PASCHA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lamentations for Our Lord

Lamentations -  Text Only

Lamentations - with Music

 

 

 

HOLY WEEK UPDATES sent on Holy Monday

 

FASTING & FEASTING information for you

 

ORTHODOX TRADITONS OF HOLY WEEK & PASCHA - info for you

 

PASCHA RSVP & VOLUNTEER TO HELP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or Paypal Contributions

   

Please read the descriptive details on the right margin of this page  ---->

They explain how Holy Week and Pascha are commemorated and celebrated in the Orthodox Church.

PRINT THE SCHEDULE ABOVE TO SEE DATES & TIMES

MYRRH BEARERS - a note from Julie

As we prepare for the services of Holy Week, I want to again invite the young girls who would like to participate in Holy Friday's service as Myrrh Bearers. 
 
In scripture, the Myrrh Bearing Women came to the tomb of Christ to anoint His Body, likewise we will have our girls participate in the Lamentations service on Holy Friday night April 10. They will wear white dresses, floral crowns, and have baskets of rose petals that they will put on the Epitaphios (the embroidered icon of Christ in the Tomb) which will be in the Kouvouklion (the Tomb of Christ that we decorate with flowers) as we sing the beautiful hymns of lamentation. They will also be in the procession that goes outdoors on Friday night and will walk with the priest and the acolytes.
Here are some "instructions"
  • Girls 5 to about 11 years old
  • Parents RSVP HERE or text me no later than Monday April 6th so I can make sure we have enough floral crowns & baskets
  • Must arrive at church on time for the 7pm service and come to the fellowship hall to get their crowns & baskets, and to practice several times.
  • I need another 2 mothers who are willing to help provide supervision as we practice and prepare to enter in to the church - which will be around 7:30 or later.
  • Girls need to wear a long (at least knee length) white gown with sleeves or a sweater to cover the shoulders. A white dress of any kind is perfect, though many girls choose fancy dresses like the ones pictured below.
  •  We have a number of extra gowns and sweaters in various sizes; contact me  as soon as possible if you need one so I can try to locate one in her size.
  • If it will be cold, plan to bring a sweater for them
Here's an overview of what they will be doing
  • At the beginning of the 3rd stanza they will process 2 by 2 into the church and stand to the left and the right of the Kouvouklion (tomb). Be sure to let them enter at a staggered pace so it is slow and meaningful.
  •  We'll line up the taller girls to process into the sanctuary first and then little ones last so we can see them better when they stand up on the solea with Fr. Anthony.  
  • They will stand on the left and right sides of the tomb of Christ, taller ones in the back and shorter ones in the front.
  • They will gently throw/place the rose petals on the icon of Christ in the Tomb. Father Anthony will indicate when to start doing this which will be when the chanters sing the hymn about the Myrrh Bearers.
  • After the 3rd Stanza (of the lamentations) is finished there will be some chanting by the chanters for 8 - 10 minutes then the outdoor procession begins.  If the little ones are too fidgety, then they can sit down during this time.  
  • You can walk with your little ones outside during the procession with the Kouvouklion.  After the procession they go and sit back with their parents.
  • A director will stand up front and help them if they are confused or need help
Please respond asap to notify me of anyone planning to participate, and call or text with any questions! May it all be blessed and glorious and full of hope in the Resurrection.  
 
Julie
404-272-7559

PASCHA DONATIONS

It is customary to make a special offering at this time. As you will see the church will will need altar supplies, flowers, candles, food, chanters and so much more. Your gift is a blessing. Donate Here

AGAPE VESPERS & THE PASCHA FEAST RSVP

On the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha we will have the Agape Vespers April 12 at 2:00 pm followed by the Pascha Feast. You must RSVP for this and sign up for what you will contribute. The RSVP LINK IS HERE and lists many many areas where we need volunteers all week. Please prayerfully fill it out.

FRIDAY APRIL 3 - CHURCH DEEP CLEANING & BAKING

Come anytime between 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm to help clean and polish the church and the icons. We need many hands to make light the work because we will be doing deep cleaning. We will also bake "Lazaraikia" Cookies around 6:00 pm to be enjoyed on Lazarus Saturday. - these are Lenten cookies shaped like Lazarus.

LAZARUS SATURDAY

APRIL 4, after The Liturgy and the Chrismations, we have a Lenten Potluck breakfast followed by the Baptisms, then palm folding, and Fr Anthony will be hearing confessions. We will be making 15 new Orthodox Christians on this day.

PALM SUNDAY - POTLUCK LENTEN LUNCH

APRIL 5 The church will provide fried fish, please plan to bring lenten side dishes, beverages and wine, and desserts and donations accepted as well. This is also "Western Easter" so all AGAPE Teams are assigned since we are not sure how many people will be there.

It is traditional to eat fish and garlic mashed potatoes (skordalia) and mark the start of Holy Week with "charmoleipi" which means "bittersweetness" - the mix of sadness and joy that is so appropriate to our walk with Christ during His Passion.

HOW TO GREET ONE ANOTHER

Kalo Pascha in Greek means - I wish you a happy Easter, but literally it means "Good Pascha!" and we say this during the second half of Lent

Kali Anastasi in Greek means - I wish you a good Resurrection Feast! and we start saying this from Saturday of Lazarus until Holy Saturday evening.

At the Resurrection through to the Ascension we say:

Christos Anesti! - Christ is Risen!

Alithos Anesti! - Truly He is Risen!

BRIDEGROOM MATINS

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Evenings offer profound prayer and worship of our Lord as He approaches His Life-Giving Passion. Note that Matins are celebrated in the evenings and Vespers in the mornings during Holy Week as an expression of our eager anticipation to arrive at The Holy Resurrection and the eternal "now" of the Salvation.

SETTING UP TABLES FOR THE FEAST

We do this probably Monday evening after church so that the decorators can get started.

HOLY WEDNESDAY - UNCTION SERVICE

The Matins and Unction services can be longer than most (2.5 hours) and we want you to plan accordingly - especially for young children. The anointing with Holy Unction is only for Orthodox Christians and will be at the end.

HOLY THURSDAY - MATINS w/ 12 GOSPEL READINGS

Some are timid thinking this is a very long night but it is not. In fact, it is truly, truly! beautiful and you will be moved in your spirit as you walk with Christ to Golgatha. This is the time and place of deep prayer; to stay and watch with the Lord. Children (toddlers not recommened) can come for a bit and leave after the reading of the 5th Gospel, so they can see the priest process with the Corpus of Christ around the church as we kneel in silence, and as he places our Lord on the Cross. The hymnography is stunning.

MYRRH BEARERS

For girls 5 and up to participate in the Holy Friday evening service. Please READ THE NOTE FROM JULIE to the left.

HOLY FRIDAY

We begin the morning with Royal Hours then begin the decorating of the Tomb of Christ. We cover it with flowers and have it ready for the 3:00 PM vespers. It is tradition to take the whole day off from work or school if you can and be at the church. The 3:00 pm Vesper is for the Taking Down of Christ from the Cross. We will also be decorating and getting ready for Pascha Sunday throughout the day. In the evening we will sing the Lamentations, and have the Myrrh Bearers (girls) as Christ is in the Tomb and we await the Resurrection. This service includes a procession out doors with candles.

HOLY FRIDAY SCHOOL EXCUSE LETTER click here

HOLY FRIDAY VIGIL / READING THE PSALTER

Keep vigil at the Tomb of Christ April 9 through 10, 9:00 PM TO 9:00 AM reading the psalter. Sign up to be scheduled to read for 1/2 or full hour. You are welcome to bring pillow and blanket and some Lenten food to share. Children under 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

EASTER EGG HUNT

We will be putting out bags of plastic eggs for you fill with candy - no chocolate as it melts! Please bring them back any day before the Easter Egg Hunt after the Pascha Feast on April 12. Parents - remember to bring a basket or bag for your children to enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt.

THE FEAST OF FEASTS * GREAT & HOLY PASCHA

The Liturgy for the Resurrection of our Lord will begin with Matins at 11:15 PM Saturday evening April 11 and culminate in the Holy Eucharist around 2:00 AM April 12.

**If you are new to the church please note that this midnight service IS the Sunday morning Liturgy and there will not be a church service at 10:00 am on Sunday.

 

AGAPE VESPERS & THE PASCHA FEAST

On the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha we will have the Agape Vespers April 12 at 2:00 pm followed by the Pascha Feast. You must RSVP for this and sign up for what you will contribute. The RSVP and SIGN UP link is below and lists many many areas where we need volunteers all week. Please prayerfully fill it out.