Assembly of Bishops USA Message of Solidarity - 04/10/2020
Unable to gather in person for Holy Week, the heads of jurisdictions joined together to send you a message of solidarity from their homes to yours!
Summary of the Daily Account of the Services During Holy Week
Holy Week in the Eastern Orthodox Church institutes the sanctity of the whole calendar year of the Church. Its center of commemorations and inspiration is Easter, wherein the glorified Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. Every Sunday is dedicated in the Eastern Orthodox Church to the Resurrection of the Lord.
Saturday Morning of St. Lazarus - Saturday before Palm Sunday;the service consists of Matins[Morning Prayers] and the Divine Liturgy. - On this day, the rising from the dead of St. Lazarus, the righteous friend of Christ, is celebrated.
Palm Sunday Morning - Palm Sunday service is held in themorning andconsists of Matins[Morning Prayers] and the DivineLiturgy. Palm Sunday celebrates the glorious and brilliant feast of the Entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
"Behold the Bridegroom Cometh in the Midst of the Night..." - (The service is MATINS [Morning Prayers] of Great Monday and issung by anticipation on Palm Sunday evening.) Monday of Holy Week commemorates the blessed and noble Joseph and the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord.
Great Holy and Monday Morning - The serviceis Matins of Tuesdaymorning sung by anticipation on Monday evening. Tuesday of Holy Week commemorates the parable of the Ten Virgins, Matt. 25:1-13.
Great Holy Tuesday Evening - The service is Matins of Wednesday morning sung by anticipationon Tuesday evening. On Wednesday of Holy Week is the commemoration of the anointing of Christ with myrrh by the woman in the house of Simon, the leper, in Bethany.
Great Holy and Wednesday Morning - The Divine Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated on this day for the last time during Lent.
Great Holy Wednesday Evening - The Mysterion of Unction. The sacred ceremony of the Mysterion of the Holy Unction takes place on this Wednesday evening, following an old custom.
Great Holy Wednesday Evening - The service is Matins of Thursday morning sung by anticipation, on Wednesday evening. The Matins/Orthros of Thursday morning is sung by anticipation, on Wednesday evening.
Great Holy Thursday Morning - The service is the Vespers and Divine Liturgy of Thursday evening which is sung in the morning by anticipation. Institution of the Holy Eucharist.
Great Holy Thursday Evening - (The service of the HOLY PASSION of our Lord Jesus Christ. Theservice is Matins of Friday morning sung by anticipation, on Thursdayevening. Good Friday celebrates the holy, saving, and awesome Passion of Christ.
Good Friday Morning - First, according to the Hebrew custom, the "Royal Hours," four in number, are read at this time. Then The service of Vespers is sung on Friday afternoon. The Vespers of Friday afternoon are a continuation of the Royal Hours.
Good Friday Evening - The Lamentation - The service is Matins of Saturday morning sung by anticipation, on Friday evening. It consists of psalms, hymns, and readings dealing with the death of Christ, in contrast to His divinity, and in expectation of His Resurrection.
Great Holy Saturday Morning - The service isVespers and DivineLiturgy of Saturday evening sungby anticipation, on Saturday morning.Psalms are read and Resurrection hymns are sung which tell of Christ's descent into Hades.
The Holy Sunday of Easter - The service is Matins and DivineLiturgy of Sunday morning sungSaturday midnight. With this service, the Pentecostarion starts, 50 days services). On Easter Sunday (Saturday midnight), the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated.
Easter Sunday Afternoon Vespers - Easter Sunday afternoon, the faithful gather once more for prayer with lighted candles. All sing the hymn, "Christ is Risen from the Dead." (Click here for FULL LESSON)