April 2020 – Page 2 – Fr. Bill's Orthodox Blog

187. Thursday Evening Matins – “The Twelve Gospels Service”

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Fr. Bill

Gospel Readings: 1 John 13:31-18:1, 2 John 18:1-29, 3 Matthew 26:57-75, 4 John 18:28 -19:16, 5 Matthew 27:3-32, 6 Mark 15:16-32, 7 Matthew 27:33-54, 8 Luke 23:32-49, 9 John 19:25-37, 10 Mark 15:43-47, 11 John 19:38-42, 12 Matthew 27:62-66 I will not (believe me!) comment on each of these readings, which carry the story from Holy Thursday evening through Holy Saturday evening. Please try to worship live-stream tonight. Be prepared for well over two hours. I […]

186. Holy Thursday Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Fr. Bill

In the Orthodox tradition, the full Divine Liturgy is not celebrated on fasting, penitential days, including all the ordinary weekdays of Great Lent. That is why on Lenten weekdays we serve the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, omitting the consecration of the Holy Bread and Wine. But Great and Holy Thursday is a feast […]

185. Holy Wednesday Evening Matins and Holy Unction

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Fr. Bill

For most of our history the Holy Wednesday night service was Matins/Orthros alone, which continues the Holy Week narrative. However, beginning a few hundred years ago in Greek and Antiochian churches, Matins began to be replaced by Holy Unction. The Anointing was used as part of the preparation for Pascha Communion. In those days the […]

184. Holy Wednesday Morning Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Fr. Bill

Gospel: Matthew 26:6-16 A short Gospel reading in Holy Week! Matthew repeats the story we heard last Sunday from John, about Christ being anointed with fragrant oil. John said Mary sister of Martha did the anointing. Matthew says only that it was “a woman”. Luke places this earlier in Jesus’ ministry and says it was done […]

183. Holy Tuesday Evening Bridegroom Matins

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Fr. Bill

Holy Tuesday Evening Bridegroom Matins Before we get into the Gospel story… Tonight at the end of the Aposticha we hear the Hymn of Kassiane, a Ninth Century nun and hymnographer.* She was one of several young women interviewed by Emperor Theophilus as a prospective bride. The story says he was so flummoxed by Kassiane’s […]