cultural
Significance	Commemoration of the 40 days fasting and Crucifixion of Jesus
Observances	Church services
Begins	50 days before Resurrection Sunday
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Good Friday, Thursday of Pesha, Great Fast, Syro Malabar Church