531. P.S. How the Theotokos learned of the Resurrection

I promised to write no more, and I meant it. But there’s something important I forgot. My dear cousin Jacklyn wrote to say she identified with the sufferings of the Virgin Mary, as surely have a million mothers who have suffered great loss. I wrote in an earlier Post of how the Theotokos * suffered […]

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529. Holy Saturday Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil

Brothers and sisters, there is a whole lot going on this morning, so pay attention. This service just makes me happy, even go a bit silly for some reason. Divine Liturgy This Liturgy begins as a celebration of Christ’s victory over Satan and death “down below”, and by the middle we are celebrating the Resurrection […]

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527. Holy Friday evening Great Vespers “Service of Taking Down 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 Cross of Christ and continuing through Pascha, the ceremonies are intended to draw us more fully into these wonderful closing events of […]

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520. Holy Monday night: Bridegroom Matins

Exaposteilarion at Bridegroom Matins, sung on the first three nights of Holy Week: “Thy bridal chamber I see adorned, O my Savior, but I have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me.” from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgK0Fc8QUOs   Pat Tsalgakis at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFrdWVEVKYE Chanted in Arabic […]

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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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