The Services of Holy Week, Holy Pascha, and Bright Week

 

Lazarus Saturday – April 12

7:30 a.m. Matins
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy with Baptisms
6:00 p.m. Great Vespers
– The Church treats Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday as one single Sunday. Wine and oil are permitted today.

Palm Sunday – April 13

7:45 a.m. Festal Matins
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy
6:00 p.m. Vespers
– During Festal Matins the Palm branches are blessed. At the beginning of Divine Liturgy we process around the church holding palms in our hands. At the evening Vespers the vestment colors are changed back to purple, the music takes a more somber tone, and Holy Week begins.

Holy Monday – April 14

6:00 a.m. Bridegroom Matins
8:15 a.m. Reading of Gospel
6:00 p.m. Presanctified Liturgy

Holy Tuesday – April 15

6:00 a.m. Bridegroom Matins
8:15 a.m. Reading of Gospel
6:00 p.m. Presanctified Liturgy

Holy Wednesday –April 16

6:00 a.m. Bridegroom Matins
8:15 a.m. Reading of Gospel
11:15 a.m. Presanctified Liturgy (The last Presanctified Liturgy of the year.)
6:00 p.m. Holy Unction with Anointing
– Holy Unction is prescribed this evening (though it can be served other times during the year) for all Orthodox. At the end of the service the Orthodox faithful are anointed with Holy Unction for healing of soul and body. Also at this service the prayer of St. Ephriam is said for the last time.

Holy Thursday – April 17

6:00 a.m. Matins
5:00 p.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
9:00 p.m. Holy Friday Matins (with Passion Gospels)
– Matins is served as a simple matins outside of Great Lent. During the Great Entrance at Liturgy we sing the entire time and the entrance is made without any petitions. At Matins for Holy Friday the Passion Gospels are read and the Raising of the Cross takes place.

Holy Friday – April 18

9:00 a.m. Royal Hours
3:00 p.m. Great Vespers
7:00 p.m. Matins (with Lamentations)
–At Great Vespers, Christ is removed from the Cross and the Epitaphios (shroud) is brought to the center of the church and placed in the tomb. Matins for Holy Saturday takes place by candlelight. We sing the Lamentations with special melodies that are used only twice a year. At the end of Matins we process with the Kouvouklion (bier) around the church and the faithful pass underneath it as they re-enter the church. The Epitaphion (shroud) is then brought up from the tomb and placed on the Altar.

Holy Saturday – April 19

2:00 p.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
11:00 p.m. Paschal Matins & Divine Liturgy
– As we sing “Arise O God.” the vestment colors are changed from dark to light and bay leaves and rose petals are thrown throughout the church.
– At Festal Matins for Holy Pascha the service begins in complete darkness and then the Priest brings out the Paschal Light to the people. The entire congregation then processes around the church with lit candles. At the conclusion of Matins the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom is read.
After liturgy the priests pass out red eggs, the food baskets are blessed, and we break the fast together.

GREAT & HOLY PASCHA – April 20

12:00 p.m. Agape Vespers
– At this service the Gospel reading (John 20:19-25) for the day is read, and then read in many different languages.

Bright Monday – April 21

8:15 a.m. Paschal Matins
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy
6:00 p.m. Paschal Vespers
– At Matins and Vespers throughout Bright week the Paschal Canon is sung. During the procession on Bright Monday, Gospel readings take place at all four sides of the church.

Bright Tuesday – April 22

8:15 a.m. Paschal Matins
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy
5:30 p.m. Paschal Vespers & Matins

Bright Wednesday – April 23

9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Bright Thursday – April 24

7:15 a.m. Paschal Matins
8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Bright Friday – April 25

No Services

Bright Saturday – April 26

6:00 p.m. Great Vespers