In accordance with Christian celebration, the Palm Sunday, was established to be called the previous Sunday of the feast of the Resurrection.
This day commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem where, according to the authors of the Holy Gospels, the Jews greeted him with sorrow or vagia (palm branches) and spreading their clothes on the ground, they cheered "Hosanna, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου ».
Today, this Sunday in both the Eastern and the Western Church is considered the beginning of the Holy Passion. Despite its cheerful character, initially the catalysis of fish, oil and wine on this day were considered incompatible with the sanctity of Holy Week and the fasting that follows, adjusting it accordingly.
The above memory is especially honored with outstanding hymnology and majestic function, at the end of which are distributed vagia that have been previously blessed in the sequence of orthros.
The customs of representation
In the first churches this memory was celebrated with a representation of the event. Specifically, to Holy Places in the 4th century the bishop, starting with a procession from the Mount of Olives, entered Jerusalem on a "single pole" surrounded by the clergy, while the faithful preceded by holding palm branches.
In Byzantine times, the so-called "Emperor's walk" took place, where the procession started from the palace in which the emperor participated holding the image of Christ framed by the priesthood, where it ended up in Hagia Sophia. This imperial procession was led by the candlestick who sang "Come out of the heavens and worship the king of the heavens today.…».
According to the testimony of Balsamon, at the end of this feast the Emperor distributed handicrafts and crosses, and the Patriarch candles for Holy Week.
This Byzantine custom was reverently received and observed by the Tsars of Russia., which was followed by the lot starting from Kremlin and ending at the metropolitan church. In Greece instead’ of these only the distribution of the vagias by the priests of the churches is preserved.
Fasting
Regarding the fast of this day there is a difference in the question of whether fish is catalyzed or not. The opinion of Theodoros the Studite is that on Palm Sunday "eat fish ", because it is considered a Despotic holiday. For Saint Nicodemus of Mount Athos only fish is eaten one day of Lent, that is, on the day of the Annunciation.
The position of the Apostolic Orders is typical when they say: "After that (that is, the holidays of Christmas and Epiphany), to observe the fast of Lent, which includes remembrance of the life of the Lord and the law. Keep this fast before Easter, starting on Monday and ending on Friday. After that after you stop fasting, to start the holy week of Easter, fasting cat’ her all in fear…».
The terms are indicative “after you stop fasting” and “to start”, which show that one fast ends and another begins.
The one that ends is the fast of Lent and the one that begins is the fast of Holy Week.
So this holiday is independently between two fasts. Her position therefore gives the right to talk about catalysis cat’ on this day fish or even egg.