Sawma Rabba

{{Short description|Eastern rite Christian liturgical season}}

{{about|the East Syriac Christian Liturgical Calendar|Great Fast|Great Lent|}}

{{Infobox holiday

|holiday_name = Season of Great Fast

|image =Sawma Rabba.jpg

|caption = Icon depicting the theme of Season of Great Fast

|nickname =

|observedby = East Syriac Christians

|date =

|observances = Church services

|type = Christian, cultural

|significance = Commemoration of the 40 days fasting and Crucifixion of Jesus

|relatedto = Good Friday, Thursday of Pesha, Great Fast, Syro Malabar Church

|duration = 50 days

|frequency=Annual

|begins= 50 days before Resurrection Sunday

|scheduling=Christmas day of week-based

}}

{{Liturgical year}}

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.{{Cite web|title = Syro-Malabar Catechetical season|url=http://www.syromalabarcatechesis.com/home/season/4}}{{Cite web|title= FASTING AND GREAT LENT|url=https://news.assyrianchurch.org/fasting-and-great-lent/}}