The most holy week of the year for Christians is that week in which we commemorate the events of our Lord’s earthly life from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his glorious Resurrection on the morning of Pascha. The services for this week include unique ceremonies which help call to mind these events. But we are not merely experiencing a re-enactment of historical occurrences. We are experiencing “anamnesis” – a remembrance that makes these events real and present now in our hearts and minds. When we hear the story of Christ’s Passion in the words of the evangelists Matthew and John sung on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, we are the crowd of people who cried out for his crucifixion. Christ offers us his Body and Blood at the Last Supper, and we rejoice with the women at the empty tomb when we exclaim “Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!”
As we again this year repeat all the unique ceremonies of Holy Week, let us remember in our hearts the events which they represent and rejoice in the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Palm Sunday, April 13 – Matins will be sung at 9:00 am; the blessing and distribution of Palms, the reading of the Palm Sunday account, and the procession with palms will begin at 9:30, followed by Mass with the singing of the Passion Gospel of St. Matthew.
Monday and Tuesday, April 14 and 15 – Vespers at 6:30 pm; Mass at 7:00 with the singing of the Passion Gospels of St. Luke and St. Mark.
Wednesday, April 16 – Vespers at 6:30 pm; Mass with the blessing of the oils of catechumens and unction at 7:00.
Maundy Thursday, April 17 – Vespers at 6:30 pm; Mass with the foot-washing ceremony, the procession to the Altar of Repose, and the stripping of the altar at 7:00; Tenebrae (following a Lenten meal).
Good Friday, April 18 – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy beginning at noon with the singing of the Passion Gospel of St. John, the Solemn Collects, the Veneration of the Cross and the singing of the Reproaches.
Holy Saturday, April 19 – Confessions will be heard at 9:00 pm; at 10:00, the Great Vigil of Pascha beginning with the lighting of the Paschal Fire, the singing of the Exultet, the reading of lessons and singing the Litany, and the renewal of Baptismal vows; the first Mass of Easter. A Paschal banquet will follow.
Easter Day, April 20 – Mass at 11:00 am with the singing of the Vidi Aquam and the Paschal Sequence hymn.
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Christos Anesti! Alethos Anesti! El Messieh Kahm! Hakken Kahm! Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese! Christus Resurréxit! Resurréxit Vere!
Read the full April newsletter here.