May 2–The Monastery: Mr. Vig and the Nun The true story about an 82-year-old Danish bachelor Mr. Vig who for 50 years has owned an old castle in Denmark with the hope of one day establishing a monastery.  Mr. Vig’s lifelong dream is about to come true.  But the Russian nuns he has recruited have plans and wills of their own, and Mr. Vig must realize that the road to fulfilling his dream is very different than what he imagined. Written by Permille Rose Gronkjaer.

May 9–The Romanovs: Crowned Family  A drama by acclaimed Russian director Gleb Panfilov, recounting the final two grueling years of the last tsar, Nicholas II, and his family.  Beautifully filmed and delicately faithful to history, the film depicts not only the events but the vivid personalities of this tragic era.

May 16–Parables (Притчи)   Comic art-film containing video sketches or “parables” on traditional Russian religious themes, including “The Unusual Obedience,” “O Lord, Why Do You Not Hear Our Prayers?,” and “Christ is Coming to Dinner.”

May 30–Parables II (Притчи 2)  A second “volume” of parables, reflecting themes similar to ancient tales of the Desert Fathers of early Christianity but set in contemporary Belarus, including tales about judging others, forgiveness, and the virtue of simplicity.

Father Justin Patterson will be the facilitator for these Russain-language films with subtitles.  Father has a Masters in Russian History from the University of Florida and has studied in Russia.  These films will be shown in the parish hall at St. Athanasius Orthodox Church at 926 South Main Street starting at 7:30pm.  For more more information call the church office at 859-881-8144.

Stay tuned for a full photo report of the 2012 Holy Week and Pascha services, which were the best attended services we have had in our parish history, thanks be to God!

With Lazarus Saturday, we take a pause in the strictness of our fasting and celebrate the event that propels our Lord into “celebrity status” among his fellow Jews: the raising of his friend Lazarus from the dead.  Proceeding directly from this joyous event, we offer praise to Jesus as he enters the Holy City on Palm Sunday and is hailed by the people as King.  As King, the Lord cleanses the temple and speaks of the Kingdom of God. 

The glory of these two days is quickly overshadowed by the deep reflection the Church calls us to in the “Bridegroom Services” beginning Sunday evening and continuing through Wednesday evening.  We ponder the End: not only the end of all things, but also our own personal ends.  We examine our lives and our hearts.  We fall before God in repentance, knowing that the Bridegroom is coming and we have only begun to prepare ourselves.  On Holy Wednesday evening, our focus begins to shift back towards the historical events of Holy Week as Judas prepares to betray the Lord. The full horror of Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and the travesty of Jesus’ trial unfolds on Thursday evening as the Lord is lead “as a sheep to the slaughter.”  We witness him crucified and we hear him exclaim “Father, forgive them…” Our journey continues with the taking of his body down from the Cross on Friday and with the lamentations for him late Friday evening.  Many will keep vigil all night in the church by his body, as we prepare to commemorate the “harrowing of hades” that our Lord performs on the Great Sabbath (Holy Saturday). 

Our joy will be fulfilled early Sunday morning at midnight as we go to the tomb and find, with the women disciples, that it is empty and that Christ is Risen!   We welcome you to make this journey with us and to say with us the glorious words of Pascha: “Christ is Risen!”

Holy Week Service Schedule

Brief explanations of each service (including estimated lengths) can be found on the Service Schedule page below the calendar.

Sat, Apr 7: 9am Lazarus Saturday Liturgy

• Pancake Breakfast & Palm-folding following
• 6:30pm Vigil for Palm Sunday

Sun, Apr 8: 10am Palm Sunday Liturgy

• 6:30pm Bridegroom Matins

Mon, Apr 9: 7am Hours w/ Gospel of Mark (1-8)

• 6:30pm Bridegroom Matins

Tue, Apr 10: 7am Hours w/ Gospel of Mark (9-16)

• 6:30pm Bridegroom Matins
  

Wed, Apr 11: 11:30am Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

• 6:30pm Bridegroom Matins/Anointing

Thu, Apr 12: 3pm Vesperal Liturgy (Mystical Supper)

• 6:30pm Matins w/ 12 Passion Gospels

Fri, Apr 13: 9am Royal Hours (Passion)

• 3pm Vespers of Entombment
• 6:30pm Matins with Praises

Sat, Apr 14: 9am Vesperal Liturgy (Sabbath)

• Special Meal and Cleaning Time
• 11:30pm Paschal Nocturnes

Sun, Apr 15 The Pascha of our Lord!

• Procession and Matins at midnight
• Paschal Liturgy at about 1:15am
• Paschal Meal at about 3am
• 2pm Agape Vespers (Highbridge Park)
• Picnic following for all!

Mon, Apr 16: 9am Bright Monday Liturgy

Iconostasis of St. Athanasius (Holy Week)

Orthodox Christians pray, as Great Lent dawns, that God would open to us the “gates of repentance.” Great Lent, which literally means the “Great Fast,” refers to a glorious season of “bright sadness” when we turn to the Lord with renewed prayer, fasting, almsgiving. During the 40-Day Fast, Orthodox are called to lay aside normal entertainments, put away all gossiping and backbiting, all meat and dairy (if one is healthy), so that we might focus all of our energies on loving our Lord Jesus Christ and our brothers and sisters. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian or not, we invite you to participate with us in Lenten worship, which is remarkable for its ancient beauty and intensity. Our complete Lenten Calendar is available (through Holy Week and Pascha). Services for the specially intense Clean Week (the first week of Great Lent) are included below:

Schedule for Clean Week 2012

Sun, Feb 26: 10am Liturgy

& 5pm Forgiveness Vespers

Mon, Feb 27: 7am Lenten Matins

& 6:30pm Compline w/ St. Andrew Canon

Tue, Feb 28: 7am Lenten Matins

& 6:30pm Compline w/ St. Andrew Canon

Wed, Feb 29: 7am Lenten Matins

& 5:55pm Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

Thu, Mar 1: 7am Lenten Matins

& 6:30pm Compline w/ St. Andrew Canon

Fri, Mar 2: 7am Lenten Matins

& 11:30am Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, March 3: 6:15pm Litya for Departed

& 6:30pm All-Night Vigil

Sunday, March 4: 10am Liturgy

& 6pm Orthodoxy Vespers in Louisville (at Assumption GOA)

Teaching Series: “Road of Orthodoxy”

Beginning on Wednesday evening, February 22, and continuing each Wednesday evening of Great Lent (i.e., through April 4th), Father Justin Patterson will be offering an engaging, yet basic course on early Christian and Orthodox Christian history. Father Justin will make use of power point slides, photos, and short videos to help bring the story of the Church to life. For the basic structure of his talks, Father Justin will be taking Fr. Alexander Schmemann’s classic book The Historical Road of Orthodoxy as his guide. This 7-part series is open to everybody, and will include the teen group of St. Athanasius, as well. Class time begins at about 7:30pm and will last 45-50 minutes.

7:20 Special Video Presentation “Return of the Icon”

presented after Vespers at 6:30pm

Soul Saturday Prayers for the Departed

Begins Sat. Feb. 18 at 6:15 with Litya for the

Departed prior to Vigil and continues throughout the

Saturdays of Lent

Sunday Feb.19 Meatfare Sunday which begins a week

of festal preparation for Great Lent which begins on

Clean Monday, Feb. 27

Sunday Feb. 26 5pm Forgiveness Sunday Vespers

                                               “The Return of the Icon”

Saturday Feb. 18 6:15pm Litya for the Departed

This special commemoration, Soul Saturday Prayers for the Departed, will be

observed each Saturday thru

Great Lent

Sunday Feb. 19  Meatfare Sunday

Monday Feb. 20  Begins a week for festal preparation for Great Lent

Sunday Feb. 26 5pm  Forgiveness Sunday Vespers

Monday Feb. 27 Clean Monday marks the beginning of Great Lent

Great Water Blessing 2012, Lake Mingo, Nicholasville

If you would like Father Justin to serve a houseblessing during the month of January, please email him or call the office at 859-881-8144 (Tues.-Thurs., 10am-2pm).

“Death and Dying as Orthodox”

Special Two-part Wednesday Evening Series taught by Fr. Justin Patterson

Wednesday, January 18, 7:20-8:15pm

Wednesday, January 25, 7:20-8:15pm

Parish 10th Anniversary Coming Up

Friday, Feb. 10th

6:30pm: Grand Banquet at Ss. Peter & Paul School in Lexington

Saturday, Feb. 11th

11am Women’s Brunch with Bishops Nikon and Mark

3:30pm New Property Blessing

4pm All-Night Vigil

7pm Men’s Fellowship with Bishops at Carl Lizak’s House

Sunday, Feb. 12th

9:40am Greeting Bishops & Liturgy (meal following)

All events are open to parishioners and friends of our parish. For ticket information for the Grand Banquet, please call Kathy at the church during office hours (881-8144) or email her at officeasst@athanasiusoca.org

“When thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to thee, calling thee his Beloved Son; and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truthfulness of his word. O Christ our God, who hast revealed thyself, and enlightened the world, glory to thee.” Troparion of the Feast of Theophany

Wednesday, January 4:

6:30pm–Vespers for the Forefeast (40 min.)

followed by informal coffee time at Starbucks

Thursday, January 5

9am–Royal Hours with Indoor Water Blessing (90 min.)

6:30pm–Vigil for the Feast (2 hr.)

Friday, January 6:

7am–Liturgy for Theophany (65 min.)

Saturday, January 7:

6:30pm–Vigil for Lord’s Day (95 min.)

Sunday, January 8:

9am–Sunday School

10am–Liturgy

12pm–Coffee and Snacks

12:30pm–Great Water Blessing at Lake Mingo

Wilmore-area Houseblessings from 2pm-6pm

Please Call Fr. Justin if you would like to schedule a house blessing during this season of Theophany!

“Today the Virgin comes to the cave
to give birth to the Eternal Word.
Hear the glad tidings and rejoice, O universe!
Glorify with the angels and the shepherds
the Eternal God, Who is willing to appear as a little child!”
-Kontakion, Forefeast of the Nativity

Soon, our Church will celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ! We will be serving the full Nativity cycle at our parish, and welcome all who are able to join us in celebrating this Feast of the Incarnation. The three-day celebration will begin on Friday, December 23rd and end the morning of December 25th. We will also be celebrating Liturgy for the Synaxis of the Theotokos the morning of December 26th. A full service schedule follows below:

Friday, December 23rd

7:00am – Royal Hours
5:00pm – Great Vespers for Nativity Eve
5:45pm – Confessions

Saturday, December 24th

9:00am – Liturgy for Nativity Eve
10:30am – Light Lenten Brunch
11:00am – Great Vespers for Nativity
12:15pm – Confessions
6:30pm – Vigil for Nativity (Great Compline + Matins)

Sunday, December 25th

9:00am – Liturgy for Nativity
12:00pm – Common Meal

Monday, December 26th

9:00am – Liturgy for the Synaxis of the Theotokos

His Grace Mark, Bishop of Baltimore

His Grace Mark, Bishop of Baltimore, is scheduled to make a hierarchical visit to St. Athanasius Orthodox Church in Nicholasville, KY on the weekend of the twenty-seventh of November (Thanksgiving weekend) after having received the blessing of Bishop Nikon of Boston, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South.

Bishop Mark is scheduled to arrive at the parish for the All-Night Vigil, which will begin around 6:15pm on Saturday, and will serve a full Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning at 10am. A Common Meal will follow the Liturgy, as is the parish’s usual practice. the full weekend schedule is as follows:

Saturday, November 26th

6:15pm – Arrival of the Bishop, Ninth Hour
6:30pm – Vigil
8:30pm – Confessions

Sunday, November 27th

9:20am – Third and Sixth Hours
9:40am – Greeting of the Bishop and Vesting
10am – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
12:30pm – Common Meal