Schedule of Services

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Holy Week 2008

Holy Tuesday
April 22, 2008

7:00am Hours with Gospel of Matthew
As is the custom, our parish will read through an entire Gospel over the course of the Hours on Holy Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, we will read Matthew chapter 1-13:52. On Tuesday we will complete the Gospel. Those who cannot attend the hours are encouraged to read the Gospel at home as part of their Holy Week preparations for Pascha. (Service lasts 2 - 3 hours.)
6:30pm Bridegroom Matins for Holy Wednesday
The service of the Bridegroom Matins introduces us to Holy Week. Each night, from Sunday to Wednesday evening, we are challenged to ponder the coming of the Lord and our lack of preparation to meet Him. (Each Bridegroom service lasts 1 1/2 hours.)

Holy Wednesday
April 23, 2008

11:30am Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts
All who are working are encouraged to take their lunch break and come to service to partake of Holy Communion. The communing of the faithful should take place at about 12:45pm and the service will be completed around 1:00pm. We pray the Prayer of St. Ephrem for the last time this year at this service.
6:30pm Bridegroom Matins with Anointing
On Holy Wednesday evening, the theme of the Bridegroom Matins shifts dramatically to the person of Judas at the Last Supper, who is sharing the Lord’s Table and yet is preparing to betray Him. Afterwards the priest will anoint all present with blessed oil reserved from the Vigil of Palm Sunday. (Service lasts 1 1/2 hours)

Holy Thursday
April 24, 2008

3:30pm Vesperal Liturgy of Mystical Supper
This vesperal liturgy is sometimes called the Liturgy of the Mystical Supper. At this time, we commemorate the Last Supper and enter into the eternal mystery of it, which is the Eucharist. (Service lasts about 2 hours.) After the Liturgy, we will share a lenten common meal.
6:30pm Matins with 12 Passion Gospels
On the evening of Holy Thursday, we enter in to Great and Holy Friday and encounter Christ Crucified. This is one of the most powerful services in all of Orthodox Holy Week. (Service lasts 2 - 3 hours.)

Holy Friday
April 25, 2008

9:00am Royal Hours
On the morning of Great and Holy Friday, we revisit the Cross. We hear the hymns of the previous evening and find Jesus hanging on the Cross for our salvation. If you cannot be at the 12 Passion Gospels, this service of the Royal Hours covers much of the same content. Royal Hours offer a powerful meditation on the Cross and its means. (Service lasts about 2 hours.)
3:00pm Entombment Vespers
During this service, we remember the taking down of the Lord’s body from the Cross and His entombment by the Noble Joseph. (Service lasts 1 1/2 hours.)
6:30pm Holy Saturday Matins with Praises
Sometimes called the “Service of Lamentation,” this Matins for Holy Saturday shows us that our lamentation of Christ’s death will soon blossom forth into tremendous rejoicing! During the service, our lamentations around the tomb of Christ begin to morph into praises to Him who is about to rise from the dead! (Service lasts 2 hours.) The all-night reading of the Psalter follows until the morning Liturgy.

Holy Saturday
April 26, 2008

9:00am Baptisms and Chrismations
10:00am Vesperal Liturgy
The Vesperal Liturgy on Holy Saturday ushers in the first strains of the joyous feast! This service is the Vespers of Pascha itself and announces what is to come. The vestments and paraments are dramatically changed from black to white and we hear “Let God arise and His enemies be scattered…” (Service lasts 2 1/2 or 3 hours.) After the Liturgy, we will bless loaves of bread and wine (and juice for the children) as nourishment to sustain us through the day. The altar servers will be preparing the holy things for Pascha and many of the faithful will help with flowers and beautifying the church for the feast. The book of Acts will be read continuously from 8:00pm until the Nocturnes at 11:30pm.
11:30pm Paschal Nocturnes
After the morning Liturgy, we fast and make preparations all day (including preparation of sumptuous paschal foods). “Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight,” we sang at Bridegroom matins earlier in the week. Now we gather again before midnight to be ready to meet the Risen Lord. Before we make our triumphal Paschal procession we gather for Nocturnes. Quietly, the Lord’s body is taken from the “Tomb” and placed in victory on the Holy Table in the altar. In darkness we wait patiently for the first strains of the Paschal song: “Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Savior…” The paschal light is lit, the priest begins quietly to chant the hymn, the servers join in, and finally the choir and all the people. The light is passed from person to person and we exit the church and make our Paschal Procession.

The Holy Pascha
April 27, 2008

~12:00am Midnight Procession & Paschal Matins
~1:30am Paschal Divine Liturgy
~3:00am Blessing of Foods & Paschal Meal
We have now entered completely into the joy of Pascha. Christ bursts the gates of death and the gates of Paradise are opened. Coming back into the church, we celebrate the Paschal Matins, hear the Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom and then go right into the Paschal Liturgy. After the Liturgy, the priest immediately blesses the Artos and the Paschal baskets in the fellowship hall. Everyone is invited to break the fast together in the fellowship hall. Bright Week is a fast-free week.
3:00pm Paschal Agape Vespers
Scheduled to be served on our church hill at 2500 Chrisman Mill Road. Our traditional Parish picnic will follow.

Regular Schedule

Saturday Evening
5:30pm Choir practice
6:15pm Ninth Hour Prayers
6:30pm Great Vespers/Matins

Sunday Morning
9:00am Sunday School (classes for all ages)
9:30am Choir practice
9:40am Third & Sixth Hour Prayers
10:00am Divine Liturgy
Common meal follows

DURING THE SUMMER (June through August)
Sunday School is cancelled
9:30am Summer sing-a-long time for children
10:00am Divine Liturgy

Wednesday Evening
6:00pm Choir practice
6:30pm Vespers
7:15pm Various Activities

Special services as announced

Inquirer’s classes “Orthodoxy 101″ and instruction in the faith (catechism) as announced. Please contact the priest for more information.

Sacrament of Repentance
Confessions are heard Saturdays after Great Vespers and after all Vigil services
Other times by appointment

Common Meals
Sundays after Divine Liturgy and before and after fasting periods