Father Bill's Orthodox Blog – Orthodoxy from the Third Coast
A Variety of Topics: Saints, Seasons, Society, the Moral Life, plus Travels mostly to Greece, and more, by Father Bill Olnhausen
We all know that in the Orthodox Church the Divine Liturgy is always a celebration, not allowed on the penitential weekdays of the Great Lenten Fast. We also know that Holy Week is our most penitential period, so we certainly do not celebrate the Divine Liturgy during the day of Holy Friday. Western Christianity joins […]
Read More »Note that we’re still on our Holy Week “topsy-turvy” schedule, always “anticipating” the next appointed service. Above: This is how they must have been seated. The traditional image with all seated behind the table is for symbolic reasons. Introduction For most of our Orthodox history the Holy Wednesday night service was Matins/Orthros, which continues […]
Read More »In case you’ve tuned in late to this series: These posts are “repeats” (with a little reworking each year) of my Holy Week posts from past years – which are based on talks I gave for about twenty years at Holy Week services when I was pastor at Saint Nicholas Church, Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Why do […]
Read More »Before we get started: Tonight at the end of the Aposticha verses we hear the Hymn of Kassiane, a Ninth Century nun and hymnographer. Kassiane was one of several young women interviewed by Emperor Theophilos as a prospective bride. The story says he was so flummoxed by Kassiane’s beauty that he said something stupid, as […]
Read More »Kievan chant, sung by “Archangel Voices” Troparion/Apolytikion of Bridegroom Matins Alleluia. Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is that servant whom He shall find awake, but unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, do not be weighed down with sleep, lest you be given up to […]
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