It is the third day of Holy Week in Eastern Christianity, after Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, and the second day of Holy Week in Western Christianity, after Palm Sunday.

[2] In traditional Methodist usage, The Book of Worship for Church and Home (1965) provides the following Collect for Holy Monday:[3] Grant, we beseech thee, almighty God, that we, who are in so many occasions of adversity, by reason of or frailty are found wanting, may yet, through the passion and intercession of thine only begotten Son, be continually refreshed; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end.

On this day the Church commemorates the withering of the fruitless fig tree (Matthew 21:18–22), a symbol of judgement that will befall those who do not bring forth the fruits of repentance.

At Small Compline a Triode (Canon composed of three Odes), written by St. Andrew of Crete is chanted.

There are various methods of dividing the Gospels, but the most common is:[6] At the Sixth Hour there is a reading from the Book of Ezekiel 1:1–20 At the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, some of the stichera from the previous night's Matins (Lauds and the Aposticha) are repeated at Lord, I have cried (see Vespers).