323. Great and Holy Friday Afternoon: Great Vespers of the Taking Down of Christ from the Cross

At last! a Holy Week service (and the only one) that is “in sync” with the time of day. We’re going to cover: 1 The ceremonies, 2 The Scripture readings. Beginning with last night’s Procession of the Body of Christ and continuing through Pascha, the ceremonies are intended to involve us more fully in these wonderful closing events of […]

Read More »

322. Great and Holy Friday Morning: Some Practical Lessons to be learned from Holy Week

Some advice:  For the remaining three days of this Holy Week, do not read this Blog. Or rather: Do not read this Blog in place of going to church. To prepare for the services, ok, but then go to church, or if you can’t do that then worship Live-stream. The Royal Hours These four services […]

Read More »

321. Holy Thursday Night Matins: Service of the Twelve Gospels

Before we begin, I don’t want to (but probably should) note regarding Post 320 which had refused to open: As soon as I sent out a second copy, both copies suddenly opened. I swear I haven’t had this problem since (I think) last Holy Week. Forgive me for the confusion, but it wasn’t me, it was demons. […]

Read More »

320. Great and Holy Thursday Morning: Vesperal Divine Liturgy for Great and Holy Friday

Why do we celebrate Divine Liturgy this morning? Why am I getting into this complexity during Holy Week (as if we don’t already have enough to think about)? In order to demonstrate how we Orthodox view the Crucifixion of Christ. If you get lost (or think I’ve got lost!) in the middle of this explanation, […]

Read More »

319. Holy Wednesday Night Matins for Holy Thursday and Holy Unction

Note that we’re still on our Holy Week “topsy-turvy” schedule, always “anticipating” the next appointed service. As I said, despite my not understanding this, somehow it feels just right for this Week when the whole world gets turned upside down. Holy Gospel: Luke 22:1-39 Jesus and the disciples are in the upper room at the […]

Read More »