March 7-11, 2011 marked the first week of Great Lent, also known as Clean Week. For one week, all obediences and classes are put aside, and all attention is focused on the divine services. The week began on Sunday night, with Small Compline and the rite of forgiveness. The monastic brotherhood and seminarians, along with the local community, asked forgiveness of the Abbot, Archimandrite Luke, and one another in preparation for the Fast.

Through the week, all in the community attended the full cycle of services, which lasted from five o'clock in the morning to one o'clock in the afternoon.
The services began with the Midnight Office, followed by Matins, the Hours, Typica, and Vespers. On Wednesday and Friday, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was served. The services were interspersed with spiritual readings from
the holy fathers, including the Ladder of St. John Climacus, the St. Ephraim the Syrian, and St. Palladius. Every day, a litia was served for the departed.
After Vespers, the brotherhood gathered in the refectory to break the fast with
a light lunch, consisting of boiled potatoes, vegetables, and fruits, which was the
only meal of the day.

In the evenings, the brotherhood gathered for Great Compline. From Monday through Thursday, Archimandrite Luke read the Great Canon of Repentance of St. Andrew of Crete. On Friday, the canons in preparation for Holy Communion were read. On Clean Saturday, the brotherhood clergy served the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and all the brotherhood and seminarians received Holy Communion according to the tradition of the monastery.