Commentary On The Holy Week
Services
Holy Resurrection Orthodox
Church
The Orthodox Holy Week and Pascha services set
before us a rich feast of Christian experience that no real seeker of God should
miss. This article is to speak briefly of them to give our guests an idea what
to expect. Many people ask me how long these services last, so I have given the
time as well as I remember. Orthodox are not very conscious of time in the
Church services; if you think you can't stay for the entire service, just come
for what you can. Visitors are invited to all these activities.
LAZARUS SATURDAY, March 27, 8:30 a.m. Matins
(Orthros), 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy - The raising of Lazarus (John 11) is considered
the beginning of Holy Week, since His love for His friend Lazarus and his
sisters Mary and Martha was the immediate reason that Our Lord returned to
Judea. (John 11:8) This service is served in bright vestments as the raising of
Lazarus is a precursor of Our Lord's own Resurrection and ours.
PALM SUNDAY, March 28, 8:30 a.m. Matins, 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy. -
Procession outdoors around the Church before Liturgy. This is a festive service
recalling Our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. After Coffee Hour we
return to the Temple for the first Bridegroom Matins service, so that
our out-of town members can attend it.
BRIDEGROOM MATINS is so called from the haunting theme song
which begins:
And happy is that servant
whom he shall find watching,
But behold, unworthy is that
servant whom he shall find heedless...
(cf Matt. 25:1 ff, Luke
12:35 ff)
Our Lord is the Bridegroom whom His beloved bride,
His people, were not ready to receive. At these services we read the scathing
prophesies addressed these three days to the leaders of Israel (Matthew 21:18 -
23:39). Will we be ready when He comes again? Each Bridegroom service lasts
about an hour.
HOLY MONDAY and TUESDAY, March 29-30, 6 p.m. Bridegroom Matins (see above).
On Tuesday night we hear the beautiful hymn by the Nun Kassiani about the woman
who anointed Our Lords feet.
HOLY WEDNESDAY EVENING, March 31, 6 p.m. - We bless oil and members
are anointed with it for healing. Our Lord's death and Resurrection are for our
healing and salvation: By His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). This
service lasts about an hour. Following it we will serve the Bridegroom
Matins.
HOLY THURSDAY, April 1, noon - We serve the Vesperal
Liturgy of St. Basil celebrating the Mystical Supper at which Our Lord
washed His disciples' feet and instituted the Eucharist. This service lasts
about an hour and 45 minutes.
HOLY THURSDAY, April 1, 6 p.m. Matins of Holy Friday.
During it we read twelve Gospel readings of Our Lord's crucifixion,
interspersed with some of the most beautiful hymns of the whole year. In the
middle of this service a large Cross is placed in the center of the Church for
veneration. This service lasts over two hours.
HOLY FRIDAY, April 2, 3 p.m. - Vespers. The Epitaphios, a fabric with an image of
the Lord laid in the tomb, representing the burial cloth of the Lord, is
carried in procession and laid on a special table covered with flowers
representing His Tomb.
HOLY FRIDAY, April 2, 7 p.m. Matins of Holy
Saturday - The Epitaphios is carried in procession through the
adjacent cemetery. This service lasts about an hour and a half. The many
readings and hymns of the Holy Friday services present us with many different
facets of the awesome and compelling mystery of our Lord's Passion.
HOLY SATURDAY, April 3, 9 a.m. Initiation of new members
and Divine Liturgy. This is the 'Blessed Sabbath' on which God rested -- in the
Tomb, the real meaning of Genesis 2:2. It is the most appropriate time for
Baptism, as those baptized are 'buried' with Christ to share His Resurrection
(Romans 6:3-4). Lent has its origin as the last intensive preparation for those
who would be baptized this day. Our new members will be Baptized and Chrismated
(Anointed), then we read 15 Old Testament readings that illuminate Baptism,
including the Creation and the Exodus. Then we read the first Resurrectional
Gospel from Matthew 28 and continue with the Divine Liturgy. This service lasts
about three hours.
HOLY SATURDAY, April 3, 11:30 p.m. This is THE service of
the year for Orthodox, and no one wants to miss it. At midnight all lights in
the Church are put out. This is the darkness and silence of the Tomb. Finally
the bishop or priest comes out of the altar with a candle. Everyone comes
forward and lights a candle from this light. Carrying the candles, we walk
outside around the Temple, returning to the front door. There we hear the
greeting 'Christ is Risen!' for the first time and reply, 'Indeed He is Risen!'
We will greet each other this way for forty days. We go into the Temple, now
brightly lighted and adorned with flowers, and sing the joyous Paschal Matins
and Liturgy, and receive the Body and Blood of the Risen Lord. After this
service we go to the Parish Hall and find the tables sagging with every kind of
good food, and we celebrate together until quite late.
SUNDAY, April 4, there is NO MORNING SERVICE (the
midnight service was the Sunday Liturgy). At 3 p.m. we will gather at Holy Trinity and St. John Greek Orthodox
Church, Jackson for the short, joyous Paschal Vespers and more feasting.
Clergy and members of St. Peter Orthodox Church, Madison, will join us.
Map