Why does Orthodox Church give importance to Nineveh Lent before the Great 40 Day Lent?

Varghese Mathai Contributing Editor 24/1/13 The three day let originated in Syriac Orthodox Christian tradition and then spread to other oriental orthodox traditions including the Coptic and Armenian Churches. The Origin of this feast was to commemorate a miraculous cessation of plague which broke out in the region of Beth-Gammae. When stuck with disaster, the faithful of the place gathered in the church to pray and began to do great acts of penance and the plague ceased suddenly