519. Holy Monday morning: Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

   The Divine Liturgy is always a festival celebration. That explains why, on the penitential weekdays of Lent and also on the ordinary weekdays of Holy Week, there is no celebration of the full Divine Liturgy. Therefore, at these Liturgies, the Anaphora (the consecration of the Holy Gifts) is omitted, and Holy Communion is received […]

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518. Palm Sunday Night: Bridegroom Matins

Introduction In our parish churches, Matins/Orthros is normally sung in the morning. So why, you may ask, are we now suddenly having it in the evening? Also and equally odd, why during Holy Week do we have Vesperal Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (obviously an evening service) in the morning? I’m really sorry you asked […]

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515. Lazarus Saturday morning Divine Liturgy

   Now we begin our twice-daily commentaries on the services and themes of Holy Week and Pascha – based on talks I gave at these services during the twenty-five years when I was Pastor of Saint Nicholas Church, Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Each year I’ve altered them just a bit as I’ve come across new information, to […]

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509. The Church’s Last Minute Instructions as we go into Lent

Do we want to keep a good, holy Lent? No problem. In this Sunday’s Scripture readings, the Church tells us exactly how to do it. If you find this Post suspiciously familiar, that means you read my Forgiveness Sunday Post two years ago and have a good memory. I’m proud of you. This is a […]

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