Serve Presanctified on eve of St. Lazarus Saturday since it includes Vespers.
GREAT WEEK 2013 EDITED
+Great Monday April 16/29ns
Fast day
6:00 pm Bridegroom Services
+Great Tuesday April 17/30ns Parable of the Ten Virgins
Fast day
6:00 pm Bridegroom Services
+Great Wednesday April 18/May 1ns The harlot who anointed the Lord with myrrh
Fast day
6:00 pm Holy Anointing
+Great Thursday April 19/May 2ns THE MYSTICAL SUPPER
Fast day
9:00 am First half of Vespers and second half of Liturgy and Light agape meal
6:00 pm 12 Passion Gospels & Procession
+Great Friday April 20/May 3ns THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR SAVIOR
STRICT fast day
9:00 am Great Hours and Typika
3:00 pm Deposition from the Cross
6:00 pm Epitaphios
+Great Saturday April 21/May 4ns THE BURIAL OF THE DIVINE BODY OF THE LORD
Fast day
9:00 am First half of Vespers and second half of the Divine Liturgy of Pascha and Artoklasia. An agape meal follows Liturgy: Artos, wine, fruit and nuts. (Wine is permitted but not olive oil) We do not eat a regular meal but bread, fruit (also juice) as needed.
NO EATING OR DRINKING AFTER 7:00 PM |
11:30 pm Service for the Resurrection of Christ A small non-fastingagape meal will be served.
SUNDAY April 22/May 5ns +THE RESURRECTION OF OUR SAVIOR
1:00 pm Agape Vespers and agape meal
The Mystery of Anointing is celebrated and all (Orthodox) are anointed whether they are physically ill or not; for there is no sharp line of demarcation between bodily and spiritual sickness and this Great Mystery confers not only bodily healing but forgiveness of sins, thus serving as a preparation for the reception of Holy Communion on the next day.
The following events are remembered; the washing of the disciples’ feet, the Holy Eucharist at the Mystical Supper, the betrayal of Christ by Judas and the Crucifixion of our Lord. We are reminded of these events in the reading of the 12 Gospels and during which the Procession with the Cross occurs with the chanting of the troparion, "Today is suspended upon a tree, He Who suspended the earth over the waters.." (chanted in Arabic, English and Greek).
We celebrate the suffering of Christ; the mockery, the crown of thorns, the scourging, the nails, the thirst, the vinegar and gall, the confession of the thief. We process with the Epitaphion, an rectangular piece of material on which is painted or embroidered the body of Christ laid out for burial, from the Bema (Altar) to the center of the church where it is placed in the Koubouklion and venerated by the faithful. Then begin the Enkomia (Praises) which are sung before the Epitaphion. It should be noted that the Koubouklion, in which is placed the Epitaphion, does NOT represent the tomb of Christ but the place where he was laid to be anointed. The flowers that decorate the Koubouklion represent the spices brought by the Myrrh-bearing women. At the end of the Praises we carry the Epitaphion in procession outside and around the church while singing "Holy God...". On this day we abstain completely from food (with the exception of those who are pregnant or nursing, the aged and the sick).
The next morning we serve Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of Pascha, after which we all gather in the Narthex to softly sing "Christ is risen...". Following Liturgy and Artoklasia (Blessing of Loaves) we partake of wine, loaves and dried fruit at trapeza. Although this service was previously held late in the day and after which the faithful remained in the church, it is now celebrated in the morning and we return to the church around 9 p.m. and begin the reading of the Apostolos (the Acts of the Apostles) until the midnight hour approaches and the lights of the church are extinguished. All wait for the priest to come out from the Bema with the burning candles which symbolizes the light of the risen Christ and we begin the Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy.
Great Monday Evening
The Bridegroom Service reminds us that we must be prepared to receive Christ. The parable of the five wise virgins and five foolish virgins tells us that our lives must be filled with faith, hope, and good works. We must also be ever-watchful for Christ's Second Coming.
Great Tuesday Evening
Great Tuesday Evening
The Bridegroom Service emphasizes to us Jesus' love for those who repent of their sins and forgive others. As a model of love and repentance, we are reminded of the sinful woman who anointed Christ with costly oil as if preparing His Body for burial. The penitential Hymn of Saint Cassiane is sung this evening.
Great Wednesday Evening
Great Wednesday Evening
This service celebrates the Holy Mystery of Anointing wherein we confess our sins and are reconciled to God. To seal our reconciliation, we are anointed with Holy Oil for the healing of our soul and body. Seven special prayers and Epistle are read this evening.
Great Thursday Morning, during the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, we commemorate our Saviour’s establishment of Holy Communion during the Mystical Supper wherein He proclaims that the bread and wine become His Body and Blood given to us for eternal life. We are also reminded of the betrayal by Judas Iscariot and Christ's vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Great Thursday Evening retells the entire story of Christ's Passion through the reading of the twelve Gospel lessons. After the fifth Gospel reading, the Crucifixion is re-enacted when the priest carries the flower-adorned Crucifix in procession through the church and places It in the center of the church for veneration.
Great FRIDAY AFTERNOONcommemorates the supreme sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The priest unnails Christ from the Crucifix, wraps His Body in white linen, and places It on the altar symbolizing His burial by Joseph of Arimathea. The shroud showing Christ's Body is carried in procession and laid in a flower-adorned tomb. The Friday Evening service includes the Hymn of the Lamentations which are chanted to reflect our sorrow, to proclaim Christ's descent to Hades, and to herald His expected Resurrection. Christ's' burial shroud is taken in procession around the church and laid on the altar.
GREAT Saturday Morningcommemorates the Blessed Sabbath as a day of waiting and strict fasting. The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil is celebrated as we anticipate Christ's victory over death in Hades and His Glorious Resurrection. Saturday Evening, at 11:30 p.m., we sing the Paschal Matins service. As midnight approaches, in a darkened church, we begin the Resurrection service. At the appointed moment, the priest comes forth from the altar with a candle symbolizing the Light of Christ and proclaims "Christ is Risen!" The Paschal Liturgy and Homily of Saint John Chrysostomos invites us to share in His Resurrection through Holy Communion.
Great Thursday Morning, during the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, we commemorate our Saviour’s establishment of Holy Communion during the Mystical Supper wherein He proclaims that the bread and wine become His Body and Blood given to us for eternal life. We are also reminded of the betrayal by Judas Iscariot and Christ's vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Great Thursday Evening retells the entire story of Christ's Passion through the reading of the twelve Gospel lessons. After the fifth Gospel reading, the Crucifixion is re-enacted when the priest carries the flower-adorned Crucifix in procession through the church and places It in the center of the church for veneration.
Great FRIDAY AFTERNOONcommemorates the supreme sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The priest unnails Christ from the Crucifix, wraps His Body in white linen, and places It on the altar symbolizing His burial by Joseph of Arimathea. The shroud showing Christ's Body is carried in procession and laid in a flower-adorned tomb. The Friday Evening service includes the Hymn of the Lamentations which are chanted to reflect our sorrow, to proclaim Christ's descent to Hades, and to herald His expected Resurrection. Christ's' burial shroud is taken in procession around the church and laid on the altar.
GREAT Saturday Morningcommemorates the Blessed Sabbath as a day of waiting and strict fasting. The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil is celebrated as we anticipate Christ's victory over death in Hades and His Glorious Resurrection. Saturday Evening, at 11:30 p.m., we sing the Paschal Matins service. As midnight approaches, in a darkened church, we begin the Resurrection service. At the appointed moment, the priest comes forth from the altar with a candle symbolizing the Light of Christ and proclaims "Christ is Risen!" The Paschal Liturgy and Homily of Saint John Chrysostomos invites us to share in His Resurrection through Holy Communion.
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